Graco-posted 3 months ago
$64,200 - $112,400/Yr
Full-time • Entry Level
Minneapolis, MN
1,001-5,000 employees
Machinery Manufacturing

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. This role is currently based at our Minneapolis office and will transition to our new headquarters in Dayton, MN, in 2027. We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Early Career Program Lead to design, execute, and continuously improve our early talent programs. This role will be responsible for managing internship, co-op, and rotational programs that attract, develop, and retain top early-career talent aligned with our long-term workforce strategy. In addition, this role will lead the recruiting efforts for entry level hiring in key focus areas within engineering, manufacturing, sales, and other corporate functions.

  • Develop and implement scalable early career programs that are aligned with business needs and talent strategy, supporting long-term succession planning goals.
  • Partner with business leaders to identify future skill needs and build talent pipelines accordingly.
  • Stay current on market trends and competitor practices, using external benchmarks to continuously evolve program design and maintain a competitive edge.
  • Establish clear program goals, success metrics, and evaluation mechanisms to measure impact and drive continuous improvement.
  • Oversee the full lifecycle of internship and rotational programs, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and conversion.
  • Coordinate with universities, career services, and external partners to build strong talent pipelines.
  • Build and maintain a network of internal program leads, mentors, and ambassadors to support program execution, enhance participant experience, and drive advocacy across the organization.
  • Collaborate with HR Business Partners, hiring managers, and senior leaders to ensure early career programs alignment and success.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders on early talent trends and entry-level hiring best practices.
  • Deliver a high-quality, engaging experience for early career participants through onboarding, mentorship, events, and professional development opportunities.
  • Create clarity and transparency throughout the candidate journey, including communication of conversion pathways and next steps for full-time roles.
  • Ensure alignment between stakeholder expectations and participant experiences to drive program effectiveness and long-term talent outcomes.
  • Track and report on key performance indicators (e.g., conversion rates, intern offer acceptance rates, retention, diversity metrics).
  • Monitor and improve program satisfaction through surveys and feedback loops.
  • Use data to drive continuous improvement and demonstrate program impact.
  • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Education, or related field.
  • 3+ years of experience in university relations, or program management.
  • Proven ability to manage large-scale projects, programs, and cross-functional initiatives.
  • Strong communication, relationship-building, and project management skills.
  • Passion for developing early career talent and fostering inclusive workplace cultures.
  • Proven success partnering with HR, business leaders, hiring managers, and external partners to drive program success.
  • Experience with applicant tracking systems (ATS) and HR analytics tools to optimize recruiting strategies, measure program impact, and continuously improve.
  • Global industrial manufacturing experience and knowledge.
  • Experience utilizing on campus recruiting tools like Handshake.
  • Familiarity with DEI strategies in early talent recruitment.
  • Background in corporate or campus recruiting.
  • Medical insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Stock purchase plan
  • 401(k)
  • Tuition reimbursement
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