The Role: We are currently seeking an Executive Communications (EC) Manager to be responsible for the strategic communications and multi-stakeholder thought leadership agenda for our CEO and C-Suite of leaders. The role includes building out specific industry-related and company-specific platforms that position Morningstar as an ongoing global force for positive change in the financial services industry, an advocate for the individual investor and a positive force in society overall. The EC Manager has a unique opportunity to help further shape how Morningstar is known in the global marketplace, and advance our differentiation as an iconic, widely-recognized brand that empowers the investor to achieve better outcomes. The role will report to the Director of Internal Communications and is based at the corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.

A successful candidate will develop and lead communications programs that:

• Establish and embed a strong narrative that supports the business strategy and the CEO’s priorities
• Engage stakeholders on a continual basis with relevant and engagement content
• Evolve specific agenda topics and priorities (e.g., enhancing the role of the investor in achieving financial goals through current state to retirement, influencing global financial regulation on behalf of the investor, etc.)
   

Key Responsibilities:

Executive Communications:

• Advance the CEO’s vision, priorities and objectives through strategic communications
• Translate strategies into actionable plans to distill our strategy, mission, vision and values into easy to consume communications for employees around the world, along with external stakeholders, as relevant
• Coordinate special initiatives involving the CEO (e.g., conference and event participation, presentations, speeches, etc.)
• Support development and management of strategic communications plans for key initiatives
• Work with internal speechwriters to influence CEO language in all speeches
• Guide content development tracks and reports on message effectiveness and stakeholder advocacy on a regular basis, works with appropriate teams to ensure messaging and tools to educate internal audiences about key initiative are communicated and embraced across the organization.
   

Relationship Management:

• Demonstrate ability to influence and collaborate with senior leadership
• Navigate and engage a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders
• Develop strategies to optimize alignment among varied stakeholder groups
• Build and foster effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders who can advance CEO thought leadership efforts
   

Program Management:

• Develop and implement projects and organizational processes to ensure all work that emerges from our CEO’s agenda is successfully carried out throughout the business
• Monitor industry and thought leadership trends to help influence and move the agenda forward
• Lead the development of a comprehensive measurement and reporting framework that ensures Morningstar complies with internal and external expectations for transparency
• Provide timely and complete reports on progress relating to each strategic communications initiative
   

Candidate Profile:

A successful candidate should have a minimum of 10 years or more of experience working with C-Suite leadership in a strategic communications capacity.

Core competencies required for the position include:

• A dynamic individual who is results-oriented, self-motivated, creative and analytical
• Demonstrate an ability to be highly strategic and facilitative, must have the experience to manage with both focus and flexibility, as well as a willingness to play active, behind-the-scenes roles
• Proven strategic and systems thinking with deep experience working with senior leaders in corporate arenas to develop strategic communication plans
• A broad world view and interests with exposure to issues, trends and policies that impact the priorities identified by the CEO
• Experience managing and executing multi-stakeholder programs, campaigns and initiatives across geographies and business units
• Exceptional relationship management with knowledge of and demonstrated ability to maintain active relationships with high-level partners
• A foundation of strong business knowledge
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills
• Able to thrive in ambiguity, playing an active role in creating clarity and making vision a reality

Expectations for the first 12 months:

• Learn the organization, culture and processes
• Gain the respect of the leadership team
• Establish the appropriate systems to coordinate and optimize the advancement of the CEO’s agenda and positioning
• Build a stakeholder management system that would feed content for specific audiences
• Build broader executive messaging architecture and platform to draw from internally and externally
• Create a platform with the Digital Team to leverage digital media to engage specific stakeholders via executive positioning
   

Morningstar is an equal opportunity employer.