Project Manager (UKG Ready)

Description

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of UKG Ready implementation projects for customers.
• Develop, update, and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, and budgets in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Manage and provide direction to a team of four functional consultants (HR, Payroll, and Time) with oversight of the Technical Consultant, ensuring effective coordination of integrations and system configurations.
• Conduct regular status calls and governance meetings with customers and internal teams, driving alignment and accountability on deliverables.
• Track project progress, update plans with changes, and communicate impacts on timelines, scope, and budgets.
• Hold customers and internal team members accountable for meeting deadlines, providing required data, and completing assigned tasks.
• Prepare and distribute weekly project status reports, highlighting accomplishments, open items, risks, and next steps.
• Facilitate resolution of key project risks and issues, escalating and presenting resolution options when needed.
• Ensure project sign-offs, deliverables, and artifacts are completed and stored appropriately.
• Set clear expectations with customers regarding roles, responsibilities, and ownership throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure all deliverables meet quality standards and customer requirements.
• Share best practices and processes with customers to prepare them for effective post-implementation ownership.
• Drive continuous improvement in project methodology, tools, and templates within the PMO.
• Deliver projects to successful completion while achieving industry-leading ratings on Raven Intel.
• Consistently model professionalism and a customer-first orientation in all interactions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Experience

• Minimum 3 years of UKG project management experience, preferably 2 years with UKG Ready.
• Experience in Enterprise level project deployments (multi-work stream).
• UKG Ready Full-Suite implementation experience highly preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficient with project management tools (Smart Sheets preferred).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Comfortable presenting to large and diverse audiences, including C Level executives.

Preferred Experience

• Assisted with change management and user acceptance testing
• Worked closely with team members communicating and understanding the goals required to complete the required tasks on time and budget
• Maintained the internal project management system up to date with all-time worked, task status, and related documentation

Desired Strengths/Characteristics

• High-level of emotional intelligence and resiliency
• Self-motivated and action oriented
• Flexible, dependable, and capable of operating at a high rate of delivery with minimal direction
• Able to negotiate conflicts into win-win situations with strong oral and written communication skills
• Effective listening skills
• Strong analytic and troubleshooting abilities
• Comfortable speaking with any client of varying organizational levels
• Ability to manage multiple projects of varying complexity concurrently
• Strong time management skills with ability to excel in remote environment
• Demonstrate a high degree of patience in working with others and ability to make decisions in high stress/high risk situations

Work and Travel Requirements

• Able to work remotely from a home office
• Legal residence and ability to work in the United States OR legal residence and ability to work in Canada
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time

Pay Scale: $82,300 – $123,500 annually. This is the base salary range the employer reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of hire. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, education, and business needs.

Summary

About Us

Ascend, Inc. is one of the largest exclusive, premier UKG partners in North America. With over 120 certified consultants and a portfolio of more than 300 active projects, we are the trusted experts for end-to-end UKG implementation services. Ascend delivers a comprehensive suite of solutions across the UKG Pro Suite and UKG Ready platforms, supporting clients through every phase of their human capital management (HCM) journey.

We pride ourselves on delivering high-touch, premium services—and we know that our continued success starts with our people.

Why Join Ascend?

We offer an engaging and rewarding work environment where your career can thrive. Our team members enjoy:

• Competitive industry compensation
• Achievable monthly bonus plans and sales commission opportunities
• 100% employer-paid health benefits
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Open PTO (mandatory two-week minimum)
• Professional development reimbursement
• 100% paid UKG certification training
• Company-provided laptop, mobile phone, and equipment

Recognized Excellence

Ascend has been honored with numerous accolades, including:

• UKG Partner of the Year (2024)
• Inc. 5000 (2025, 2024)
• Great Place to Work (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016)
• Top Workplaces - Denver (2025, 2024, 2023)
• UKG Influencer of the Year (2022, 2021)
• UKG Strategic Alliances Pinnacle Partner of the Year (2020, 2019, 2018)
• UKG Rookie Partner of the Year (2017)
• Raven Intelligence UKG Customer Project Success Award Finalist (2023)
• Fortune Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services (2024, 2023, 2021, 2016)
• Fortune Best Small Workplace (2024, 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2016)
• Fortune Best Workplaces for Women (2016)