Global HR Strategic Deals leader

Cognizant is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' business, operating, and technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build, and run more innovative and efficient businesses. Headquartered in the U.S., Cognizant, a member of the NASDAQ-100, is consistently listed among the most admired companies in the world. Learn how Cognizant helps clients lead with digital at

This is a Leadership Senior Director role  believe how you lead is as important as what you deliver. Cognizant leaders at every level:
Drive our business strategy and inspire teams around our future. Live the leadership behaviors, leading themselves, others and the business. Uphold our Values, role modeling them in every action and decision. Nurture our people and culture, creating a workplace where all can thrive.

At Cognizant, leadership transcends titles and is embodied in actions and behaviors. We empower our leaders at every level to drive business strategy, inspire teams, uphold our values, and foster an inclusive culture.

Cognizant helps companies modernize technology, reimagine processes and transform experiences so they stay ahead in a fast-changing world.

Our Global Human Resources organization is looking for a Global HR Strategic Deals Leader to join our journey. We are seeking an experienced, globally minded HR leader with deep strategic transaction, employee transfer, and stakeholder management expertise. As a member of our team, you will lead the people solution for complex, multi-country strategic deals and M&A transactions.

The Global HR Strategic Deals Leader provides HR leadership and expertise for transactions involving complex, multi-geography rebadging strategies. This role partners closely with Business Development, deal teams, client executives, and cross-functional stakeholders to design and execute HR solutions that enable seamless employee transfers. The leader also engages senior business leadership to align the HR strategy with corporate growth objectives, mentors experienced team members, and drives continuous improvement across the Strategic Deals HR M&A capability.

Every choice we make aligns to our vision: to become the pre-eminent technology services partner to the world’s top companies.

At Cognizant, we are a high-performing team with heart. Our solutions are in demand and we’re passionate about making a difference. If you have experience with the above, are a selfless leader, and are committed to client-facing environment; if you want to grow your career with a team that wants to build something great together, we want to hear from you!

• Lead complex, multi-country deals and solution all HR aspects, including compliance, compensation, benefits, talent retention, cultural integration, and change management.
• Perform due diligence, assess compensation and benefits gaps, and ensure alignment on cost implications.
• Advise deal teams and clients on compensation harmonization, benefits mapping, and retention strategies that support talent continuity.
• Partner with Business Development and Legal to assess deal feasibility and workforce implications, including participation in internal deal qualification reviews.
• Design and implement risk-mitigated HR frameworks that comply with local labor laws, collective agreements, and global standards.
• Lead stakeholder engagement across HR, Operations, Finance, and Legal to ensure alignment and readiness.
• Coach senior sales teams, leadership, client teams, internal stakeholders, and key decision-makers on HR issues, processes, and risk sensitivities within strategic deals.
• Engage senior business unit leaders to…