Talent & Culture Manager (51221)

Gradian Thermal Solutions; Osseo (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental plans

Short-term and long-term disability

Group term life insurance

HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans

8 paid holidays and PTO

401k matching

Company paid events

Annual safety shoe allowance

Education assistance program

Job summary

Gradian Thermal Solutions is shaping a unified culture as it grows through mergers and rapid hiring. The Talent & Culture Manager will translate our brand, mission, values, and behaviors into everyday actions across hiring, onboarding, performance, recognition, development, and leadership.

This role blends strategy with hands-on execution and requires collaboration across all levels. The ideal candidate builds culture across sites, partners with Talent Acquisition, and implements programs that

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Communications, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in HR, talent, culture, employee experience, organizational development, or a related area.
• Demonstrated success designing and delivering culture, engagement, or employee experience programs.
• Proven ability to influence and build trust across all levels of an organization without direct authority.
• Strong program and project management skills with the ability to move from strategy to hands-on execution.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and storytelling skills.
• Experience embedding values or behaviors into HR programs and processes.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver a culture roadmap embedding the five Gradian behaviors into the employee lifecycle.
• Influence leaders across levels to model and reinforce culture without formal authority.
• Act as trusted advisor to the CHRO and people leaders on culture and engagement.
• Embed Gradian identity into hiring, onboarding, performance, and leadership development.

Skills

Culture design

Influence without authority

Communication

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

HRIS systems

Job description

Gradian is an engineering-led, full-line thermal solutions partner serving data center and other mission-critical, commercial, and industrial markets. Headquartered in Maple Grove, MN, with additional facilities across North America, we design and manufacture liquid cooling systems, air handling equipment, heat rejection units, and modular, factory-assembled thermal management solutions.

Gradian was founded through the unification of four complementary, established brands: MAS HVAC, Daedex, DeepCoolAI, and EcoChillers. Together, we act as a single-source provider, deploying cooling technologies as scalable systems optimized for efficiency, spatial constraints, and overall performance. With a vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing model, we pair rapid design turnaround with precision fabrication, so customers can move faster on complex projects where reliability, timeline, and quality all matter.

Position Summary

As Gradian grows through mergers, acquisitions, and rapid hiring, we are building one connected, purpose-driven culture across a newly combined organization. The Talent & Culture Manager is the champion and architect of that culture. This role exists to translate the Gradian brand, mission, vision, and values into everyday behaviors and experiences that employees can see, feel, and live at every stage of their journey.

This is a highly visible, influence-driven role for someone who blends culture strategy with hands‑on program execution. The Talent & Culture Manager will design and deliver the programs, moments, and communications that embed our five core behaviors – One Team, Partners in Success, Connected and Engaged, Continuously Improving, and Mutually Respectful – into hiring, onboarding, performance, recognition, development, and leadership. The ideal candidate is a culture builder who can influence without authority, partner across all levels, and help shape who Gradian is as we scale.

The Culture We Are Building

One Team

Collaboration, shared goals, and cross-site connection across a newly combined organization.

Partners in Success

Trust-based relationships with employees, leaders, and stakeholders.

Connected and Engaged

Communication, participation, belonging, and a positive employee experience.

Continuously Improving

A growth mindset, learning, feedback, and ongoing program improvement.

Mutually Respectful

Inclusion, dignity, and an environment where every voice is valued.

Key Responsibilities

Culture Design & Influence

• Serve as the primary champion of the Gradian brand, mission, vision, values, and behaviors, influencing how they show up across the organization.
• Design and lead a culture roadmap that embeds the five behaviors into every stage of the employee lifecycle.
• Partner with and influence leaders at all levels to model, reinforce, and hold the culture accountable, without relying on formal authority.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the CHRO and people leaders on culture, engagement, and employee experience.

Embedding Brand & Behaviors Across HR

• Integrate the Gradian identity into hiring, onboarding, performance management, recognition, learning, and leadership development.
• Build behavior-based tools and resources such as interview guides, onboarding journeys, and manager toolkits.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to ensure candidates experience the Gradian brand and values from first contact.
• Design onboarding experiences that immerse new employees in the mission, vision, values, and behaviors from day one.

Employee Experience & Engagement

• Design and manage engagement initiatives, culture events, and recognition programs that reinforce the desired behaviors.
• Build and run a values-based recognition program that celebrates employees who live the Gradian behaviors.
• Develop culture rituals, traditions, and moments that strengthen connection across sites and teams.
• Partner with Internal Communications to deliver consistent, brand-aligned culture messaging.

Measurement & Continuous Improvement

• Design and analyze engagement surveys, pulse checks, and listening tools to measure culture adoption.
• Translate feedback and data into actionable plans that strengthen culture and engagement.
• Track and report on culture and engagement metrics for leadership and the board.
• Continuously refine programs based on employee feedback and business needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Communications, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in HR, talent, culture, employee experience, organizational development, or a related area.
• Demonstrated success designing and delivering culture, engagement, or employee experience programs.
• Proven ability to influence and build trust across all levels of an organization without direct authority.
• Strong program and project management skills with the ability to move from strategy to hands‑on execution.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and storytelling skills.
• Experience embedding values or behaviors into HR programs and processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a high‑growth, start‑up, or post‑merger / integration environment.
• Experience building culture across multiple sites or a distributed workforce.
• Familiarity with recognition platforms, engagement survey tools, and HRIS systems.
• HR or organizational development certification (e.g., SHRM‑CP/SCP, PHR, or Prosci change management).

Benefits

• Medical, vision, and dental plans
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Group term life insurance coverage
• HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans available
• 8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays, and generous PTO policy
• 401k matching
• Company paid events
• Annual safety shoe allowance
• Education assistance program

EEO Statement

Gradian Thermal Solutions is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other legally protected status.

Employment decisions at Gradian are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and actively promote a culture of fairness, equity, and opportunity.

We also provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, in accordance with applicable laws.