Manager, Compensation

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 Manager, Compensation is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing globally competitive total compensation programs for Graco Inc. that directly contribute to the achievement of the company’s strategic objectives. Reporting to the Director of Total Rewards, this individual will partner with Graco’s HR business partners and business leaders to provide consultation on compensation topics and ensure that compensation programs are aligned with the business and talent strategies.

What You Will Do at Graco

• Lead a team of compensation professionals who conduct competitive global market research and establish pay practices that attract, motive, and retain employees

• Oversee the administration of annual merit programs and factory wage reviews, including developing worldwide budget recommendations and salary structure adjustments
• Serve as an advisor to management in the development of bonus, incentive, and recognition plans and programs that are consistent with Graco’s overall compensation philosophy, and oversee administration of all variable compensation programs
• Collaborate closely with sales leadership and finance on the design of sales incentive plans, regularly review and assess the effectiveness of the plans, and lead the sales plans governance process
• Design and administer corporate-wide global equity programs, and develop new or amended stock incentive plans that require shareholder approval
• Manage all expatriate assignments, setting strategy and conducting research to ensure competitive international practices are utilized
• Direct compensation activities involved with the integration of acquisitions
• Ensure compliance with all laws and regulations related to compensation, and define and facilitate compliance reviews including pay equity and FLSA exemption
• Support the design, analysis, implementation, and administration of Board of Director and executive total compensation plans and programs
• Analyze compensation program effectiveness and make recommendations for continuous improvement
• Provide expert guidance to HR business partners and business leaders on compensation-related matters, including job evaluations, salary reviews, offers, and variable pay programs

Team Leadership and Financial Management 

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Compensation Analysts/Specialists, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and promoting a culture of excellence

• Drive team performance by setting clear goals, providing ongoing feedback, and facilitating professional growth opportunities

• Establish, manage, and be accountable for the annual compensation team budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and alignment with organizational strategic objectives

What You Will Bring to Graco

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, human resources, or related field, or equivalent work experience. A Master’s degree or advanced certification is preferred.
• 7+ years’ experience in compensation, benefits, HR, or similar discipline

• Excellent leadership skills: 2+ years of team leadership experience preferred
• Expert-level knowledge of compensation theories, techniques, and practices, including job analysis, market pricing, and salary structure design
• Experience designing and administering sales and management incentive plans
• Ability to design and develop global compensation pay programs, including salary structure development
• Strong analytical skills, including advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and proven capabilities to collect, analyze, interpret, model, and summarize compensation data to support decision-making
• Proven experience communicating with and providing strategic consultation to all levels of the organization, including senior level leaders, using strong business acumen and presence

Accelerators:

• Experience with equity administration and global compensation
• Experience with Workday and compensation administration tools (MarketPay)
• CCP, PHR, and/or SHRM-CP credentials

At Graco, you trul