At a glance
- Outcome
- Hired in 2 months on a very hard search
- Duration
- 2 months
- Service
- Professional Search
- Sector
- SaaS · Construction
- Location
- Munich, Germany
The challenge
The challenge.
The client needed an experienced Product Owner with hands-on construction-industry knowledge for its SaaS platform. The qualified pool in Germany was tiny — we identified just five matching profiles in the country, of whom only two were open to a conversation. We ran both candidates through a calibrated structured process and closed the hire in two months.
The engagement
How we ran it.
We staffed the search with senior recruiters who already operate in saas · construction and the local Munich market. The brief was calibrated in week one with the hiring manager, and we ran a tight structured process with weekly funnel reporting.
Sourcing was outbound-led, with deep market mapping of the qualified pool and direct candidate conversations — not job-board posts. Every shortlisted candidate was qualified against the hiring bar before reaching the client.
Roles hired
What we hired.
Product Owner
The client needed an experienced Product Owner with hands-on construction-industry knowledge for its SaaS platform. The qualified pool in Germany was tiny — we identified just five matching profiles in the country, of whom only two were open to a conversation. We ran both candidates through a calibrated structured process and closed the hire in two months.
Candidate landscape
Candidate landscape.
Munich local market
We started with the local Munich pool of saas · construction talent — passive senior profiles, not active job-seekers.
Adjacent markets & relocation
When the local pool was too narrow, we widened to adjacent DACH and EU markets and ran relocation as a parallel track where needed.
How we ran it
Process.
- Week 1
Calibration
Deep brief with the hiring manager, scorecard agreed, target-company list signed off.
- Weeks 2–3
Active outbound
Outbound to the calibrated long-list, structured screens, weekly funnel readout to the client.
- Final phase
Close
Final-round interviews, references, offer support and signed contract.
The outcome
Outcome.
Hired in 2 months on a very hard search — We ran both candidates through a calibrated structured process and closed the hire in two months.
Client quote: "A senior PM with deep construction-tech background — that pool is tiny in Germany, and Zero to One closed it." — Head of Product.
FAQ
FAQ.
- Why did this search work in 2 months?
- Because we started with a calibrated brief, ran an outbound-led process against a mapped long-list, and qualified rigorously before sending candidates. No job-board volume play.
- Do you take similar mandates in Munich?
- Yes — we run professional search mandates in Munich regularly. Brief us and we will come back inside 48 hours with a feasibility view.
- Can you guarantee a similar timeline?
- Every search has its own market dynamics. We commit to a calibrated timeline after week one and report against it weekly.
Hiring a product owner?