SaaS, Start Up
Building a Performance Management & Workforce Planning Function from the Ground Up
CLIENT: Confidential SaaS Company
INDUSTRY: Point-of-Sale Software (SaaS / Technology)
COMPANY SIZE: 100+ FTE, 150+ International Consultants
ENGAGEMENT: Director of People — Performance Management & Workforce Planning
THE CHALLENGE
A growing point-of-sale software company had not conducted formal performance reviews in several years and lacked a structured process for performance management, promotion readiness, compensation planning, and workforce forecasting.
As the organization scaled past 100 FTE employees, the absence of these foundations created risk: limited visibility into talent, inconsistent feedback, and hiring decisions disconnected from budget. Leadership needed a scalable framework to support growth while giving employees greater clarity around expectations and career development.
Specifically, leadership needed:
A structured, repeatable performance management process
Clarity for employees around expectations, promotions, and career growth
Greater leadership visibility into performance and succession planning
A formal headcount planning process aligning hiring with budget and priorities
THE APPROACH
Serving as the company's first Director of People, Talesnick Talent designed and implemented a comprehensive performance management program within the Rippling HRIS — partnering directly with executive leadership to build foundations the business had never had.
Key initiatives included:
Aligned executive stakeholders on goals, criteria, and rollout
Created performance evaluation criteria and a Performance Management SOP
Implemented a customized 9-Box Talent Assessment framework
Delivered manager training and enablement
Launched company-wide performance review cycles
Partnered with Finance leadership to establish the company's first formal headcount planning process — creating approval workflows and governance procedures that aligned hiring decisions with budget forecasts and organizational priorities
KEY SERVICES DELIVERED
Rippling HRIS Implementation & Optimization
Performance Management Design
9-Box Talent Assessments
Manager Training & Enablement
Workforce Planning & Headcount Governance
Executive Stakeholder Alignment
HR Process Design & Documentation
THE RESULTS
Successfully launched and managed three company-wide performance review cycles
Established consistent manager-to-employee feedback and development conversations
Increased transparency around promotions, merit increases, bonus eligibility, and career growth opportunities
Improved leadership visibility into employee performance and succession planning
Implemented scalable headcount planning and approval workflows connecting Finance, HR, and Recruiting
Created a repeatable framework that supported organizational growth and workforce planning
THE OUTCOME
Built the organization's first scalable performance management and workforce planning framework — transforming how employee performance, talent development, compensation discussions, and hiring decisions were managed across the business.
"The best hire we've made since my start at the Company."
--CFO
THE TAKEAWAY
When a scaling company needs to manage talent with intention, the answer isn't more administration — it's the right people infrastructure. Talesnick Talent gives growing companies the strategy, frameworks, and high-touch execution to build people operations that support sustainable growth.
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