Human Resources Manager in Columbia, Maryland at Cogent People Inc

• Employment Type: Full-time, W2 position with Cogent People Inc.
  This is a direct hire position with full benefits.
• Location: Hybrid (Columbia, MD – 3 days onsite per week)

Work Authorization Requirements

To comply with government contracting requirements, candidates must meet all of the following:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or valid EAD holder
• Sponsorship (H-1B) is not available for this position (now or in the future).
• Candidates who do not meet these requirements will not be considered.

About Cogent People Inc.

• Cogent People Inc. is a government consulting and technology services firm that supports mission-critical federal and commercial programs. We deliver secure, scalable, and modern digital solutions across complex IT environments while helping clients improve operations, compliance, and mission outcomes.
• Our teams thrive at the intersection of engineering excellence and mission impact, building systems that matter.

Job Overview

• Cogent People Inc. is seeking a Human Resources Manager to lead and execute strategic and operational HR initiatives across the organization while serving as a trusted advisor to leadership and employees. This role is responsible for driving talent management, employee relations, performance management, recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, compliance, organizational development, and workforce planning efforts that support business growth and organizational effectiveness.

The ideal candidate will bring strong HR business partnership experience, exceptional relationship-building skills, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic government contracting environment. This individual must be equally comfortable developing strategy and executing day-to-day HR operations.

What You'll Do

Talent Acquisition & HR Operations

• Manage full-cycle recruiting efforts, partnering with hiring managers to attract, assess, and onboard top talent.
• Develop and maintain HR policies, procedures, and process documentation to ensure consistency, compliance, and business continuity.
• Administer HR programs, reporting, HRIS data management, and workforce analytics to support informed business decisions.

HR Business Partnership & Organizational Effectiveness

• Partner with leaders to develop and execute people strategies aligned with business objectives and growth initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and coach to managers on employee relations, performance management, leadership effectiveness, and organizational challenges.
• Provide recommendations on workforce planning, succession planning, employee development, and talent retention strategies.

Talent Management & Employee Experience

• Lead the performance management process, including goal setting, performance reviews, employee development planning, and manager coaching.
• Implement employee engagement initiatives, recognition programs, leadership communications, Lunch & Learn sessions, and company-wide employee programs.
• Support employees throughout the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, development, career growth, and offboarding.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and government contracting requirements.
• Conduct workplace investigations and provide guidance on employee relations matters, corrective actions, accommodations, and conflict resolution.
• Partner with Payroll, Benefits and Operations teams to support organizational compliance and operational effectiveness.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of progressive Human Resources experience in an HR Generalist, HR Business Partner, or HR Manager capacity.
• Demonstrated experience supporting employee relations, performance management, talent acquisition, organizational development, and workforce planning initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, HR best practices, compliance requirements, and employee lifecycle management.
• Experience developing and implementing HR processes, programs, and operational improvements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Experience utilizing HRIS platforms, workforce reporting tools, and payroll or benefits platforms such as Paylocity.

What Will Set You Apart

• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
• Experience supporting government contractors or federal clients.
• Knowledge of OFCCP, EEO, affirmative action, and federal contractor compliance requirements.
• Experience building HR infrastructure, policies, procedures, and scalable people programs.
• Experience creating workforce analytics, reporting dashboards, and executive-level HR metrics.
• Background supporting technology, consulting, professional services, or government contracting organizations.
• Experience facilitating leadership development, manager training, and employee engagement programs.
• Knowledge of Paylocity is preferred.

Why Cogent People Inc.?

At Cogent People, we combine technical excellence with a mission-driven culture. Our teams work on meaningful, high-impact projects that support government and enterprise transformation initiatives.

We offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Career growth and professional development opportunities
• Exposure to complex, mission-critical systems
• A collaborative and supportive team environment
• Long-term client engagements with stability and continuity

We are a Certified Great Place to Work, committed to building an inclusive and high-performance culture.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (comprehensive coverage)
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Paid Time Off: 3 weeks annually + 10 paid holidays
• Employee assistance and wellness resources (as applicable)

Compliance Notice

Cogent People Inc. conducts employment verification for all candidates. Misrepresentation of work authorization, residency history, or professional experience will result in disqualification.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) and evaluate all applicants based on qualifications, experience, and role requirements.

We do not engage third-party recruiters for this role unless explicitly stated.