People Operations Manager

Cognite • Phoenix, AZ

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

Cognite operates at the forefront of industrial digitalization, building AI and data solutions that solve the world’s hardest, highest-impact problems. We are looking for a People Operations Manager to be the operational backbone of our US/AMER People function. This is a hands-on, detail-oriented role at the heart of the employee experience — the person our employees and managers turn to first when they need support, and the person our People team relies on to keep our HR infrastructure accurate and running smoothly. You will own the day-to-day delivery of core people operations: payroll coordination, onboarding and offboarding, HRIS data management, benefits administration, and first-line employee support. You will work closely with the VP, People Operations & Rewards and partner with the Senior Director, HR on US compliance matters, providing the operational and administrative backbone that keeps us compliant and audit-ready. This is an individual contributor role suited to someone who takes genuine pride in precision, process, and service — and who thrives in a fast-moving, high-growth environment where no two days are the same.

Requirements

• 7+ years of HR Operations or People Operations experience in a fast-paced, scaling environment.
• Experience with modern HRIS (I.e HiBob) and payroll vendors such as ADP
• Working knowledge of US federal and Arizona state employment law, including leave management and benefits compliance.
• Strong HRIS proficiency with a demonstrated commitment to data accuracy and integrity.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
• SPHR/SHRM-SCP certification preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a high-growth technology or SaaS company.
• Exposure to multistate US employment compliance and payroll across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience coordinating benefits open enrollment and managing vendor relationships.
• Familiarity working within or alongside an international People & Organization team.

Responsibilities

• Own the coordination with Cognite’s outsourced ADP payroll provider, ensuring accurate and timely transmission of all payroll inputs through automated processes, changes, and off-cycle adjustments.
• Conduct required audits of payroll data, HRIS records, and employee files to ensure accuracy, compliance, and consistency across all US jurisdictions.
• Act as the primary liaison between the People team and payroll — resolving discrepancies quickly and escalating material issues appropriately.
• Own the automated and seamless onboarding and offboarding experience for US/AMER employees - in line with compliance requirements.
• Process all HRIS lifecycle events accurately and promptly: new hires, role changes, leaves, promotions, transfers, and terminations.
• Oversee the day-to-day administration of US employee benefits, including health, dental, vision, 401(k), and leave programs — ensuring high-quality, responsive service delivery.
• Act as the operational liaison with benefits brokers and providers, supporting plan renewals, open enrollment, and the implementation of plan changes.
• Serve as the primary first-line support contact for US/AMER employees and managers across all HR operational queries — triaging, resolving, and routing requests through Jira.
• Support US employment compliance processes in partnership with the Senior Director, HR — covering federal and multistate requirements, leave management, and policy documentation.
• Coordinate with Talent Acquisition, Finance, and People Business Partners on headcount changes, new hire processing, and position management.
• Maintain a high standard of HRIS data integrity — ensuring all employee records are accurate, complete, and up to date at all times.
• Identify and flag data discrepancies proactively, working with relevant team members to resolve them at the source.
• Support HRIS system updates, configuration changes, and process improvement initiatives as the People team scales.
• Drive regional initiatives for process improvement and automation, leveraging appropriate technology, AI tools, and process design to increase efficiency and reduce manual effort across People Ops.
• Identify and resolve gaps in HR systems and workflows, partnering with global operations and systems teams to improve automation, data integrity, and process consistency.
• Document, maintain, and socialise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for recurring People Ops tasks in partnership with the global team, ensuring alignment with both global standards and local US requirements.

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager