Foundational strategy for all your people needs

People Operations strategy for startups

Fractional Head of People

Embedded Recruitment

Interim Head of people

Our Services

  • Icon of three people's heads in suits

    PEO Management

    • PEO evaluation and selection

    • Manage relationship with the PEO

    • Educate team about medical, dental, vision and other benefits

    • Open Enrollment: re-negotiate benefits for upcoming year

  • Culture Initiatives

    • Understand and define current organizational culture

    • Help define company values

    • Determine priorities around culture initiatives

    • Regular check-ins and feedback with employees

    • Execute employee engagement surveys

    • Help run company-wide events to nurture engagement

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    Recruitment

    • End-to-end recruitment management

    • Implement an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

    • Source and screen potential candidates

    • Coordinate the hiring process

    • Manage salary and compensation negotiations

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    Performance Management

    • Oversee performance management and performance reviews

    • Onboard and monitor performance management platforms such as Lattice and 15Five

    • Help set OKRs and target goals for employees, departments and company

    • Develop performance improvement plans (PIP) as needed

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    Organization Structure and Development

    • Help leadership develop the org chart and plan future hires accordingly

    • Collaborate with Managers to map career opportunities for employees

    • Compensation Analysis: Research and create competitive compensation packages for different roles

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    Coaching

    • Equip Founders with tools/resources to mentor their organization

    • Coach senior leadership as they develop their direct reports

    • Provide guidance to first-time managers

    • Mentor junior or recently-hired People Ops leaders

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    Employee Relations

    • Employee relations support

    • Conflict resolution and mediate disputes

    • Policy development and enforcement

    • Design team-building programs and events

    • Oversee health and safety concerns

Contact Us

some Current and Past Clients include:

Our Philosophy

People are the true backbone of any thriving startup.

We understand the challenges early-stage startups face, from seed to Series C, especially when it comes to building a dynamic, inclusive culture that resonates with both team members and potential recruits.

One-of-a-kind Approach

We know your startup is unique, so our approach is deeply rooted in creating tailored solutions that fit seamlessly into your startup's culture whether you have an in-person, remote, or hybrid work environment. When we partner with you, it's not merely a consultancy engagement – it's a commitment.

Our Consultants meet with Founders one to two times weekly to craft forward-thinking strategies and delve deep into projects. This close collaboration means we embed ourselves into your business, getting to know who you are as a company, understanding your aspirations, and developing strategies that align with your mission.

As startups evolve, so do their People Operations needs. Before you even have a dedicated People Ops team, we lay the crucial groundwork, ensuring you're primed for success from the outset. In those transitional moments, when roles change and leadership shifts, we're there as your Interim Head of People, ensuring continuity and stability. Plus, after setting this foundational groundwork, we're poised to assist you in finding the ideal Head of People to continue the journey.

Our goal is to empower your startup with the tools, strategies, and expertise to drive success, always recognizing that it begins with your people.

a team of four leaning over a laptop, three are standing, pointing at the screen

Forward thinking strategies

Laying crucial groundwork

Success begins with your people

Forward thinking strategies Laying crucial groundwork Success begins with your people

Our Clients are saying…

  • “Sara jumped in fast when we needed support quickly, and was able to assist in strategic decisions as well as day to day tasks. She’s a quick learner and she genuinely cares for the people and teams that she’s working with — no matter how long she’s known them for.”

    Amanda Zuckerman
    Co-Founder, Dormify

  • “The SJ Startup Solutions team takes the time to thoroughly understand each client's specific needs and goals. Sara never offers boilerplate, one-size-fits-all solutions. Sara’s thoughtful, tailored recommendations have been invaluable for me, as she listens to my doubts and meets me where I am to show me her vision of the situation. I enthusiastically recommend SJ Startup Solutions and Sara’'s strategic counsel for any startup looking to build a world-class team and culture.”

    Alexia Zuloaga
    People & Culture Manager, Milo

  • "Sara is a very experienced HR professional and I've learned a lot from her. She is a great person and always shows compassion and empathy when communicating with our employees. I can always count on her when I need support. I thorougly enjoy working with her."

    Zita Szlatkovszky
    HR Manager based in Hungary, Rollbar

About the Founder

Sara Josephs

Hi, I’m Sara Josephs! I founded SJ Startup Solutions in 2021, because I saw a need to help startup Founders build successful People Ops + Recruitment strategies from the very beginning of their journeys. I understand the importance of a company’s mission and unique corporate culture, and that people are the key element to growth and longevity. My tailored approach combines empathy, experience, and expertise to help create winning strategies for long-term success.

Prior to starting SJ Startup Solutions, I was Head of People for four startups. My background in high-volume recruitment and investment banking has given me a solid foundation to thrive in agile, fast-paced, solutions-driven environments.

My educational background includes a BA in Economics and Environmental Sciences and Policy from Duke University; MS in Human Resources and Development from NYU; Certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.

I’m based in Miami and play an active role in the local startup ecosystem. In my spare time, you’ll find me working out or playing tennis.

Sara Joseph's headshot, she smiles at the camera, it is cropped in close to her face

Our Advisors

  • A photo of Lisa Sholkin, wearing a black fur vest, smiling at the camera

    Lisa Sholkin

    Lisa is currently the VP, People at Teampay, a Series B fintech company based in NYC.

    Previously, she was a Corporate Recruiter and global HR Executive at five tech start-ups starting with Uber. As HR counsel to Founders and CEO’s at global technology companies, she’s aligned and created HR programs and initiatives to meet rapidly changing business goals and priorities. Lisa has extensive experience managing hybrid and remote workforces over the past seven years.

  • A photo of Alex Dubovoy

    Alex Dubovoy

    Alex Dubovoy is the Executive Vice President and a Partner at the award-winning technology staffing firm, Averity, based in New York City. With 25 years of experience, he is an authority in the staffing industry and founder of DevOps & Drinks, a monthly meetup that brings together top talent in North America to discuss important matters and innovation in the world of DevOps, Security, Site Reliability, and Systems Engineering.

  • Kartheek Mulpuri headshot

    Kartheek Mulpuri

    Kartheek Mulpuri is a consulting CFO based in Miami who works primarily with software and services companies. He has held executive roles at ClickUp, MediaMath and b8ta and was previously a venture capitalist.

  • Caroline Maletta Headshot

    Caroline Maletta

    Caroline is currently the Managing Director, Global Head of People for Genesis Global Trading. Her career has primarily been in finance and fin tech. She has built strategic HR functions, elevated HR services delivery, drove quality, consistent talent management practices and developed organizational capabilities to attract, engage and retain a high-caliber workforce. Amid early-stage, high-growth and fast-moving entrepreneurial environments, she has served as a trusted, consultative partner to the executive team to set and execute a business-aligned talent management strategy.

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