Involvement levels
What hands-on, oversight, and advisory mean on Edelvor. The three contractual involvement levels firms commit to in writing when you engage a named professional.
When you engage a named professional through Edelvor, the firm commits to that person’s level of involvement in writing. There are three levels. They mean what they sound like, and the commitment is contractual. If actual involvement falls below what was agreed, you can flag it from your dashboard and it affects the firm’s standing on the platform.
The three levels are the same words used on profiles, on the enquiry form, and on the engagement letter. There is no drift between the platform copy and the contract.
Hands-on
The named professional does the material work themselves. Day-to-day delivery sits with them. Other team members may support on specific tasks, but the named individual is the person on the ground and accountable for the output.
When this level applies: complex, novel, or high-stakes work where the specific expertise of the named individual is the reason you engaged the firm. Hands-on is the highest level of contractual involvement Edelvor profiles offer.
What it does not mean: it does not mean the named professional attends every meeting or writes every email. Specialists oversee others on parts of the job. Hands-on is a concrete minimum on who produces the work, not a promise of total presence.
Oversight
The named professional reviews the work but does not produce most of it themselves. In practice this means weekly review at minimum, sign-off on key decisions, and direct involvement at critical milestones. Day-to-day execution sits with their team.
When this level applies: standard projects where the named individual’s experience adds quality control and judgment, but execution is well-handled by their team.
What it does not mean: oversight is not “saw the final draft once.” It is a contractual minimum cadence of review and decision-making. If the firm is silent for weeks at a time, that is a flagable issue.
Advisory
The named professional advises but is not embedded in delivery. They are available for specific questions, occasional reviews, or strategic input. The bulk of the work is done by their team.
When this level applies: routine work where the named individual’s name lends credibility or specific guidance, but their direct time is not required at high frequency.
What it does not mean: advisory is not “their name on the proposal.” It is still a contractual commitment to availability and input. If you expect to hear from someone monthly and never do, that is a non-compliance flag.
Why all three are written down
A common failure mode in specialist hiring is the right specialist on the proposal and a different specialist on the work. The three levels exist so that the level you saw on the profile, the level you ticked on the enquiry, and the level the firm commits to in the engagement letter are the same words. There is nowhere for the level to drift. If the level changes mid-engagement, that requires your written consent.
For the longer reasoning behind contractual involvement clauses, see Why contractual involvement matters.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between hands-on and oversight?
Hands-on means the named professional produces the work themselves. Oversight means they review and direct, but their team produces the work.
Can I change the involvement level partway through an engagement?
Yes, with the firm's agreement. Any change is documented, and you can walk away without penalty if the new level does not meet your engagement bar.
What happens if the firm does not deliver the involvement level we agreed?
Flag the non-compliance from your dashboard. The flag is reviewed and, if upheld, affects the firm's standing on Edelvor.