Senior HR Generalist

Cognex is the largest, most successful and recognized global player in industrial machine vision! We are a financially strong, international company with no debt and have been in business for over 40 years. Using advanced optics, image sensors and artificial intelligence software Cognex vision and ID systems capture an image then analyze it to make sense of what’s being seen. We are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment, guided by our "Work Hard, Play Hard, Move Fast" culture, which celebrates employee innovation, determination, and dedication in a dynamic, fun, and distinctive atmosphere.

We are working on a hybrid schedule, 3 days in the office, 2 at home.

We are seeking a Senior HR Generalist to provide strategic and operational HR support to our corporate G&A functions. This role will play a key part in driving HR initiatives, supporting employee engagement, and partnering with business leaders to foster a positive and productive work environment. With a global component, the Senior HR Generalist will collaborate with both local and regional HR teams to ensure consistency in programs, support and compliance across multiple geographies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Business Partnership: Serve as a trusted guide to corporate function leaders and management, providing guidance on talent strategies, employee lifecycle events and programs, and employee relations. Build strong partnerships, offer thoughtful counsel to support organizational initiatives, and proactively identify business challenges and improvement opportunities to drive meaningful change.
• HR Programs & Employee Lifecycle Initiatives: Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of global HR programs, including Compensation Planning, Performance Management, and Talent Management, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. Provide guidance on HR policies, contributing to the creation and refinement of policies and programs that enhance employee experience and business outcomes throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Interviewing and Selection: Provide recruitment and selection assistance for assigned groups and work with business leaders, hiring managers and HR team to develop creative, cost-effective recruitment strategies.   
• Performance & Talent Development: Guide managers through performance reviews, goal setting, and talent development programs while identifying employee growth opportunities and implementing solutions to enhance business effectiveness and engagement.
• Global HR Coordination & Manager Support: Collaborate with international HR teams and managers of global teams to ensure alignment on policies, compliance, and employee experience across regions.
• HR Projects: Consult with the business and HR team to deliver on various ad-hoc projects as needed. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Strong understanding of HR principles, familiarity with US employment laws, and hands-on experience managing employee lifecycle events, including hiring, onboarding, compensation planning, talent and performance management, employee relations, and offboarding.
• Proficiency in HR systems and data analytics.
•  Excellent verbal and written skills with an ability to convey HR initiatives and updates to both leadership and staff.
• Experienced in building and managing stakeholder partnerships. Possesses strong interpersonal skills to establish, nurture, and maintain effective relationships with employees, managers, and business leaders.
• Solid business acumen with proven experience translating business needs into actions that will move the department forward.  
• Entrepreneurial spirit. We are a growing organization and need team members who thrive in a rapidly changing environment. Flexibility and a demonstrated ability to deal with ambiguity, while managing multiple priorities and projects in a fast paced, innovative organization is required. 
• Customer Focus. A demonstrated track record of proactively engaging employees and management at a variety of levels and with a strong degree of professional maturity and the ability to influence outcomes is essential.  
• Enthusiasm: High energy level with a driving sense of urgency and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Some early morning and after-hours work may be required to coordinate global support, ensuring smooth communication across time zones and effective collaboration with international teams.

Minimum Education and Work Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5+ years of HR experience, preferably in a corporate environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Cognex is an equal opportunity employer. Cognex evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.