Fractional CMO

Education / Social Enterprise  |  Remote-friendly (Melbourne preferred)  |  Part-time / Fractional

~$5,000–$6,000/month  |  Month-to-month engagement

This is a social enterprise that delivers professional learning programs for teachers and school leaders across Australia. Starting in Western Australia, the organisation has built a strong reputation through word of mouth, and is now focused on expanding nationally — particularly on the east coast.

The business generates approximately $4 million in annual revenue and operates through two main channels: proposals to school systems and districts (around half of revenue), and direct-to-school marketing. The direct-to-school channel has historically been driven entirely by referrals, and there is now a clear need to build structured sales and marketing capabilities to support national growth.

The organisation has a small but growing Victorian team and works predominantly remotely, with a main office in Perth.

This is a ground-floor opportunity to build and lead a marketing function that does not yet exist in a structured form. The direct-to-school channel — which represents roughly half of the business — has never had dedicated marketing leadership. You'll have the chance to shape strategy, establish systems, and lead a small team of fractional support staff.

The organisation is not a startup. It has proven product-market fit, an established brand in Western Australia, and a genuine mission. What it needs now is someone who can bring strategic clarity and execution leadership to its national growth ambitions.

• Developing and owning the marketing strategy for direct-to-school acquisition across the Australian east coast

• Building a repeatable, scalable approach to school and district outreach — combining brand awareness, content, and direct engagement

• Leading and directing two existing fractional support staff (covering social media and email marketing), helping them work more cohesively and effectively

• Establishing a clearer structure and purpose for current marketing activities, including an irregular newsletter, social media content, and ad hoc school outreach

• Identifying the right mix of channels, tools, and tactics for reaching principals, educators, and system leaders

• Setting measurable targets and reporting frameworks to track progress against growth goals within the first 6 to 12 months

• Collaborating with internal stakeholders in Perth and Melbourne to ensure marketing efforts align with business development and program delivery

What You'll Bring

• Strong strategic marketing experience — ideally at CMO or senior strategist level

• A track record of building or rebuilding marketing functions, particularly in organisations where structured marketing is new

• Experience working with B2B or B2I (business-to-institution) audiences, ideally in education, government, community services, or adjacent sectors

• The ability to lead and get the best out of a small team without large budgets or extensive infrastructure

• Comfort with ambiguity — you'll be shaping the playbook, not following one

• Strong communication skills, particularly with non-marketing stakeholders

• Familiarity with email marketing platforms, social media strategy, and direct outreach approaches

• Melbourne-based or able to work effectively in a predominantly remote Victorian team (Melbourne preferred but not essential)

What's Currently in Place

You won't be starting from zero. There are some foundations to build from:

• A sizable email contact list (currently used for irregular newsletters)

• An active social media presence (customer testimonials, program highlights) with limited reach

• Two fractional support staff handling execution tasks — they need leadership and direction more than additional workload

• A well-regarded brand and strong testimonials in the Western Australian market

• A clear national growth mandate from leadership

Engagement Details

• Fractional/part-time engagement — exact days per month to be agreed based on scope

• Month-to-month contract (minimum three-month commitment preferred)

• Budget range: $5,000–$6,000 per month

• Remote-friendly; Melbourne-based candidates preferred

• Start date: as soon as the right person is found