Case Study: Partnering with Operations Executive to Build an HR Department

The Challenge:
The client was scaling quickly without a formal HR function. People operations were managed in silos across leadership and operations, leading to inconsistent processes, gaps in compliance, and unclear accountability. They needed a dedicated, structured HR foundation that could support growth and free up the COO for higher-level strategy.

Our Approach:
Envision People and Culture partnered with the COO to lead the full build-out of an internal HR department—designing systems, documentation, and processes from the ground up.

Key Steps We Took:

• Conducted a full HR diagnostic to assess gaps in compliance, onboarding, documentation, and employee experience

• Co-developed a 90-day roadmap for HR infrastructure and operational transition

• Implemented the company’s first employee handbook, aligning policies with company culture and compliance standards

• Introduced a scalable HRIS for centralized employee data, PTO, and reporting

• Created toolkits for onboarding, offboarding, hiring, performance reviews, and progressive discipline

• Supported the rollout of an OKR-aligned performance management system

• Delivered manager coaching and internal HR communication plans to promote adoption

The Impact:

1. A fully operational HR function transitioned from the COO in under 90 days

2. Enabled scalable growth from 25 to 70+ employees with structured systems

3. Achieved full compliance and documentation readiness for audits and due diligence

4. Increased team confidence in HR processes and internal communications

5. Freed up 15+ hours/week of executive bandwidth to focus on strategic growth