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UX

Fractional UX Leadership

Specialist fractional UX leadership recruiters working across the US, UK, EU and UAE.

Trusted by tech teams from start-ups to globally recognised brands

  • eBay
  • Ocado
  • Sainsbury's
  • Bose
  • LexisNexis
  • Entain
  • babylon
  • Paymentsense
  • FNZ
  • Auto1
  • Synthace
  • PokerStars
  • eConsult
  • Lloyds Pharmacy
Five-star review
“An extremely smooth experience, with quality candidates and outstanding precision throughout the process.”

Johanna B. · Talent Acquisition Manager, PropTech

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Overview

If your designers report into product or engineering, there may be no one senior setting the standard for design. A fractional or interim head of design can fill that gap. They set direction, raise the standard of the work and build the function, without a full-time commitment from day one.

This can work well for scale-ups that aren't ready for a permanent Head of Design, for teams between leaders, and for businesses working through a redesign or a step change in growth. A good engagement leaves a clear design direction, a stronger team and a function that keeps going after the leader steps back.

How fractional UX works

Every engagement starts with three questions: how many days, how long, and what needs fixing. Fractional UX is part of our wider Fractional Leadership service. If the answer turns out to be a full-time design leader, our permanent design network means we can move straight to that search. Design leadership searches run across the UK, Europe, the US and the UAE.

Customer Stories

How we've helped

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Rates

What a fractional design leader costs

A fractional Head of Design is often a company's first senior design hire. What they walk into varies a great deal, and so does the rate. A table of figures here would mislead more than it helped.

What shapes the rate

  • What is already in place. Leading an existing team of five is different work from building a design function from nothing.
  • Scope. The role might cover research, a design system, hiring the first designers, or coaching a junior team. Often it is several of these.
  • Days. Most design engagements sit at one to three days a week, depending on the budget and scope.
  • Length of engagement. A short piece of work to set standards costs differently from ongoing leadership.
  • Sector experience. Design leaders with a background in regulated or complex B2B products are harder to find.
  • The individual. Every fractional design leader sets their own rate.

A rate range for your brief

Tell us where design sits in your business today and what you need to change. We'll share what fractional design leaders are charging now, and whether an interim or permanent hire might work better.

Share Your Brief

No job description needed. Prefer to talk it through? Speak to a consultant.

Fractional design leader looking for your next engagement? Get in touch with the UX team.

Live jobs

Live UX jobs

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Related roles

Other roles our UX recruiters fill

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How can a fractional design leader help a team of one or two designers?

Small design teams often lack someone senior to review their work, set standards and speak up for design in product decisions. A fractional design leader can provide that. They run design reviews, support career development and help the team agree how design fits with product and engineering. It can also help keep good designers who might otherwise leave for more support.

Can a fractional UX leader run a redesign?

Yes, and it is a common reason to bring one in. They can plan the research, agree design principles, keep stakeholders aligned and oversee delivery, while protecting accessibility and consistency. Designers and engineers still do most of the build. The fractional leader makes sure the redesign solves the right problems and does not stall halfway.

Can a fractional design leader set up a design system?

They can shape it: deciding what the system should cover, how it is governed and how design and engineering will maintain it together. Building the components usually needs designers and front end engineers alongside them. Getting ownership agreed early is often what decides whether a design system is used or quietly abandoned.

Can a fractional UX leader help build research into how we work?

Often, yes. Before a business is ready to hire dedicated researchers, a fractional leader can set up a light, regular research habit. That can include choosing tools, finding participants and showing product teams how to run simple studies well. It gives the business better evidence now, and a clearer case for research hires later.

How do I start working with Consortia?

Clients can get in touch to discuss a brief, and candidates are welcome to register their interest. The quickest route is our contact page or a call to +44 203 397 4565, and one of our consultants will pick things up from there.

For clients

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