Vice President, People & Culture

Change people’s lives and love what you do! Cochlear is the most recognized brand in hearing health care.

About the role

Helping people hear and be heard around the world, while being part of one of Denver Business Journal’s 2026 Best Places to Work honorees in Denver. The Vice President, People & Culture is the strategic executive business partner for the North America region, accountable for translating business strategy into workforce, organization, and culture priorities that support sustainable growth. You will lead workforce strategy, organization design, leadership capability, and change—leveraging Cochlear’s global People & Culture operating model while ensuring strong regional execution, governance, and compliance. This senior role partners directly with the North America executive leadership team and is a member of Cochlear’s Global People & Culture Council.

In this role, you will be based in in-person out of our Americas head office in Lone Tree, CO.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a strategic workforce and people enablement plan aligned to North America’s growth strategy.
• Partner with executive leaders on organization design, operating model evolution, and transformation.
• Strengthen leadership capability across a scaling and transforming organization.
• Ensure leaders effectively leverage core people processes, including performance, reward, and talent planning.
• Provide senior oversight of People & Culture service delivery, risk management, and statutory compliance across the region.
• Contribute to enterprise-wide priorities as a member of the Global People & Culture Council.
• Coach and support People & Culture leaders and Operational Business Partners to increase business impact.

Key Requirements

To add value to Cochlear in this role you'll be able to meet and demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities in your application and at interview:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business/Economics or Psychology or Organisational Development
• Experience in developing and upskilling leadership teams and has the wisdom and judgement required to proactively consult to those teams.
• Experience in a sophisticated and complex business environment where maintaining its competitiveness and growth has been as a direct result of its successful people programs.
• Significant time in a Business Partner role with strong client focus where problem solving and judgement have been key in overcoming hurdles and sustaining continuous improvement in business performance.
• Strong team player and collaborator, with the ability to leverage all elements of the P&C operating model to deliver outcomes which positively impact business performance.
• Extensive leadership experience with strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience working across functions/geographies and directly supporting international teams.
• A hands-on delivery style, being able to tackle what needs to be done to deliver change and make it happen
• Willingness to travel (international) up to 30% of the time.

Ideal candidates will have:

• Master’s degree in business.
• Demonstrated track record of leading and managing transformational change initiatives.

Total Rewards

In addition to the opportunity to develop your knowledge and grow professionally, we offer competitive wages and benefits.

• Pay Range in the United States: $236,000 - $300,000 based upon experience, as well as participation in the Executive STI and LTE plans. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.
• Benefit package includes medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance as well as 401(K) matching with immediate vesting, Paid Time Off, tuition reimbursement, maternity and paternity leave, Employee Stock Purchase Plan and pet insurance.

Who are we?

Human needs have always been our inspiration, ever since Professor Graeme Clark set out to create the first multi-channel cochlear implant because he saw his father struggle with hearing loss. We always start with people in mind – thinking about their needs.

For this reason, our products, services and support will continue to evolve and improve. We are by our customers’ side through the entire hearing journey, so they can experience a life full of hearing. Our employees tell us that the number one reason they enjoy working for Cochlear is the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives and working in an organization where they can be part of bringing the mission to life each day.

Physical & Mental Demands

The physical and mental demands described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the individual is regularly required to be in a stationary (seated/standing) position; utilize business technology for work product delivery, communicate orally and in writing with others internal or external to the organization, utilize problem solving/critical thinking skills to discern and convey information. May be asked to occasionally transport/move up to 30 pounds, depending on the position. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus. The individual is regularly required to utilize comprehension, critical thinking, communication, problem solving, organization reasoning, relating to others and discernment of items such as product specifications, procedures and processes to customers (whether internal or external). Influence, organization/classification of information and planning are also required.

The work environment is an office environment; this is representative of the environment an individual may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.

Apply now by completing your application form online. Applicants must meet the job specific application criteria to be considered. Visit our careers site at www.cochlear.us/careers to learn more.

Accepting Applications until May 22, 2026.

Cochlear Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require accommodation with completing the online application, please contact us via web or phone at 303-264-2549.