Opportunity and Position Specifications
CONTACT
Mara Rae Rivera
Owner and Principal Consultant
Mara Rae Consulting
802.299.7900
FRACTIONAL CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER
Senior People Leadership. When You Need It.
You may not need a full-time Chief People Officer. You may need the experience of one.
A Fractional Chief People Officer provides the strategic leadership, executive perspective, and hands-on expertise of a senior People executive without the cost or commitment of a full-time C-suite hire.
I partner with CEOs and leadership teams to connect people strategy to business strategy, navigate organizational change, and build the people infrastructure needed for what's next.
Strategic when you need perspective. Hands-on when you need execution.
WHAT IS A FRACTIONAL CPO?
A Fractional CPO is an experienced People executive who works with an organization on a part-time, ongoing, or project-based basis.
Unlike a traditional consultant who may assess a problem and provide recommendations, a Fractional CPO can sit at the leadership table, advise the CEO, lead the People function, develop the internal team, and execute the work.
Think of it as CPO-level leadership—without necessarily hiring a full-time CPO. That's the important distinction.
WHEN DOES A COMPANY NEED A FRACTIONAL CPO?
You May Need a Fractional CPO If…
You're growing faster than your organization can keep up.
Your structure, leadership, talent practices, or People infrastructure haven't caught up with the business.
You're going through significant change.
A restructuring, acquisition, leadership transition, transformation, or new phase of growth requires experienced People leadership.
Your HR team needs a strategic leader.
You have good people doing good work, but need someone who can elevate the function and connect it to the business.
You're facing a complex people challenge.
You need experienced executive judgment, not another HR policy or program.
You're between CPOs or CHROs.
You need experienced leadership now while you determine what the long-term structure should look like.
Your CEO needs a trusted People partner.
Someone who can sit beside you, ask the hard questions, understand the business, and help you make better decisions.
WHAT CAN A FRACTIONAL CPO HELP YOU SOLVE?
Growth & Scaling
Building the organizational structure, leadership capability, workforce strategy, and People infrastructure required for growth.
Organizational Change
Helping leaders navigate restructuring, transformation, integration, leadership changes, and other periods of significant change.
Culture & Employee Experience
Creating greater alignment between values, leadership behaviors, employee experience, and business performance.
Talent & Succession
Strengthening leadership pipelines, succession, career architecture, performance, and internal mobility.
Compensation & Rewards
Creating compensation and reward strategies that support attraction, retention, performance, and organizational goals.
People Function Transformation
Building, restructuring, or elevating the People function so it becomes a strategic business partner.
HOW WE WORK TOGETHER
Every organization has different needs. That's why I don't offer a one-size-fits-all consulting package.
Strategic Advisor
For CEOs and leadership teams who need an experienced People executive at the table to provide perspective, challenge assumptions, and help shape strategy.
Embedded Fractional CPO
For organizations that need ongoing senior People leadership but aren't ready for, or don't need, a full-time CPO.
Hands-On Operator
For organizations that need someone to roll up their sleeves and lead the work, build the infrastructure, manage initiatives, and move priorities forward.
Project Leader
For a defined business need such as organizational redesign, culture transformation, compensation work, succession planning, or building a People & Culture function.