Senior Manager, HR Technology & HR Operations

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 Manager, HR Technology & HR Operations provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the organization’s HR technology ecosystem and HR operational service delivery model. This role is accountable for ensuring that HR systems, data, and processes are scalable, compliant, employee‑centric, and aligned to business objectives. As necessary, serving as an interface between HR, IT, Payroll, Finance, and external vendors, this leader drives the optimization of Workday and related HR technologies while overseeing HR Operations teams responsible for core employee lifecycle processes. The role balances strategic planning, people leadership, system governance, analytics, and day‑to‑day execution, with a strong focus on continuous improvement, data integrity, compliance, and employee experience. 

Why This Role Matters

This role is critical to ensuring that HR further develops and delivers reliable operations, trusted data, and scalable technology that enables business growth through an efficient and effective employee experience. The Senior Manager, HR Technology & HR Operations serves as a strategic enabler and trusted partner for HR, designing HR solutions based on VOC from the business, HR Business Partners, and COEs.

What You Will Do at Graco

HR Technology Strategy & Analytics

• Provide strategic leadership for HR technology platforms (e.g., Workday), ensuring system design, configuration, and governance support current and future business needs
• Accountable for delivery of the HR Technology & Analytics roadmap, including system enhancements, releases, integrations, testing, and change management driven by direct team members.
• Lead workforce analytics and reporting strategy, delivering actionable insights, dashboards, and predictive analytics to HR and business leaders
• Ensure data integrity across HR systems by establishing audit processes, controls, and corrective actions
• Partner with IT, Payroll, Finance, and vendors to manage integrations, resolve issues, and prioritize enhancements
• Manage HR technology budgets, vendor relationships, contracts, and forecasting
• Stay current on HR technology trends, vendor roadmaps, and regulatory changes impacting HR systems

HR Operations & Service Delivery

• Lead the execution and continuous improvement of HR operational services across the organization. This role ensures accurate, compliant, and efficient delivery of core HR processes that support employees, managers, and HR partners.  
• Provide overall leadership for HR Operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant execution of employee lifecycle processes.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex HR operational, system, or compliance issues
• Design, implement, and maintain HR operational policies, procedures, and standard operating documentation
• Monitor and improve service metrics for the function (SLAs, accuracy, turnaround time, employee satisfaction) identifying recurring issues and implement corrective actions to improve service quality
• Partner with regional HR teams to ensure local compliance while maintaining global consistency
• Drive a customer focused HR operations model that balances efficiency with an effective employee and manager experience

People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop a multi‑disciplinary team setting goals, performance expectations, and development plans for direct and indirect reports
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, customer service, and data‑driven decision‑making
• Build organizational capability through training, documentation, and knowledge sharing
• Manage resource planning to ensure appropriate coverage, scalability, and skill depth

Process Improvement, Governance & Change Leadership

• Lead enterprise HR initiatives focused on process optimization, automation, compliance, and employee experience
• Apply project management and change management principles to HR system and operational initiatives
• Establish governance framewo