A fast, independent check that the seniority you've written into a job spec and the number you've attached to it actually agree with each other. Built for the first time you're hiring a Head of X, a first in-house TA Manager, or a first Ops lead — when there's no internal benchmarking to check the work against.
The result is the same either way: a role scoped for more seniority than the salary supports, or priced against a band that stopped being current two funding rounds ago.
Whoever is closest to the pain writes the spec. They know what the role needs to solve — not what the market is paying for it right now.
Internal benchmarks set at the last round quietly go stale. The role gets priced against a number that stopped reflecting the market a year ago.
A spec written to solve every problem in the business ends up needing a Head-of salary attached to a Manager-level budget.
A longer search, a compromise hire who isn't quite senior enough, or an offer that falls through at the final stage over money.
It's the same lens used to scope senior TA hires inside scaling companies, applied to your spec before it goes live — so the mismatch gets caught before it costs you a search, not after.
Scope of ownership, stakeholder exposure, specialist competencies, and whether it's framed as a stretch role or a like-for-like hire.
Benchmarked for the equivalent seniority and location — not a generic average pulled from a salary survey.
Known pay discounts in charity, sports, or early-stage equity-heavy roles factored in, so the range reflects the market you're actually hiring into.
Scope of ownership, stakeholder exposure, specialist competencies, and framing — assessed on the spec itself, not on what you intended it to say.
Checked against current market data for the equivalent seniority and location.
Where relevant, known pay discounts (charity, sports, early-stage equity-heavy roles) applied so the range reflects the real market.
Under-scoped, over-scoped, or correctly priced — with the reasoning shown, not just asserted.
Series A/B founders or People/HR leads writing a senior or standalone hire for the first time
First Head of X, first in-house TA Manager, or first Ops lead — roles with no precedent inside the company
Teams with no internal benchmarking capability to check the spec against before it goes live
Anyone about to post a role and wanting a second, independent read before it's public
Companies that suspect a band has gone stale since the last funding round
Not for roles with an established internal band and recent comparable hires — you likely don't need this one
One role, one written verdict, no hourly billing. Send the job description and any existing internal benchmarking, and the report lands within 48 hours of receipt.
A few details so it's scoped properly, then the job description — a link or pasted text both work — and any existing internal benchmarking you have. No call required: we'll confirm scope and payment by email.
Thanks — that's everything needed to get started.
We'll confirm scope and payment by email within a few hours. Once confirmed, your written verdict lands within 48 hours.
Questions before then? marc@stackbuilderstalent.com