Director of Brand and Corporate 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.

Graco is seeking a visionary Global Director of Brand and Corporate Communications to lead our organization’s brand, content, and communication strategies. This is a newly created role that will lead us in brand recognition, drive customer engagement, and increase market share. Reporting directly to the EVP of Marketing, this role will lead a talented team of content, design, event, and communication professionals that shape our brand identity. This role is particularly critical as we gear up for our 100-year anniversary, shaping the future.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of brand development and communication tactics. We need someone who can navigate multiple high-priority projects and maintain a keen eye on the bigger picture to increase brand awareness and market share. Experience in change management and transformation will be a definite asset as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of our industry.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Brand Strategy: Lead the creation, maintenance, and evolution of Graco’s brand image and identity while ensuring consistency across all channels and materials that aligns with the company’s mission, vision, and values. Establish KPIs to measure the effectiveness of our brand and implement tactics for maximum impact.
• Content Creation and Curation: Oversee the production of creative content, including written, visual, and multimedia assets, that support the brand’s messaging and engages target audiences while ensuring consistency and quality across all channels in a timely manner.
• Internal & External Communication: Create comprehensive communication strategies that effectively convey key messages to all stakeholders across diverse communication channels. Maintain and implement crisis communication plans to manage potential issues and protect the organizations reputation.
• Event Management: Oversee the planning and execution of internal and community events for various audiences, including employees, media, and community leaders.
• External Partnerships: Manage relationship with external partners, agencies, and influencers to enhance brand reach and impact.
• Team Leadership: Recruit, develop, motivate, and retain a high-caliber team of professionals within the departments to ensure successful execution of strategies.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to collaborate with internal stakeholders to achieve buy-in on organizational content and communication goals.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage departmental budgets, control expenses, and work to increase profitability to meet corporate goals.
• Performance Analysis: Monitor and analyze the performance of marketing and communications initiatives, using data to make informed decisions and improve strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field; an MBA is preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in marketing, branding, and communications in a corporate environment with a proven track record.
• Exceptional creative, visual, written, and oral communications skills
• Excellent ability to present and interface with the public comfortably
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage and guide a diverse team of professionals effectively
• Superior organizational agility skills: ability to influence and engage direct and indirect reports, peers, and customers internal/external to the organization.
• Willingness to travel 10% of the time.

Desired

• International and/or manufacturing business experience preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of business operations, marketing principles and management skills and techniques.

Power to Be

At Graco, the Power to Be means providing the support, resources and freedom to pave your own way. Bring your unique attributes to the table, along with a commitment to being your best self, and you can be a part of a culture that rewards effort, celebrates uniqueness, and gives you the tools you need to succeed and become your best, fullest self along the way. Our culture empowers employees to chart their own career path. Our managers provide support and opportunities while offering freedom for employees to find their own Power to Be. Whether you decide to move up within the same department or expand to another cross-functional group, you will gain the well-rounded experience to succeed on your own terms.

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.

Proven Quality. Leading Technology. Launch your career with Graco!