Chris Mannion
I help leaders at early-stage, smb technology companies to hire and retain top performers.
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About
Hi, I'm Chris, Royal Navy Veteran and Founder of Sonar Talent, the hiring platform that gives you instant access to a curated pool of smart generalists seeking their next role.In 2018, I struggled to fill critical roles on my supply chain team. I grew frustrated as I saw my peers successfully expand their teams and take on new responsibilities. It got me thinking: why has hiring become so complicated?Out of nowhere, I discovered an opportunity to move internally, lead a team of 30 recruiters, and finally understand the problem. Under the mentorship of my new boss, who had also recently transitioned from a general management role in the business, I found a new perspective on hiring.I found a deep connection in helping match supply and demand in the talent market. I was quickly promoted to senior leadership, leading recruitment operations, analytics, and enablement for a global team of more than 400 recruiters.The culmination of these experiences led me to where I am today – as founder of Sonar Talent. My mission is to empower leaders in high-growth tech companies to navigate the complex world of talent acquisition. Using AI-driven solutions, we're not just filling positions; we're helping you build the high-performance teams that are the backbone of your success.
Advising
I have over a decade of experience building great teams, from aerospace engineering to analytics and recruiting.Over the last 10 years, I've played the role of analytics leader in supply chain and talent domains, recruiting director, and engineering operations leader.I bring a holistic understanding of the importance of hiring and retaining top talent at high-growth companies, marrying business leadership with HR practicalities.I partner with entrepreneurs as an advisor and mentor during their growth phase. I help them lay the correct foundation for building a world-class team, avoiding expensive mis-hires and churn while reducing time away from the core business.If you are a founder or startup executive passionate about building great teams and have an appreciation for using data to make better decisions, I'd love to hear from you.My area of expertise is non-engineering roles at high-growth technology companies. I've worked with startups from pre-seed through pre-IPO and have experience at F500 companies and the miltiary.If you're interested in working together, click below to submit an inquiry, and I'll get back to you within 48 hours. You can also check out my FAQ to learn more.
FAQ
Who is your ideal client?My ideal client is a founder or senior leader at a high-growth technology company. We've had great success with startups from pre-seed to pre-IPO, where the need for solid hiring and retention is high.How many clients do you work with?I keep my advising business relatively small. I typically work with at most 3-4 companies at one time. Because of this, I required a discovery call before working together. The discovery call aims to assess mutual fit and not sell you on my advising services.How long does an advising engagement last?Most of my engagements last between 4 and 6 months, but that's not a requirement, and I expect this to be closer to 10 to 12 months in the future. My minimum commitment is for at least three months together. I always work with companies, and people will be a good long-term fit. My long-term goal is to position you and your business to operate without my advice.Do you have an advising "system"?I do not. Each relationship requires something very different given the age of the business, the founder, the product, the team, etc. My goal is not to come in and give "one-size-fits-all" advice. My goal is to listen, learn, and collect as much context as possible before making a recommendation of any sort.How do we start the relationship?Complete the form here to schedule a no-commitment discovery call to see if I can add value.
Contact
Let's connect 1:1 for a free informational call.Simple fill out the form below and I'll get back to you within 48 hours to schedule.