THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO NEED A PEOPLE LEADER.
Sometimes you need someone in the seat. Sometimes you need a specific problem solved. Sometimes you need experienced coverage while you figure out what comes next.
First Seat meets you where you are — with senior People leadership sized to what the business actually needs.
HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER
The right level of support depends on what you need someone to own.
FRACTIONAL HEAD OF PEOPLE
Someone owns it.
Ongoing senior People leadership for companies that need the function owned, but aren't ready for — or don't need — a full-time Head of People. We work as part of your leadership team, set priorities, and stay close enough to the work to make sure it gets done.
MIGHT INCLUDE
Salary bands + equity guidelines
A hiring plan for the next stage
Performance reviews that actually work
Manager coaching + tough conversations
People Ops + compliance basics
ONGOING, MONTH TO MONTH
FOCUSED PROJECTS
Get the thing done.
Sometimes you don't need ongoing People leadership. You have a specific piece of People work that needs senior judgment, a clear point of view, and someone to take it from messy to finished.
MIGHT INCLUDE
Building compensation bands + leveling
Designing a performance process
Restructuring a team or org
Rebuilding your recruiting process
Getting People infrastructure diligence-ready
FIXED SCOPE
INTERIM LEADERSHIP
Keep the seat covered.
Experienced People leadership when you're between hires or navigating a transition. We step in, keep the function moving, and help you figure out what the business needs next.
MIGHT INCLUDE
Leading an existing People team
Handling sensitive employee issues
Keeping critical hiring moving
Resetting priorities during a transition
Deciding what your next People hire should be
Handing off cleanly to the permanent leader
DEFINED TERM
what can sit inside an engagement
Every engagement is shaped around what the business needs right now. Here's what that can include.
HIRING
Headcount + hiring plans
Recruiting process + interview loops
Scorecards + hiring decisions
Offers + candidate closing
Recruiter + agency management
ATS selection + setup
Executive search support
PEOPLE OPERATIONS
Handbooks + policies
Onboarding + offboarding
Benefits + PEO selection
Payroll + HRIS
Multi-state + international compliance
Leaves + terminations
Office leases + workplace setup
PAY + EQUITY
Salary bands + leveling
Market benchmarking
Equity philosophy + grant guidelines
Sales + commission plans
Comp reviews + promotions
TEAM + CULTURE
Org design
Performance management
Manager development
Employee relations
Workforce planning
Values + operating norms
Reorganizations + reductions
NOT SURE WHICH ONE YOU NEED?
You don't have to diagnose the engagement before we talk. Tell us what's happening in the business, and we'll figure out what level of support actually makes sense.