You want someone with skin in the game. A partner also helps in bouncing off ideas, figuring out a grander strategy, and in general, being support you can rely on.
Unless OP wants a quick exit, this is a decade long journey. Having friends and partners along the way helps.
Isn't a salary enough? As soon as you start involving "skin in the game" players then you're starting to cede control of your company. Run with an employee doing these tasks. I really don't get this mentality that a regular salaried member of staff can't, as part of their role and responsibility, work on strategy etc.
Maybe a couple of years down the line you might want to open up space for a co-director for a share in your company. But loads of small companies get on just fine without bleeding their ownership and control away to others.
Unless OP wants a quick exit, this is a decade long journey. Having friends and partners along the way helps.