Here is how it worked at every company I have been at including new orgs in tech

HR trains managers on the goal setting process, how to use goals to manage employees, teaches about smart goals, how goals are used in bonus calculations and promotions etc. They set The timeline for managers to have The conversations with the team. HR never sets the goals or gives goals.

The department org and region set their goals, decide what level is complete and HR is only there to support and normalize ratings (one manager rates all employees as superstars and one is overly harsh) across the org and help managers to make sure they are actually managing their employees.

HR never sets a goal for any org but their own.

I think this is actually one good role of HR. Handle the admin stuff of goal setting so the org only has to worry about managing to their own goals.


So when I say lead, they are the org to manage the process, but the goals are set by the CEO down to each org sets based on CEO goals etc. But if you though I meant HR sets and rates the goals that is not what I mean. They are admin to facilitate the process and take care of it the HR files etc.