Job description

Service Desk Lead – North America Location : Atlanta GA ( 100% Onsite ) *Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future* Responsibilities Lead day-to-day Service Desk delivery across North America. Manage performance using SLA, XLA, customer satisfaction, quality, productivity, and backlog measures. Ensure effective incident intake, triage, prioritization, assignment, escalation, communication, and closure. Coordinate monitoring and service-health awareness to improve proactive support. Own major escalation coordination among the Service Desk, resolver groups, vendors, and customers. Drive knowledge management, first-contact resolution, shift readiness, coaching, and quality improvement. Analyze demand, repeat contacts, aged tickets, user feedback, and trends to identify improvements. Conduct service reviews and communicate risks, actions, and performance outcomes. Required Knowledge and Experience 16 to 20 years of relevant professional experience aligned with the role responsibilities and technology scope. Demonstrated experience in the primary and secondary skill areas listed above. Strong understanding of enterprise service delivery, governance, risk, and change controls. Ability to work across geographically distributed teams, customers, and delivery partners. Strong communication, documentation, analytical problem-solving, and stakeholder-management skills. Key Stakeholder Interfaces Customer and business stakeholders. Infrastructure, engineering, architecture, security, and operations teams. Service management, project management, commercial, and finance functions. Technology vendors and delivery partners. Success Measures Delivery against agreed service, project, quality, and governance commitments. Timely management of risks, issues, dependencies, and escalations. Stakeholder confidence, clear communication, and accurate reporting. Continuous improvement, standardization, and operational discipline. Key Skills required :- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong client-facing capabilities. Ability to manage high-touch global client stakeholders and maintain strong client relationships. Strong understanding of Service Desk KPIs, SLAs, performance metrics, and governance, with the ability to prepare, manage, and present performance decks. Coordinate and oversee overall Global Service Desk operations, working closely with regional Service Desk leads across India, LATAM, and Budapest. Serve as the primary Cognizant point of contact for client concerns, operational issues, and escalations related to Service Desk services. Strong understanding of Service Desk transformation initiatives, including AI, automation, self-service, call/contact deflection, and optimization strategies. Drive initiatives aimed at reducing overall Service Desk contact volumes by 50% or more, supporting the client's long-term vision toward a highly automated or “Zero Desk” operating model. Ability to collaborate effectively with global client stakeholders, regional delivery teams, and offshore teams across different time zones. Strong understanding of Service Desk operations and the ability to effectively manage day-to-day operational challenges, escalations, and service delivery nuances. Demonstrated ability to provide end-to-end Service Desk governance, coordination, and continuous improvement across multiple regions. About Cognizant: Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant. Additional employment information Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law. Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview. Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email CareersNA2@cognizant.com for roles based in the Americas or CareersIndia2@cognizant.com for roles based in India.

Requirements

Must-haves

Service Desk Lead – North America
Location : Atlanta GA ( 100% Onsite )
Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*
Lead day-to-day Service Desk delivery across North America.
Manage performance using SLA, XLA, customer satisfaction, quality, productivity, and backlog measures.
Ensure effective incident intake, triage, prioritization, assignment, escalation, communication, and closure.
Coordinate monitoring and service-health awareness to improve proactive support.
Own major escalation coordination among the Service Desk, resolver groups, vendors, and customers.
Drive knowledge management, first-contact resolution, shift readiness, coaching, and quality improvement.
Analyze demand, repeat contacts, aged tickets, user feedback, and trends to identify improvements.
Conduct service reviews and communicate risks, actions, and performance outcomes.
Required Knowledge and Experience
16 to 20 years of relevant professional experience aligned with the role responsibilities and technology scope.
Demonstrated experience in the primary and secondary skill areas listed above.
Strong understanding of enterprise service delivery, governance, risk, and change controls.
Ability to work across geographically distributed teams, customers, and delivery partners.
Strong communication, documentation, analytical problem-solving, and stakeholder-management skills.
Key Stakeholder Interfaces
Customer and business stakeholders.
Infrastructure, engineering, architecture, security, and operations teams.
Service management, project management, commercial, and finance functions.
Technology vendors and delivery partners.
Success Measures
Delivery against agreed service, project, quality, and governance commitments.

Nice-to-haves

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Keywords to mirror

Platform: cognizant
Effort: medium

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