Implementation Project Manager

OneDigital • Phoenix, AZ

38d

About The Position

The Implementation Project Manager is responsible for the success, readiness, and risk management of new and existing client implementations. The role serves as the client governance lead during onboarding, protecting client outcomes and Payroll Experts’ operational stability. The PM manages executive- and system administrator-level client stakeholders, proactively addresses implementation risks, and may recommend changes to implementation scope or timing, including delaying go-live when client or operational readiness concerns exist.

The role leads client and internal conversations, sets expectations, manages complex implementation approaches, and coordinates teams across departments. It also supports implementation staff onboarding and training and contributes to improvements in playbooks, tools, and implementation outcomes.

Requirements

• At least 4 years of experience in HCM, payroll, HRIS, SaaS implementation, project management, or a related client-facing operations role.
• At least 2 years of experience leading complex client implementations, strategic accounts, or cross-functional projects.
• Experience working directly with executive-level stakeholders, business owners, HR leaders, payroll administrators, or operational decision-makers.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining timelines, scope, and client expectations.
• Ability to identify project risks, develop mitigation plans, and drive projects to successful completion.
• Experience facilitating difficult conversations involving scope changes, implementation readiness concerns, project delays, or escalated client situations.
• Experience coordinating work across departments and influencing outcomes without direct management authority.
• Strong knowledge of payroll, HR, workforce management, and HCM technology solutions, including the effects of implementation decisions on compliance, service delivery, user adoption, and client success.
• Project governance and implementation leadership skills, including managing timelines, priorities, resources, stakeholder expectations, readiness assessments, and go-live decisions.
• Ability to assess implementation risks and operational or compliance impacts, develop mitigation plans, and resolve issues.
• Strong verbal and written communication, relationship management, organizational, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders, navigate conflict, set expectations, and deliver difficult messages professionally.
• Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and keep project dependencies, custom reporting requests, and integration activities aligned with timelines and client expectations.
• Ability to track implementation milestones, custom report requests, integration dependencies, project status, risks, and next steps.
• Familiarity with change management principles and ability to guide clients through organizational, operational, and technology transitions.
• Ability to work effectively amid escalations, competing priorities, tight deadlines, and complex client implementations.
• Ability to use implementation metrics, readiness indicators, and project health data to identify risks and improve outcomes.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States without work visa or residency sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Professional certifications such as PMP, CAPM, CPP, FPC, CSM, UKG certifications, or comparable project management, payroll, or HRIS credentials.
• Experience with UKG Ready implementations or similar HRIS platforms.
• Experience with Zoho One and Zoho Projects.
• Prior client-facing or consultative experience in an ASO or PEO services environment.
• Exposure to system audits, compliance reviews, or data security standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation conversations with executive and business-owner stakeholders.
• Schedule and lead client and team cadence calls for applicable projects.
• Establish and enforce client expectations and responsibilities.
• Address resistance, conflict, and scope challenges.
• Deliver difficult messages regarding readiness, compliance, or required changes.
• Identify implementation risks early, develop mitigation plans, and monitor readiness indicators.
• Recommend go-live delays when readiness risks exist.
• Prevent escalations and implementation failure.
• Determine the appropriate implementation approach based on client complexity.
• Guide Sales and internal teams on client readiness and project requirements.
• Coordinate cross-functional alignment across departments and resolve internal workflow conflicts affecting delivery.
• Protect downstream service teams from preventable implementation issues.
• Support onboarding and training of implementation staff.
• Participate in improving implementation playbooks and tools.
• Lead post-implementation retrospectives.

Benefits

• Health, wellbeing, retirement, and other financial benefits for eligible employees.
• Paid time off.
• Overtime pay for non-exempt employees.
• Learning and development programs.
• Reimbursement of job-related expenses according to company policy.
• Employee perks and discounts.
• Some roles may be eligible for variable compensation, commission, and/or annual bonus.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed