Cognite · 5 hours ago
Human Resources Director Americas
Phoenix, AZ
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
12+ years expCognite is a leader in industrial digitalization, focusing on AI and data solutions to tackle significant global challenges. They are seeking a Human Resources Director for the Americas to lead employee relations and HR advisory, blending strategic leadership with hands-on execution in compliance and employee relations.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Industrial AutomationInformation TechnologyMachine LearningSaaS
Responsibilities
Serve as the principal employee relations leader for the Americas, acting as trusted advisor to regional and global leadership while aligning business priorities with compliant, scalable people practices across a multi-state footprint
Drive organizational synergy by partnering with global counterparts (Norway/India) and local specialists (PBPs, OD, and People Ops). You will ensure that global standards for leadership and policy are translated into seamless, accountable workflows that enhance the local employee lifecycle
Scale global People initiatives within the Americas by balancing execution rigor with a deep understanding of the U.S. landscape. You will act as a strategic contributor to the global People function, ensuring that regional nuances enhance—rather than hinder—organization-wide alignment and excellence
Review, assess, and continuously improve existing People policies and the U.S. employee handbook, ensuring clarity, accessibility, compliance, and alignment with Cognite's culture and values
Design and implement pragmatic, user-friendly policies that are simple to understand and straightforward to execute—avoiding unnecessary complexity while maintaining legal rigor and business relevance
Translate complex employment law and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for managers and employees
Drive consistency and scalability in policy application across geographies, partnering with global peers to harmonize where appropriate while respecting local legal requirements
Partner with Legal to ensure policies effectively mitigate risk while supporting a high-trust, high-performance culture
Own employee relations across the Americas, including complex investigations, corrective actions, performance management, and terminations, ensuring fairness, consistency, and compliance with local legislation
Maintain deep, current expertise in U.S. federal employment law and multi-state regulations, with emphasis on Texas and Arizona compliance requirements
Design and continuously refine risk-mitigation frameworks and investigation protocols to proactively address compliance risks across jurisdictions
Partner strategically with Legal on sensitive employee matters, litigation prevention, and regulatory compliance initiatives
Execute terminations and sensitive HR interventions with composure, discretion, and alignment with legal requirements
Oversee immigration matters,and compliance with Department of Homeland Security requirements in partnership with internal and external Legal where required
Manage global mobility arrangements for U.S.-based employees on international assignment
Recognized as a proactive, trusted advisor to senior leaders, line-level managers, and global People Business Partners—providing sound judgment and practical solutions to complex people challenges with credibility across the organization
A robust compliance and employee relations foundation established across multiple U.S. states, ensuring operational excellence, reduced risk exposure, and consistent application of policies
Modernized, simplified employee handbook and policy suite that employees and managers find clear, accessible, and easy to apply—resulting in reduced ambiguity, improved compliance, and enhanced manager confidence
Enhanced leadership capability across the organization through coaching, feedback, and development partnerships with people managers
Qualification
Required
12+ years of progressive HR experience, including 5+ years in a senior-level HR Director, HRBP, or People Operations role managing multi-state operations
Track record supporting scaling SaaS or technology organizations through hypergrowth phases, with demonstrated comfort navigating ambiguity and change
Deep expertise in U.S. employment law, compliance, and employee relations, with proven success advising leaders in complex multi-state environments
Demonstrated success designing, reviewing, and improving employee handbooks and policy frameworks—with a strong bias toward simplicity, clarity, and usability over complexity
Proven ability to establish strong collaborative partnerships with People Business Partners, Organizational Development teams, and cross-functional peers in matrixed, global environments
Experience building or refining People operating models, with clear understanding of how to divide responsibilities, streamline workflows, and enable seamless collaboration across HR functions
Benefits
Competitive compensation
401(k) with employer matching
Competitive health, dental, vision & disability coverages for employees and all dependents
Unlimited PTO
Paid Parental Leave Program
Employee Referral Program
A highly modern and fun working environment with sublime culture across the organization
Paid mobile phone and WiFi
Company
Cognite
Cognite develops an industrial IoT data platform that enables digital transformation of heavy-asset industries.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$338.21MKey Investors
Saudi AramcoTCVAccel
2022-02-02Secondary Market· $113M
2021-05-19Series B· $150M
2020-10-27Series A· $75M
Leadership Team
Girish Rishi
Chair and CEO
Fredrik Anfinsen
Co-Founder and Director of Product Development
Recent News
Business Wire
2026-01-13
Morningstar.com
2025-12-04
2025-12-02
Company data provided by crunchbase