Choose an engagement model from the work you need to support—not simply from the urgency of an open role.
Permanent placement
Use permanent hiring when the capability belongs in your long-term organization. The client employs, onboards and manages the hire. Placement fees and any replacement support follow the agreed terms.
Examples include an ongoing Product leadership role or an engineering capability you want to develop internally.
Contract specialists
Add defined expertise or temporary capacity to an existing team. Agree allocation, duration and rates. The client provides leadership, access and priorities; Flexkube supports selection and continuity under the contract.
Examples include a platform migration specialist or temporary program capacity.
Contract-to-hire
Begin with a contract where a potential permanent transition is relevant. Agree conversion terms in advance and respect the professional’s choice. Plan a separate decision with both parties before the contract ends.
Fractional experts
Use part-time expertise where the need is recurring but does not justify full-time allocation. Clarify availability, decision authority and handover. Product guidance, transformation leadership or revenue Operations support may fit this model.
Dedicated T&M squads
Combine complementary roles around an initiative, with agreed rates and approved time. Include the execution skills the work actually requires—for example engineering and design alongside Product and delivery leadership.
The client retains strategy, scope, priorities and outcomes. Flexkube supports squad quality, composition and continuity.
When demand is uncertain
Start from the known need and agree a review point. Recurring hiring support or subscription arrangements may suit planned demand; a separately agreed contingency approach may suit individual uncertain hires.
A quick model-selection check
| Your immediate need | Model to consider |
|---|---|
| Ongoing ownership inside your organization | Permanent placement |
| A defined skill gap within a staffed team | Contract specialist |
| A potential later permanent relationship | Contract-to-hire |
| Recurring expert input at limited allocation | Fractional expert |
| Several connected execution gaps | Dedicated T&M squad |
Check the commitment, client counterpart and acceptance process for whichever option you choose.
Takeaway: select the structure that fits the work before agreeing commercial terms.