Operations Development Manager Jobs in Zimmerman, MN

Job DetailsLevel: ManagementJob Location: Maple Grove Office - Maple Grove, MN 55369Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: 4 Year DegreeSalary Range: $130,000.00 - $150,000.00 Salary/yearJob Category: Human ResourcesGradian creates custom-engineered thermal management solutions for markets that thrive on flexibility, creativity, and bold ideas. From humble beginnings to becoming an emergent multi‑brand manufacturing leader, we’ve grown by bringing in great people and empowering them to do great work.

At Gradian, we believe innovation happens when everyone contributes, diversity of thought is celebrated, and people feel supported in their growth. We take pride in working hard together, tackling challenges, solving problems, and having fun along the way. As we expand into both emerging and mission-critical industries, we stay committed to delivering efficient, competitive, and sustainable heating and cooling technologies. And throughout your career here, you will have the chance to directly shape the foundation for what's next in our industry.

The Senior Manager, Learning & Development will lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the company's learning and development strategy during a period of rapid organizational growth, operational expansion, and business transformation. This role will be responsible for building scalable training programs, leadership development, and creating the learning infrastructure necessary to support employee success at every stage of growth.

As the organization continues to expand and integrate multiple businesses, this individual will establish training frameworks that ensure employees develop the technical skills, operational knowledge, and leadership capabilities required to drive business performance. The role will partner closely with Operations, Human Resources, and business leaders to identify capability gaps, design targeted learning solutions, and create measurable development programs that support organizational objectives.

A primary focus of the role will be developing and implementing technical training programs for operational employees, ensuring consistent onboarding, skills development, certification processes, and ongoing proficiency across the workforce. The Senior Manager will establish training standards, learning pathways, and measurement tools that drive competency, productivity, quality, and safety throughout the organization.

In addition to technical training, the role will build leadership and management development programs designed to strengthen critical leadership capabilities such as communication, employee engagement, coaching, performance management, conflict resolution, change leadership, and team effectiveness. The successful candidate will create a sustainable learning culture that supports employee growth, leadership effectiveness, workforce readiness, and long-term organizational success.

• Develop and execute a company-wide learning and development strategy.
• Create a scalable training framework aligned with business goals.
• Establish learning governance, standards, and measurement practices.
• Build multi-year workforce capability development plans.
• Partner with leadership to identify organizational capability needs.

• Design and implement technical training programs for operational teams.
• Create standardized onboarding and certification programs.
• Establish skill matrices and competency models.
• Develop learning pathways for employees across functions and levels.
• Partner with operations leaders to identify critical skill gaps.
• Ensure training programs support quality, productivity, safety, and performance objectives.

• Design and deliver management training programs.
• Develop curriculum focused on:
  • Communication
  • Employee engagement
  • Coaching and feedback
  • Performance management
  • Conflict resolution
  • Change leadership
  • Team development
  • Accountability and leadership effectiveness
• Create leadership learning pathways for emerging and experienced leaders.

• Implement training administration and tracking processes.
• Partner with HR and IT to leverage learning technologies.
• Develop training content standards and governance.
• Create reporting and analytics dashboards.
• Ensure learning records and certifications are maintained appropriately.

• Develop training effectiveness metrics.
• Measure learning outcomes and business impact.
• Track employee progression and skill development.
• Monitor leadership development program effectiveness.
• Continuously improve programs based on feedback and results.

• 5+ years of learning and development, training, or organizational development experience.
• Experience managing learning programs.
• Experience designing and implementing technical training programs.
• Experience creating leadership and management development curriculum.
• Strong project management and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and presentation abilities.

• Experience supporting rapid growth organizations.
• Experience building learning functions from the ground up.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, operations, engineering, or technical workforces.
• Experience implementing training frameworks and competency models.
• Experience with learning management systems (LMS).
• Experience supporting organizational integration or acquisition activity.

• 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

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.

Qualifications