Fractional AI Director for Mid-Market Companies
Senior AI leadership embedded in your team for 10 to 20 hours per month. You get Fortune 500-caliber AI strategy, implementation, and team training at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. One person. No junior associates. No handoffs.
30 minutes. No pitch. Just clarity on your best AI opportunities.
01—The Problem
The AI Leadership Gap
Companies in the $10M to $200M range face a unique challenge. You’re big enough that AI could transform your operations, but not big enough to justify a quarter-million-dollar executive hire. That leaves most mid-market companies stuck.
You know AI matters, but you don’t have anyone to lead it. Your IT team is busy keeping the lights on. No one has the bandwidth or the expertise to evaluate, plan, and deploy AI across the organization.
A full-time AI executive costs $250K+ per year. For most companies in the $10M to $200M range, that’s hard to justify when you’re still figuring out where AI fits.
Consulting firms sell strategy decks, not outcomes. You’ve seen the proposals. $50K to $200K for a project that ends with a PDF. No one sticks around to build anything.
Random AI experiments are wasting time and money. Without senior leadership, teams adopt tools in silos. There’s no coherent strategy, no governance, and no way to measure ROI.
A fractional AI director solves this. You get senior AI leadership, hands-on implementation, and measurable results for $5,000 to $10,000 per month. No recruiting. No ramp-up. No six-figure gamble.
02—The Role
What Does a Fractional AI Director Actually Do?
Think of a fractional chief AI officer as your part-time AI executive. I embed into your team for 10 to 20 hours per month and take ownership of everything AI. Strategy, execution, training, and governance. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
AI Strategy Development
Define your company’s AI roadmap. Identify the highest-ROI use cases, set priorities, and align AI initiatives with business goals.
Vendor and Tool Evaluation
Cut through the noise of 10,000+ AI tools. Get objective recommendations based on your actual tech stack, data, and team capabilities.
Implementation Oversight
Manage AI projects from prototype to production. I don’t just advise. I build working systems and oversee delivery.
Team Training and Enablement
Upskill your existing team to work effectively with AI. Custom workshops, prompt engineering training, and hands-on coaching.
AI Governance and Risk Management
Establish responsible AI policies, data handling practices, and compliance frameworks before problems arise.
Executive Communication
Translate technical AI progress into business language for your board, investors, and leadership team. Clear metrics, clear ROI.
Competitive Intelligence
Monitor how competitors and your industry are deploying AI. Keep your company positioned ahead, not behind.
03—The Process
How the Engagement Works
Most fractional AI engagements follow a consistent arc. The first month is focused on understanding your business and delivering quick wins. From there, we move to full implementation and ongoing advisory.
Assessment + Quick Wins
- Deep-dive audit of your operations, data, and tech stack
- Identify 3 to 5 high-impact AI opportunities
- Deliver a prioritized AI roadmap with ROI projections
- Launch 1 to 2 quick-win implementations immediately
Build + Implement
- Execute on top-priority AI initiatives
- Working prototypes delivered within 2 weeks of kickoff
- Integrate AI systems into existing workflows
- Begin team training and enablement programs
Advise + Optimize
- Continuous optimization of deployed AI systems
- Monthly strategy reviews with leadership
- New initiative scoping as the business evolves
- Vendor management and technology radar updates
Many fractional AI engagements start with an AI Strategy Assessment to identify your highest-value opportunities before committing to ongoing work.
04—Ideal Fit
Is a Fractional AI Director Right for Your Company?
This service is designed for companies that need senior AI leadership but aren’t ready for (or don’t need) a full-time hire. If any of the following describe your situation, we should talk.
Mid-market companies ($10M to $200M revenue) without a dedicated AI leader
IT service providers and managed services companies adding AI capabilities
Professional services firms looking to automate knowledge work
Companies with 50 to 500 employees where a full-time AI hire isn’t justified yet
Leadership teams that want AI strategy and implementation from the same person
Organizations that have tried AI pilots but haven’t seen measurable results
Companies preparing for board or investor conversations about their AI strategy
05—Investment
What Does a Fractional AI Director Cost?
Fractional AI director retainers range from $5,000 to $10,000 per month depending on scope and hours. That’s $60,000 to $120,000 per year for senior AI leadership that would cost three to five times more as a full-time hire.
No long-term contracts required. Engagements are month-to-month with a 3-month initial commitment. You can scale hours up or down as your needs evolve.
06—Your AI Director
Who You’re Working With
I’m Jonathan Lasley. I’ve spent 25+ years in enterprise technology, including pre-sales engineering, solution architecture, and hands-on AI development. I’ve sold and delivered AI solutions to companies ranging from $10M to Fortune 500.
When you hire a fractional AI director, you want someone who doesn’t just advise. You want someone who builds. I write production code, deploy AI systems, and train teams with the same tools I recommend. Strategy and implementation from one person. No handoffs. No junior associates showing up after the sale.
Based in Michigan and working with mid-market companies nationwide. If you want to learn more, read my full background.
Ready to Add AI Leadership to Your Team?
Let’s talk about whether a fractional AI director is the right fit for your company. No pitch, no pressure. Just a straightforward conversation about your AI opportunities and the fastest path to results.
30 minutes. No pitch. Just clarity on your best AI opportunities.