Position Summary

The Manager, People Systems (UKG Platform Lead) is the technical owner of Sound Physicians’ UKG platform and a systems strategic partner to People Operations leadership. This role is responsible for the architecture, configuration, optimization and ongoing development of UKG across the employee lifecycle. Partnering closely with the Director, People Operations & Systems, this role translates People Operations strategy and workflow design into effective, scalable system solutions. This is a highly hands-on role requiring deep UKG expertise, strong analytical thinking, and implementation experience. This role will directly manage a small People Systems team (currently one direct report) while remaining deeply involved in day-to-day platform ownership and development.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

UKG Platform Ownership

• Serve as the primary technical owner and subject matter expert for UKG Pro, including Core HR, Payroll, Time and Attendance, Benefits, Learning, Performance, Compensation, BI reporting, and future modules.

• Define and maintain system architecture, configuration standards, governance, and technical guardrails to ensure scalability, data integrity, and long-term stability.

• Own the technical UKG roadmap in partnership with the Director, People Operations & Systems, aligning system capabilities with People Operations priorities.

Configuration, Development & Implementation

• Lead hands-on UKG configuration, testing, and deployment of enhancements, workflows, and integrations.

• Serve as the technical lead for UKG implementations, upgrades, and reconfigurations, including coordination with vendors and implementation partners.

• Evaluate and implement UKG best practices, balancing functional needs with system simplicity and sustainability.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with Operations, Onboarding, Payroll, Benefits, Finance, IT, Talent, and People Support to ensure end-to-end system alignment.

• Act as the primary technical liaison with UKG and external partners, driving issue resolution and accountability.

• Provide technical guidance and impact assessments for changes related to compensation, benefits, workforce structure, and policies.

Insights, Controls & Enablement

• Own UKG BI reporting architecture, including standard reports, dashboards, and ad hoc analytics.

• Serve as system owner for UKG internal controls, including access, validation, and audit-ready configuration.

• Enable People Operations, Payroll, and Finance with system-level tools, documentation, and reporting to support data integrity and audit processes.

People Leadership & Team Enablement

• Directly manage and mentor People Systems team members, providing technical guidance, prioritization, and development support.

• Establish clear standards, documentation, and repeatable processes to support scalability and continuity.

Values

• Collaborative by Design: Operates with a partnership-first mindset and actively removes silos through transparency and shared ownership.

• Continuously Learning: Demonstrates curiosity and commitment to staying current on UKG functionality and best practices.

• Proactively Innovative: Takes a forward-looking approach to system improvements, anticipating needs and opportunities.

• Adaptable & Creative: Thrives in non-traditional environments and applies pragmatic, creative solutions.

• Empathetic: Considers the human impact of system decisions and prioritizes clarity and employee experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep, hands-on knowledge of UKG Pro, including configuration, reporting, and key module integrations (Core HR, Compensation, Benefits, Talent Suite, Recruiting, People Analytics, and Time and Attendance). Experience with Workforce Management (WFM) is a strong plus.
• Strong understanding of HRIS architecture, system design, and upstream/downstream data flows.
• Ability to translate complex business needs into scalable, sustainable system solutions.
• Experience supporting implementations and enhancements with a focus on change management, testing, documentation, and stability.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess system impacts and inform decisions.
• Comfort partnering cross-functionally, communicating technical concepts clearly, and influencing without authority.
• Ability to document system standards and decisions to support transparency and continuity.
• Experience providing technical mentorship or people leadership in a player–coach capacity.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Information Systems, Business, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 7+ years of progressive HRIS or People Systems experience, with significant hands-on ownership of UKG Pro in a complex, multi-functional environment.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a technical system owner or platform lead, responsible for configuration, integrations, testing, and ongoing optimization.
• Experience supporting or leading UKG implementations, enhancements, or major system changes, including coordination with vendors and internal partners.
• Prior experience providing technical mentorship, coaching, or people leadership, ideally in a player-coach capacity within a small HRIS or People Systems team.
• Proven ability to partner effectively with Payroll, Benefits, Finance, IT, and People Operations teams to deliver stable, scalable system solutions.

Salary Range:

• This position offers an annual salary range of $90,000-$105,000. Exact salary will depend on the candidate’s experience, education and geographic location. This position is eligible for additional compensation beyond base pay.