Head of Internal Communications

The Opportunity

Following a period of tremendous growth—nearly doubling our workforce since 2020—this new role as Head of Internal Communications will set a go-forward internal communications strategy across the firm that supports our strong mission and culture, drives strategy alignment across business units, and enables our desired employee experience. This position is based in our Chicago office alongside much of our executive leadership and reports to the Chief People Officer. In line with our flexible working policy, this hybrid position offers the option to work remotely up to two days per week.

Your Role at Morningstar

In this newly created senior management role, you will report to our Chief People Officer (CPO) and partner closely with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to design innovative internal communications programs and practices that drive engagement, enablement, and equity. You will lead a team (composed of six individuals) responsible for partnering across the organization to create a standardized, data-driven communications approach for our distributed, hybrid workforce.

Responsibilities include:

• Design, implement, and reimagine internal communications programs, playbooks, and protocols that align with our culture, reflect our values, and enable our desired employee experience promoting belonging, meaning, flexibility, growth, and client success. 
• Set an internal content approach for a modernized channel mix, including a refreshed approach to internal events/town halls and a strategy to support the transition to and go-forward content for a new intranet and mobile platform as well as social media. 
• Drive global governance, best practices, and cross-functional collaboration for internal communications that hold groups accountable for meeting employees’ expectations for direct, authentic, and relevant communications. 
• Develop communications programs that support the evolving role of leaders and people managers in a hybrid environment. Support communication needs for major business initiatives, reorganizations, leadership changes, and acquisitions, as needed. 
• Direct strategic campaigns and provide content to support domain areas across the company including Total Rewards; Talent Management; Employee Technology; Facilities; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); Employee Resource Groups; Corporate Sustainability; and Community Outreach. 
• Promote Morningstar’s reputation as an employer of choice across diverse audiences of prospective talent. 
• Provide data-driven counsel to our executive and senior leadership teams about effective communications practices and audience needs/expectations. Leverage internal and external data to regularly review communications effectiveness, report progress against goals, identify best practices, and shape future communications.

Your Expertise

You are passionate and experienced with directing strategic communications and messaging to support business growth, employee engagement, productivity, sustainability, and shared understanding. You have the gravitas and business acumen to act as a strategic advisor, but also the strong writing and editing expertise that makes you not above tactical execution. You have experience guiding executive leaders through how to position and utilize messaging and communications as a change management tool. You have an analytical mindset and passion for data, including a personal interest in investing, financial markets, and a global workforce. You are a recognized bridge builder and innovator who is drawn to mission-driven and forward-thinking companies. You have a natural curiosity that keeps you up on the latest market trends and best practices for driving influence and culture through digital and physical engagement. You have an entrepreneurial mindset that drives the development of the internal communications function, and you excel in a fast-paced environment. Finally, you have a proven track record of leading and driving accountability for high-performing teams that produce scalable internal communications programs. You keep a high bar for success through data-driven experimentation and thrive in an environment that values diversity, creativity, and collaboration.

You have proven success in:

• Leading a high-performing, matrixed team that is held accountable for data-driven results that enable individual business units and corporate functions to drive success. 
• Maturing an internal communications, PR, or marketing function at scale across business areas and geographies. 
• Employing both proactive and reactive strategic thinking and decision-making. 
• Creating compelling employer brand content across a variety of mediums and channels. 
• Managing and executing in a hybrid environment (3 days in the office). 
• Fostering a digital mindset in the use of technology and tools for maximum impact. 
• 15+ years of communications or marketing experience within a fast-paced environment. 
• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree optional.

Our Employee Experience

You’re joining an organization that demonstrates and values transparency, independence, and long-term thinking. Sustainability and fairness are embedded in our investment analysis, in our operational decisions, in our people practices, and in our community engagement. Individual flexibility and the ability to make choices thatsupportwork-lifeintegration are central to our culture and operational practices. You will be supported by equitable systems, processes, decisions, and actions.

Your health and quality of life are important, supported, and protected. Our Total Rewards package includes competitive compensation with above-market bonus opportunities, an industry-leading employee stock ownership program, and access to the same investment research and planning tools we offer our clients. Our sabbaticals, where employees receive up to six weeks to refresh and recharge every four years, are available across the globe.