Remote HR Deal Lead, Associate Director

Cognizant; Lincoln (NE); Remote; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

Paid holidays plus 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, a senior leader to guide the people workstream across strategic bids and employee transitions. You will partner with Sales, Solutioning, Commercial, Finance, Legal, Delivery, and regional HR teams to design, diligence, and execute multi-country transitions and transfers.

The role requires cross-functional collaboration, strong stakeholder engagement, and the ability to present comprehensive people solutions to executives.

Qualifications

• Experience leading an HR deal workstream across outsourcing engagements.
• Experience in transformation, employee relations, or workforce transition.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and risk considerations.
• Client-facing delivery, cross-functional stakeholder management, and contract review.
• Commercial acumen with a solution-focused approach.
• Credibility with senior stakeholders and strong negotiation skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication with good judgment and risk awareness.
• Program management skills in ambiguous, deadline-driven environments.
• Collaborative, resilient, and culturally adept working style.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR input into people solution design for outsourcing pursuits with cross-functional teams.
• Assess regional transfer implications and define transfer, rebadge, rehire, restructuring approaches.
• Lead due diligence, map risks, and develop HR cost inputs for deal pricing.
• Review HR provisions in contracts and present solutions to senior stakeholders.
• Engage clients, deliver due diligence, design solutions, and lead Day One activities.
• Plan end-to-end employee transitions including communications, onboarding, payroll readiness, and handover.

Skills

HR deal leadership

Transformation/workforce transition

Employment law

Client-facing delivery

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Program management

Collaboration across cultures

Ownership & accountability

Cognizant values alignment

Job description

Cognizant is seeking an Associate Director, HR Deal Lead, a senior leader to guide the people workstream across strategic bids and employee transitions. You will partner with Sales, Solutioning, Commercial, Finance, Legal, Delivery, and regional HR teams to design, diligence, and execute multi-country transitions and transfers.

The role requires cross-functional collaboration, strong stakeholder engagement, and the ability to present comprehensive people solutions to executives.