Human Resources Director - Americas

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Cognite is seeking a Human Resources Director(Americas) to serve as the principal Employee Relations partner and HR advisor for the Americas organization. Based in Phoenix, Arizona 3-4 days per week in-office, this role blends strategic thought leadership with hands-on execution, requiring deep command of U.S. employment law, compliance, and employee relations—paired with the ability to collaborate effectively across a global People function.

This role is optimal for someone who can design simple, scalable solutions while maintaining the stakeholder influence and business acumen to drive adoption and impact.

Strategic Leadership

• 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.

Policy Development & Infrastructure

• 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

Employee Relations & Compliance

• 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

Immigration & Global Mobility

• 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

The ideal candidate brings the credibility, judgment, and perspective of a senior HR leader, paired with the agility and curiosity of a practitioner who values being close to the work. You will play a pivotal role in scaling the HR foundation for the Americas, strengthening alignment with Cognite's global People strategy, and reinforcing Cognite's mission and values across every stage of the…