Don't Hire a Full-Time Product Operations Leader

Don't Hire a Full-Time Product Operations Leader
(And What to Do Instead)

Let’s talk about something that happens all too often: a full-time Product Operations hire. Maybe you’re in the boardroom, and someone suggests hiring a Product Operations Leader because it sounds like the perfect solution to all your operational challenges. It makes sense on paper: they’re going to improve processes, fix inefficiencies, and get everyone shipping faster, right?

Well, here’s the truth. More often than not, that expensive hire turns into a frustrating situation for everyone. Why? Because that person won’t be the “human easy button” everyone was hoping for.

Here’s the reality: Product Operations isn’t a magic wand that can fix everything by itself. The success of a Product Operations Leader depends on the collaboration of the entire team. Every single improvement they suggest requires time and input from developers, designers, product managers—you name it. And guess what? That time and energy could have been spent actually building and shipping the product.

Why Full-Time Product Ops Can Be a Challenge

A Product Operations Leader can’t fix your processes in a vacuum. They need buy-in, collaboration, and engagement from the delivery team. And let’s be honest: when the pressure is on to hit a tight deadline, how much time do you think your team is going to spend reworking processes they already know are broken? None. They’ll be heads down, focused on shipping what’s already on their plate.

This creates a really awkward situation. Your shiny new hire is sitting there, eager to make changes, but no one has the bandwidth to work with them. What’s the result? You’ve just hired someone at a significant cost, and now they’re essentially sitting on the shelf waiting for their moment. Frustrating for them, frustrating for you.

I once had a CTO ask me, "What does a Product Operations Leader need to be successful?" My answer: “A collaborative team and leadership that’s fully supportive of their work.” Even if you have the most enthusiastic team in the world, if leadership is breathing down their necks to meet a deadline, the last thing they’re going to do is invest time in fixing broken processes or figuring out how to ship faster.

So, What Should You Do Instead?

Don’t hire one.

I know, it sounds crazy—I'm talking myself out of a job here. But hear me out. Instead of bringing on a full-time Product Operations Leader, hire a contractor. Hire someone like me, part-time, for specific projects.

Here’s why that works better: it’s like hiring an electrician or plumber for your house. You don’t have them on salary, but when something breaks or you need a major upgrade, you call them in, they fix it. Same goes for Product Operations. When you’re ready to commit time and resources to a specific project—maybe it’s fixing a long-standing issue or implementing a big process improvement—that’s when you bring us in.

We work with you to tackle that specific problem, and once the work is done, you’re free to move forward. No full-time salary, no benefits package, no sitting around waiting for the team to free up time. You need us again, we'll be there. It’s cost-effective and gets you the results you’re looking for, without the long-term commitment.

Final Thoughts

So, next time you’re tempted to make that full-time hire, think twice. Consider bringing on a part-time or project-based Product Operations Leader instead. You’ll save money, get the help you need, and avoid the frustration of having someone who can’t do their job because the team isn’t ready for the change.

Want to learn more about how this model works? Let’s chat. Sometimes, the best solution isn’t hiring full-time—it’s hiring smart.