Morningstar is seeking an experienced leader with strong project management, strategic thinking and facilitation skills. The Director – Technology Initiatives will play a key role in helping drive technology communications, innovation, operational excellence, project execution and DEI efforts. This role will require partnering with leaders across the technology organization, and across P&L’s, as well as external stakeholders to drive impact. In a fast-moving environment, where the array of initiatives range from long term, high impact, transformational efforts to quick turnaround, problem solving fixes, this person will need a high degree of flexibility and adaptability. 

This role will provide thought leadership by introducing new and proven frameworks to enable Morningstar’s technology teams to deliver high value impact, fast. Innovation and customer focus are important to Morningstar’s technology teams. The role will require looking at projects at a higher altitude and connecting the dots, while at the same time going deep into projects to improve upon their execution.

The ideal candidate will be a serial learner, creative, self-driven & excellent facilitator. 

Responsibilities:

•    Co-ordinate and manage the agenda, content, setting up & sharing of key Technology team meetings such as the Technology council and the Technology Town hall 
•    Enable, guide/support the design and delivery of cross P&L projects relating to adoption of technologies
•    Support and/ or lead technology integration efforts resulting from M&A activity 
•    Track and report on technology OKR’s
•    Lead, design and implement technology internal communication initiatives such as technology newsletter
•    Help elevate the Morningstar technology brand by leading, designing and implementing external communications strategy and tactics related to technology through social media like Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.
•    Help elevate the Morningstar technology brand supporting innovation efforts
•    Facilitate and manage all technology reporting such as Board reporting
•    Co-ordinate DEI goals and activities, in tandem with technology diversity champion
•    Develop and share frameworks to help the technology team drive scale and be more effective
•    Facilitate workshops, key meetings and strategic conversations, as needed. 
•    Support technology leaders and employees on topics such as LEAN, agile, continuous improvement and change management.

Qualifications:

•    Strong communication and influencing skills. Able to facilitate and manage conversations and meetings. Disciplined about following principles to drive effective meetings.
•    Experience in driving complex, enterprise wide initiatives. 10 years of project management experience is preferable.
•    Proven leader with extensive ability to build solid and collaborative relationships with team members, foster a productive team environment, and coach teams & colleagues
•    Strategic but also good at execution - Ability to see the big picture, connect the dots, develop frameworks and execute on plan.
•    Data driven, with the ability to analyze data to drive decisions & to provide direction for future initiatives.
•    A quick learner, who constantly identifies best practices, and shares across the technology team
•    Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations. A creative & relentless problem solver.
•    Expertise in Lean, Agile and/ or Design thinking.
•    Sophisticated executive demeanor, comfortable functioning at the highest levels of an organization
•    Strong project management methodology background, including schedule, scope, issue and risk management experience, change management, strategic planning and analysis 
•    Technology background is a plus 
•    A bachelor’s degree is required; an MBA and engineering degree or background is preferred.