How To Fill Key Positions In A Startup

By TPP Tribe
August 8, 2022
7:29 pm
1 Comments

Hiring is one of the biggest challenges every start-up faces. Employers struggle with hiring the right people that complement their abilities and help to build the business. It is not just about hiring the right people but knowing the positions you need to hire. 

Peak Performer has created a list of positions every start-upneeds to fill when expanding the company. This list does notapply to every start-up but shows the skill sets necessary for growing successful start-ups. 

The CEO (Chief Executive Officer)

Many founders are sceptical about hiring a CEO because they believe it will create leadership issues. However, a CEO can help redirect the founder’s focus on significant issues. A CEO will allow the founder to have a more hands-on approach to the company’s products and essential services. Nevertheless, the founder can operate as the CEO, provided that competent personnel are employed to oversee the production and development arms. 

Duties of the CEO:

● The CEO is responsible for charting the strategic vision of the company. They create the roadmaps that the start-up will follow.

● They are responsible for the hiring of vital positions within the company. They should be able to find individuals who can connect with the company’s vision and hire them. 

● They are responsible for liaising with investors and seeking out new investors.

● They seek strategic partnerships that would allow for the growth of the company.

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Qualities to look for when hiring a CEO: 

● Leadership: The CEO is the captain of the ship. They bear the responsibility for all the organisation’s decisions.

● Flexible: The CEO should be able to adapt to changes that occur within the organisation and their industry.

● Multitasking: A good CEO should be able to multitask. They should be able to keep up with the activities of all departments and ensure they are functional.

● Communication: CEOs should be strong communicators. They should be able to communicate the company’s vision to employees and investors.

CEO is the most important position in every organisation; choose the right person. As the founder, if you feel you are a good fit for the role, then take steps to improve your performance in the role. 

The Administrative Head (COO)

The Chief Operations Officer or Administrative Head is responsible for the day-to-day activities of an organisation. They manage all the administrative duties of the start-up. They help to take the burden of operations off the founder or CEO’s shoulders. They should be good at resource management to ensure the company survives in the long run. A familiar dynamic in start-ups has one of the co-founders in the COO role. 

Duties of the COO:

● Logistic Operations: They are responsible for finding asuitable working space for the company.

● They are responsible for the office facilities and other resources.

● They oversee hiring administrative and support staff.

● They provide the equipment needed by employees in various departments.

Qualities to look for in a COO:

● Organisational skills: The COO ensures the ship is smooth sailing. They are responsible for organising operations so the workplace functions.

● Management skills: They should be able to run the workplace and manage its resources efficiently.

● Multitasking: The COO should be able to multitask also. It is an essential skill for leaders in the early stages of a start-up.

If you have a co-founder who already handles this role reliably, there will not be a need to hire a COO. 

Chief Technical Officer

The CTO is responsible for the innovations and research in improving products. They take the initiative to innovate the products to meet the customer’s needs. Most founders relinquish the CEO role to handle this position, as it puts them closer to their inventions or products. 

Duties of the CTO:

● Spearhead product innovation. The CTO is responsible for innovating the products and services of the organisation. 

● They manage testing and research meant to improve the product.

● They ensure that customer feedback is considered when improving the product.

● They oversee the production activities of the organisation.

Qualities to look for when hiring a CTO:

● Belief in the product: The CTO must be someone who has a strong belief in the product. They must believe that the product or service they are creating is meaningful.

● Resourceful: The CTO should be someone capable. They should have the technical know-how of the product and its components. 

● A good CTO should be passionate. They should have the ability to make things happen and push changes. 

The CTO’s role is as crucial as the CEO’s. The role shouldeither be filled by one of the founders or an employee who has technical skills and has been at the organisation for a long time.

The Chief Financial Officer CFO

The CFO is responsible for managing the finances of a company. They create the structure for the organisation’s spending and payments. They also allocate financial resources to the various departments. They also manage the company’s bank accounts.

Duties of the CFO:

● The CFO is responsible for creating payroll and expense structures.

● They are responsible for maintaining the financial well-being of the organisation. 

● They advise the CEO on important financial decisions necessary for the start-up’s survival. 

● They are responsible for negotiations with creditors and banks to secure the funding the company needs.

Qualities to look for when employing a CFO:

● Business Acumen: The CFO needs to be savvy enough to navigate the financial situations that face young businesses. They should be able to navigate the creation of credit lines and other skills necessary for the business’s survival.

● Financial Acumen: The CFO should have a high-levelunderstanding of financial management. They should be able to take care of the financial operations of a business.

A CFO should have a lot of experience and must be someone you can trust. They should be able to navigate the company through various financial challenges and overcome them.

Head of Marketing (VP of Sales)

A marketing lead is vital in creating the image of the brand. Ideally, they should have prior experience in a similar role. They create the gospel or idea the products should pass to customers. They are necessary to ensure the product’s penetration into the market.

Duties of the Marketing Lead:

● Creates the company brand’s image or profile.

● Designs adverts and pitches to increase sales.

● They are responsible for creating strategic partnerships with people and other brands in line with the organisation’s image. 

● They are responsible for driving sales and the market performance of the products.

● They are responsible for customer and market research. The marketing lead should conduct tests on how the public views the products. 

Qualities to look for in a Marketing Lead:

● Innovative: They can find new ways of presenting the company and their products to the public.

● Socially Aware: The marketing lead should be able to manage social narratives and trends and utilise them for the brand’s success.

● Market Understanding: They should understand the current market and their target audience. 

You need to hire someone who understands the company and the product and how to create market appeal for it. 

Human Resource Manager

HR is one of the more important roles on this list. They are responsible for the hiring and releasing of employees. They ensure that the relationships between all employees are cordial and professional. They are also necessary for building a good employer-employee relationship.

Duties of the HR:

● They are responsible for creating the corporate policies that guide staff.

● They are responsible for ensuring safe working conditions for all employees.

● They are the mediators in disputes between the employer and the employees.

● They are also responsible for onboarding new staff.

Qualities to look for when employing an HRM:

● People Management Skills: They should be able to manage all the employees within the workplace and the executive team.

● Mediation Skills: A good HR can manage disputes and arguments that may arise in the workplace.

● Accessible: They should be approachable and accessible to all employees. These would allow employees to report issues promptly.

A good HR ensures that the start-up system functions at optimal. They will also help to create hiring structures that help the start-up acquire the best talent.

Customer Service or Customer Relations

The CSR is responsible for interacting with the customers. They assist customers in onboarding to the start-up’s services. They are the closest to the customer. They also represent the company in their dealings with the customers and are expected to be well-mannered. 

Duties of the CSR:

● They are responsible for community building among the product’s customers. They should drive initiatives that help to create communities around the product.

● They are responsible for assisting customers with difficulties and challenges they may encounter while using the start-up’s products and services. 

● They create guides for customers on how to use products and services.

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