Human Resources Strategic Deals Lead

Cognizant; Austin (TX); Remote; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

Paid holidays/PTO

401(k) plan

Long-term/Short-term Disability

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking an Associate Director, HR Deal Lead to oversee the people workstream across strategic bids and employee transitions. You will collaborate with Sales, Solutioning, Commercial, Finance, Legal, Delivery, and regional HR teams, supporting outsourcing opportunities across the Americas and beyond.

Travel to the Americas and internationally may be required. You will lead HR input into solution design, due diligence, and cost inputs while managing client-facing activities and

Qualifications

• Experience leading an HR deal workstream with end-to-end activities for outsourcing engagements.
• Experience in transformation, employee relations, or workforce transition with independent leadership of complex workstreams.
• Strong practical knowledge of employment law.
• Experience in client-facing delivery, commercial risk assessment, contractual review, and cross-functional stakeholder management.
• Commercial acumen and a solution-focused approach.
• Credibility with senior stakeholders and strong risk judgment.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and negotiation confidence.
• Strong program management skills in ambiguity and deadlines.
• Collaborative, resilient, and able to work across cultures.
• Ownership mindset and passion for delivering meaningful outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR input into people solution design for outsourcing pursuits with cross-functional teams.
• Assess regional sensitivities and regulatory transfer implications; define transfer, rebadge, rehire, restructuring and integration approaches.
• Lead people due diligence and translate data into risks, assumptions, dependencies, liabilities, and mitigation actions; develop HR cost inputs for deal pricing.
• Review people-related provisions in contracts and documents; present people solution to senior stakeholders and influence decisions.
• Establish strong client engagement and lead bid-related activities, including presentations, due diligence, onboarding, and HR handover.
• Plan and deliver end-to-end employee transitions, including communications, onboarding, payroll readiness, stabilization, and handover.

Skills

HR deal leadership

Transformation

Employment law

Client-facing delivery

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Program management

Cross-cultural collaboration

Ownership mindset

Job description

About Cognizant Corporate

Cognizant Corporate is a global community united by a shared purpose: to make a meaningful impact. We are committed to excellence and driven by outcomes that matter. Collaboration is at the heart of how we work, and our forward-thinking mindset fuels continuous learning, innovation, and growth.

At Cognizant, careers transcend titles. We empower our people to think strategically, inspire others, and lead with purpose, always guided by our core values.

About the role

As an Associate Director, HR Deal Lead , you will lead the people workstream across strategic bids and employee transitions, from early solution design and due diligence through contracting, consultation, employee transfer, and operational handover.

You will be a key member of the HR Strategic Deals & Transitions team, collaborating with Sales, Solutioning, Commercial, Finance, Legal, Delivery, and regional HR teams. You will independently support outsourcing opportunities across the Americas and other countries, escalating the most complex matters to senior HR Strategic Deals leadership.

This role reports to a Director or Senior Director and may require travel across the Americas and internationally.

In this role, you will:

• Lead HR input into people solution design for outsourcing pursuits, partnering with Sales, Solutioning, Commercial, Finance, Legal, Delivery, and regional HR teams.

• Assess regional sensitivities and regulatory employee-transfer implications. Define appropriate transfer, rebadge, rehire, restructuring, and integration approaches.

• Lead people due diligence and translate employee data into clear risks, assumptions, dependencies, liabilities, and mitigation actions. Develop HR cost inputs covering compensation and benefits, pensions, payroll, redundancy or severance, consultation, and transition activity to support deal pricing and approvals.

• Review people-related provisions in master services agreements, statements of work, transfer schedules, and related contractual documents while working closely with Legal and Commercial teams. Present the people solution to senior internal and client stakeholders, including C-suite stakeholders, provide practical guidance, and influence decisions where workforce risk may affect deal viability or delivery.

• Establish strong customer engagement and lead client-facing activities, including oral presentations, due diligence, solution design, town halls, Day One activities, offer letters, client status reporting, and meetings. Plan and deliver end-to-end employee transitions, including employee communications, onboarding, payroll and benefits readiness, stabilization, and HR handover. Contribute to team capability through reusable tools, playbooks, training, coaching, and knowledge sharing.

You will embrace our vibrant culture by striving for excellence, focusing on meaningful outcomes, and collaborating effectively. You will prioritize quality, stay curious, commit to continuous learning, take ownership, build relationships, and focus on personal growth to help drive business strategy and create meaningful career opportunities and impactful work.

What you must have to be considered

• Experience leading an HR deal workstream, including end-to-end people activities supporting outsourcing engagements.

• Experience in transformation, employee relations, or workforce transition, with demonstrated success independently leading complex workstreams.

• Strong practical knowledge of employment law.

• Experience in client-facing delivery, commercial risk assessment, contractual review, and cross-functional stakeholder management within a matrix organization.

• Commercial acumen and a solution-focused approach.

• Credibility with senior stakeholders, along with strong judgment and risk awareness.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills and confidence in negotiation.

• Strong program management skills and the ability to work effectively amid ambiguity, competing priorities, and deadlines.

• A collaborative and resilient working style, with the ability to work effectively across cultures.

• A strong sense of ownership, a desire to create meaningful outcomes, and a passion for work that serves customers, communities, or global challenges.

• Embodiment of Cognizant’s values: Work as One, Dare to Innovate, Raise the Bar, Do the Right Thing, and Own It.

These will help you succeed

• Working knowledge of European Acquired Rights Directive frameworks and representative body requirements.

• Experience in technology services or outsourcing.

• Exposure to multi-country employee transitions.

• The ability to deliver high-quality and timely bid support.

• The ability to develop accurate people costs and clearly defined risk positions.

• Strong client and internal stakeholder engagement skills.

• Experience delivering compliant, well-governed employee transitions and smooth operational handovers.

• A commitment to improving team capacity, consistency, and reusable capability.

Work model

We strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a remote position open to qualified applicants in the United States . Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. They may change based on the project you are engaged in and business or client requirements. We will always be clear about role expectations.

We are excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Consider your transferable experiences and unique skills that could bring new and valuable perspectives to this role.

Salary and Other Compensation

Applications will be accepted until October 29, 2026.

The annual salary for this position is between $150,000 - $170,000, depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

Benefits

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off

• 401(k) plan and contributions

• Long-term/Short-term Disability

• Paid Parental Leave

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Disclaimer

The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.