Enterprise UKG Workforce Management (WFM) Manager

The Planet Group; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Ownership Program

401(k) with employer match

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vis

Life and disability insurance

Wellness reimbursement

Job summary

The Planet Group is seeking a hands-on UKG WFM expert to lead enterprise-scale Workforce Management initiatives in a hybrid Chicago setting. You will partner with HR, Payroll, Operations, and leadership to stabilize and optimize the UKG environment, translate requirements into scalable solutions, and drive ongoing improvements through go-live and stabilization.

This role emphasizes deep system knowledge, problem solving, and direct business impact across multiple units, with travel as needed to

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience working with Workforce Management systems.
• 3+ years of hands-on UKG Workforce Management experience.
• Strong hands-on experience with UKG WFM configuration.
• Experience gathering and translating business requirements into UKG solutions.

Responsibilities

• Serving as the hands-on UKG WFM subject matter expert and functional consultant across multiple business units.
• Translating business and operational requirements into practical UKG WFM solutions.
• Designing, configuring, testing, and deploying UKG functionality based on business requirements.
• Troubleshooting configuration and system issues and developing sustainable solutions.
• Leading full lifecycle UKG WFM implementations from requirements gathering through post go-live stabilization.

Skills

Workforce Management

UKG WFM

Configuration

Stakeholder collaboration

Problem solving

Tools

UKG Dimensions

Kronos

UKG Pro Workforce Management

UKG integrations

Job description

Permanent | Direct Hire Opportunity

Hybrid | Chicago, IL

$125 – 145K Base Salary + Targeted Annual Bonus

Own the UKG Environment. Transform Workforce Management at Enterprise Scale

This is an opportunity to step into a high-impact, hands-on enterprise UKG leadership role where your expertise will directly influence how a complex global manufacturing organization manages its workforce

Our client has completed much of its UKG Workforce Management implementation and is now entering the next critical phase: stabilizing the environment, completing the remaining implementation work, optimizing the platform, and unlocking capabilities that have yet to be fully utilized

This organization is looking for a UKG WFM expert who can get into the system, understand the configuration, work directly with the business, solve complex problems, translate requirements into practical solutions, and drive improvements from initial discovery through implementation, go-live, stabilization, and ongoing optimization

This is not a role where you'll simply manage projects from the sidelines

You will serve as a trusted UKG WFM advisor across the enterprise, partnering directly with HR, Payroll, Operations, business leaders, managers, and end users to determine how UKG can better support workforce efficiency, productivity, visibility, and decision-making

If you're a hands-on UKG professional who enjoys solving problems, improving systems, challenging the status quo, and seeing your solutions make a measurable business impact, this is an opportunity to make your mark

Daily Responsibilities

• Serving as the hands-on UKG WFM subject matter expert and functional consultant across multiple business units
• Working directly within the UKG WFM environment to understand configurations, functionality, processes, and opportunities for improvement
• Translating business and operational requirements into practical, scalable UKG WFM solutions
• Designing configuring, testing, and deploying UKG functionality based on business requirements
• Troubleshooting configuration and system issues while identifying root causes and developing sustainable solutions
• Evaluating existing UKG functionality to identify opportunities to improve system performance, usability, and business value
• Identifying underutilized UKG capabilities and recommending ways to expand the organization's use of the platform
• Leading or actively participating in full lifecycle UKG WFM implementations from requirements gathering through post go-live stabilization
• Gathering and documenting business and functional requirements from stakeholders across the organization
• Managing implementation priorities, timelines, stakeholders, issues, testing, deployment activities, and deliverables
• Coordinating User Acceptance Testing, issue resolution, implementation partners, UKG resources, and internal stakeholders
• Developing implementation plans, deployment strategies, training materials, documentation, and user guides
• Supporting go-live activities and providing hands‑on assistance during deployment and post go‑live stabilization
• Partnering directly with Operations, HR, Payroll, managers, business leaders, and end users to understand workforce challenges and underlying business needs
• Challenging existing processes and assumptions while identifying opportunities to improve workforce management through technology
• Recommending solutions that align UKG capabilities with business objectives and clearly demonstrating expected business value
• Building strong relationships across business units and locations while serving as a trusted advisor on workforce management technology
• Following problems from initial discovery through solution design, implementation, training, adoption, and ongoing optimization
• Analyzing workforce data from UKG and related systems to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities
• Developing meaningful workforce reports, dashboards, and custom reporting capabilities that support business decisions
• Connecting workforce metrics to operational and financial objectives while identifying opportunities involving labor utilization, overtime, scheduling, attendance, staffing, and productivity
• Presenting workforce insights and recommendations to business stakeholders and leadership
• Training managers, supervisors, HR, Payroll, Operations, and other users on UKG functionality and improved processes
• Developing job aids, user guides, training materials, and documentation that simplify complex UKG functionality for nontechnical users
• Promoting consistent and effective UKG utilization and establishing best practices across business units
• Monitoring recently implemented solutions to ensure stability, effectiveness, adoption, and alignment with business needs
• Responding to critical workforce management issues and coordinating onsite support when major issues require direct engagement

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience working with Workforce Management systems
• 3+ years of hands-on UKG Workforce Management experience
• Proven experience delivering full lifecycle UKG WFM implementations from requirements through post go-live stabilization
• Strong hands‑on experience with UKG WFM configuration
• Demonstrated experience gathering and translating business requirements into UKG solutions
• Proven project or implementation management experience with the ability to take ownership of deliverables and outcomes
• Strong experience with UKG Workforce Management, UKG Dimensions, UKG Pro Workforce Management, Kronos, or related UKG solutions
• Experience with timekeeping, scheduling, attendance, accruals, labor management, and workforce processes
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis capabilities
• Ability to work directly with business stakeholders and translate complex UKG functionality into practical solutions
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills with experience developing workforce reports or dashboards
• Ability to manage competing priorities, timelines, stakeholders, and issues throughout the implementation lifecycle
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 25% based on business requirements, including travel to U.S. facilities, implementation sites, go-live locations, and potentially Mexico
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience supporting manufacturing or highly complex workforce environments
• Experience supporting global or multi‑country Workforce Management environments
• Experience identifying opportunities to maximize UKG functionality and increase the value of existing investments
• Strong workforce analytics and data‑driven decision‑making capabilities
• Experience developing and delivering end‑user training
• Experience leading or developing Workforce Management teams or functions
• Experience with UKG integrations involving Payroll, HRIS, ERP, or other enterprise platforms

Reasons to Work for the Company

This is an opportunity to take ownership of an enterprise UKG environment and help shape what Workforce Management becomes next

• $125-145K base salary plus targeted annual bonus
• Direct Hire opportunity with strong long‑term growth potential
• Hybrid work environment with approximately 3 days per week onsite in Chicago
• Opportunity to work with a complex global manufacturing organization and enterprise‑scale workforce environment
• Significant visibility and direct partnership with HR, Payroll, Operations, business leadership, and other key stakeholders
• Opportunity to influence how the organization maximizes its investment in UKG
• Ability to take ownership of meaningful implementation, stabilization, optimization, analytics, and process improvement initiatives
• Employee‑owned organization with a Employee Stock Ownership Program
• 401(k) with employer match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life and disability insurance
• Wellness reimbursement program
• Opportunity to make a measurable impact across a complex enterprise environment