A Fractional VP of Product Development Who Does the Work
A fractional VP of product development is a senior product leader you bring in for set hours each week instead of hiring full time. Health and Beauty Partners gives growing personal care brands that leader: someone who owns the launch critical path, gets packaging ready, and keeps manufacturers and suppliers moving.
What Does a Fractional VP of Product Development Do?
They own the work between "we're launching this" and "it's on the shelf." That means timelines, stage gates, packaging, and the manufacturers and suppliers who have to deliver on time.
You get senior product leadership for a set number of hours each week. You don't carry a full-time executive salary.
We don't hand you a deck and leave. We run the work with your team and your partners until it ships.
Does This Sound Like Your Launch?
Most brands call us at one of these moments.
"Your launch date moved twice and nobody owns the critical path."
"Your tubes failed line trials and the supplier stopped answering."
"You have a CDMO, a packaging supplier, and a designer, and no one making them talk."
Hands-On, Not Hands-Off
Our fractional product leadership covers three kinds of work. Most brands need all three.
Launch Execution
- Own the critical path, the chain of tasks that sets your launch date, through production and release
- Coordinate formula, packaging, manufacturer, and supplier work
- Run timelines, stage gates, and open actions
- Build a recovery plan when work slips
Packaging Development and Readiness
- Component specs, artwork, and dielines (the flat templates printers work from) through palletization
- Compatibility, function, and line-trial requirements
- Work packaging problems through with your suppliers and manufacturer
Operational Follow-Through
- Troubleshoot supply-chain and operating issues
- Drive decisions and follow-up with outside partners
- Keep each week focused on the highest-priority actions
You Get Progress, Not a Report
Everything we produce is a working tool your team uses that week. Nothing sits in a folder.
- Launch critical paths and action plans
- Packaging specifications and readiness actions
- Supplier and manufacturer issue tracking, followed to closure
- A log of priority actions and decisions
- Recovery plans when work moves off schedule
- Regular leadership updates on progress, decisions, and next priorities
How Much Senior Time Do You Need?
Every engagement is a set number of hours per week, agreed in your proposal. It is focused senior time, not full-time leadership. You can move up or down as launches change.
Advisory
A few hours a week
For brands that already have an operator and need senior review, a second opinion, and help getting unblocked.
Embedded NPD
About 12 hours a week
For brands with launches in flight that need someone to own the critical path in new product development (NPD).
Fractional VP of Product Development
Part time · about 24 hours a week
For brands that need a part-time product leader across the whole portfolio.
A Good Fit
- Growing skincare, hair, body, and men's grooming brands
- Launches in flight and no senior product operator in-house
- Newly funded brands getting ready to launch
Not a Fit Right Now
- Pre-launch solo founders without funding
- Color cosmetics and supplements
- Large multinational beauty companies
Launching a Newly Funded Brand?
If you've raised money and need to turn it into product on shelf, we plan and run the launch with you.
Design is delivered in partnership with Delightful Studios, under the same Health and Beauty Partners contract. You get one contract, one invoice, and one point of contact.
- Launch roadmap from formula to first production
- Formulation, with formulation led by Dan Pont →
- Manufacturer selection, and help leaving your manufacturer → if the current one holds your formula
- Packaging development: specs, dielines, supplier coordination, and line trials
- Design, in partnership with Delightful Studios
Planning to Sell in Europe Next?
The same launch discipline carries into a European launch: critical path, packaging readiness, and supplier follow-through. When you're ready, see how expanding into Europe and the UK → works with us.
Fractional Product Leadership: Common Questions
What is a fractional VP of product development?
A fractional VP of product development is a senior product leader who works with your brand for a set number of hours each week. They own launches, packaging, and manufacturer and supplier follow-through. You get the experience of a VP without a full-time hire.
How many hours a week does it take?
Advisory is a few hours a week. Embedded NPD is about 12 hours a week. Fractional VP of Product Development is part time, about 24 hours a week. The hours are set in your proposal, and anything well beyond them is agreed before the work starts.
How is this different from hiring a consultant?
A typical consultant gives you recommendations. We do the work: we run the critical path, talk to your suppliers and manufacturer, and track issues until they close. You get weekly progress, not a report.
Do you work directly with our manufacturer and suppliers?
Yes. With your approval, we work directly with the manufacturers, packaging suppliers, and other partners you name. You stay the decision-maker, and we keep you updated on every open issue.
Do you handle design?
For launch projects, design is delivered in partnership with Delightful Studios under our contract, so you have one point of contact. If you already have a designer, we coordinate with them instead.
How is Health and Beauty Partners paid?
Product leadership is billed as a set weekly commitment, quoted in your proposal. HBP can be paid by manufacturing partners as well as a commission on your international sales. Both will be disclosed in your proposal.
Tell Us What's Stuck
Bring your launch dates, your open supplier issues, and your team size. On the call, we'll tell you which level fits, or whether you need us at all.
HBP can be paid by manufacturing partners as well as a commission on your international sales. Both will be disclosed in your proposal. How we work and how we're paid →
Health & Beauty Partners · Based in Arizona, built for US brands · Make it · Sell it · Lead it