Senior Manager, Internal Communications

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

This role is currently based at our Minneapolis office and will transition to our new headquarters in Dayton, MN, in 2027.  

The Senior Internal Communications Manager is a key leadership role within Graco’s global communications function, responsible for shaping and executing enterprise communications plans that drive employee engagement and connect Graco’s global workforce to its long-term growth strategy.

This role will translate Graco’s corporate strategy and annual business goals into a clear, compelling enterprise narrative and messaging framework tied to business priorities and desired employee behaviors. This new position supports the Head of Global Communications to operationalize strategy, lead proactive internal communications programs, and establish KPIs grounded in driving growth, corporate strategy, purpose, vision, and values.

The Senior Internal Communications Manager leads enterprise change communications, develops leadership communication systems, and builds scalable tools and frameworks that enable consistent strategy messaging to cascade through all levels of the organization. This position evolves beyond traditional internal communications to function as a business enabler and change driver, aligning people, behaviors, and execution to drive growth for Graco.

What You Will Do at Graco

Lead Strategy Communications & Change Activation

• Translate corporate strategy and annual business goals into a clear, compelling enterprise narrative and messaging framework.

• Define what strategy adoption looks like in practice by connecting strategy to employees’ day-to-day work and decisions.

• Partner with head of global communications to align messaging, priorities, and expectations across the organization.

• Create scalable toolkits, guides, and messaging resources that enable leaders to consistently communicate priorities, reinforce expectations and drive alignment.

• Establish clear roles and expectations for leaders in driving engagement and alignment.

• Build an employee content strategy that ensures ongoing strategy reinforcement through everyday workflows and tools, including an ongoing editorial calendar of strategy-driven content and storytelling.

• Create a structured employee learning journey to ensure communications connect strategy to behaviors, performance expectations, and business outcomes.

• Define the communication channel framework across executive, manager, and enterprise platforms.

• Align CEO town halls, earnings communications, and intranet strategy to reinforce strategic priorities.

• Partner cross functionally to identify and communicate the company’s progress in driving growth and strategic priorities across global business units, corporate functions and operations.

Manage Internal Communications & Employee Engagement

• Manage the internal communications team to develop and implement integrated communications plans that align with enterprise goals, organizational transformation, employer brand and talent development.

• Lead and develop global internal communications channels, ensuring consistent, clear, and engaging communication across the organization.

• Improve communications and engagement for manufacturing and production employees using channels such as signage, frontline leader toolkits and training, and mobile-optimized formats.

• Support M&A integration to align new employees to Graco’s culture and strategy.

• Create high-quality multimedia content to engage employees, including executive videos and storytelling.

• Support Annual Report and ESG Report production.

• Implement new internal communication systems, tools, and processes to improve employee experience and engage a global workforce.

Team Leadership, Collaboration & Culture Building

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing communications team, fostering strategic growth and accountability.

• Build strong cross-functional partnerships to ensure cohesive, aligned communication across the enterprise.

• Balance strategic planning with timely execution.

Measure Strategy Understanding, Alignment & Behavior Change

• Define success metrics that go beyond communication outputs to measure:

• Employee understanding of strategy
• Alignment to priorities
• Adoption of desired behaviors
• Connection to daily work

• Establish measurement frameworks that include business, attitudinal, and content performance metrics.

• Provide regular insights and recommendations to senior leadership to improve effectiveness and drive accountability.

• Establish, measure and present quarterly KPIs for communications effectiveness, including awareness, engagement, sentiment, trust, and reputation.

• Develop and communicate communications processes, workflows and strategies to drive consistency and quality of communications.

• Apply best practices, emerging trends, and modern tools, including agentic and generative AI, to enhance communication impact.

What You Will Bring to Graco

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.

• 10+ years of progressive communications experience, including at least 4 years leading teams in a global, matrixed organization.

• Proven ability to develop and execute enterprise-wide internal communications strategies supporting executive leadership and major business initiatives.

• Strong business acumen and ability to align communications with strategy.

• Exceptional writing, editing, and presentation skills with the ability to translate complex topics into clear messaging for all levels of the organization.

• Experience leading communications for organizational change.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to counsel and influence senior leaders.

• Sound judgment, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive communications.

• Willingness to travel up to 15%.

Accelerators (Preferred)

• Experience in publicly traded organizations.

• Experience in manufacturing, B2B industrial industries, or global enterprise operations.

#LI-Hybrid

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This role is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, F-1 OPT).

At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.

Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.

Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

The base pay range for this position is listed below, exclusive of fringe benefits or other compensation.  If you are hired, your final base hourly rate will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, competencies, education, and/or experience.  In addition to those factors, we will also consider internal equity of our current employees.  Please keep in mind that the range provided is the full base salary range for the role.  Hiring at or near the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.