Senior HR Advisor, Americas

Cognite - AI for Industry

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

As Senior HR Advisor, Americas, you serve as the regional center of excellence for employment compliance, independent investigations, and policy architecture. People Business Partners (PBPs) partner with business units on talent strategy and team design, while you act as the senior technical authority across Cognite’s Americas footprint. Reporting to the VP, P&O Operations & Rewards, you partner with local People Operations, which manages day-to-day HR workflows, and collaborate closely with PBPs and global colleagues.

The role is based at Cognite’s headquarters in Tempe, Arizona, with a hybrid work model requiring three days per week in the office. Cognite is being acquired by Schneider Electric, the Americas region is growing, and policies and benefits are being aligned. The company is also building an AI-first P&O function using HiBob as its system of record and AI tools such as Claude.

You will own and modernize US and regional policies, advise on complex employee relations matters, provide escalation support for leaves and accommodations, and oversee aspects of immigration compliance. You will coach managers, identify workplace trends, use AI and automation responsibly to improve advisory work, and collaborate with colleagues across the US, Norway, and India.

Requirements

• At least 8 years of progressive HR advisory, employee relations, generalist, or HRBP experience, including hands-on US case and leave experience across multiple states.
• Command of FMLA, ADA, Title VII, state paid-leave requirements, and wage-and-hour rules, with judgment about when to involve Legal or outside counsel.
• Track record of independently leading sensitive investigations and reaching clear, defensible outcomes.
• Demonstrated success reviewing, drafting, and implementing handbooks and policies, with an emphasis on clarity, accessibility, and multi-state compliance.
• Experience in a scaling technology, SaaS, or software company; ideally including an acquisition or integration and policy and benefits harmonization.
• Ability to work as a senior individual contributor, drive initiatives from strategy through delivery, own outcomes, and influence managers and PBPs.
• Confident, articulate, proactive communicator with executive presence and excellent written communication.
• Calm, discreet, and fair under pressure.
• Experience collaborating across a global matrix and with local People Operations teams, including working across time zones with colleagues in Norway and India.
• Curiosity and a point of view on AI; current or anticipated use of tools such as Claude and automation to scale advisory work, with an understanding of where human judgment must remain involved.

Nice To Haves

• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent certification, or a law degree.
• Experience with HiBob or a comparable HRIS and a ticketing tool such as Jira Service Management.
• Experience building or running AI-assisted HR workflows, such as knowledge bases, case summaries, or first-line answers.
• Experience with an ethics hotline or speak-up program and audit readiness, such as SOX or similar.
• Experience with benefits vendors, brokers, or a PEO, and with immigration vendors.
• Direct experience supporting HR due diligence, integration, or post-merger organizational transitions.
• Experience with multi-state employment.

Responsibilities

• Own, review, assess, modernize, and implement the US Employee Handbook and regional policies, prioritizing simplicity, clarity, and practical usability.
• Use real employee cases to identify when policies need improvement, develop tested recommendations, and drive implementation.
• Maintain policies across states where Cognite employs people, keeping them audit-ready for internal and external reviews, including SOX-style controls.
• Monitor relevant laws and regulations and translate them into accessible guidance for managers and employees across a multi-state footprint.
• Partner with the VP, P&O Operations & Rewards and the M&A working group to evaluate, align, and draft harmonized policy frameworks during integration with Schneider Electric.
• Partner on complex employee relations matters, including conflicts, complaints, conduct, and performance issues.
• Work with internal and external counsel on specialized employment matters, litigation prevention, and regulatory updates.
• Provide Tier-3 compliance and escalation support for complex or disputed leaves, including FMLA, medical, and parental leaves.
• Lead high-risk ADA interactive accommodation processes in partnership with People Operations, which handles day-to-day leave administration and vendor routing.
• Serve as a regional compliance bridge with Global Mobility and external immigration counsel on specialized US immigration cases and Department of Homeland Security compliance requirements.
• Coach managers, in collaboration with PBPs, on objective disciplinary documentation, fair employment practices, workplace conduct standards, and difficult policy conversations.
• Identify regional workplace themes and systemic trends and equip PBPs and P&O leadership with data to address root causes before issues escalate.
• Use AI tools in everyday work while retaining accountability and responsibility for decisions.
• Use HiBob and automation to simplify policy lookup, improve delivery speed, and strengthen HR insights.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Norway, India, and the US; participate in weekly case reviews with People Operations and PBPs; and adapt global frameworks to US standards.
• Navigate fast-moving and ambiguous situations with agility, resilience, and a hands-on builder mindset.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Competitive health, dental, vision, and 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: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed