Benefits Program Lead

The Team: 

The Corporate team unites a variety of functions at Morningstar including design, marketing, finance, quality, human resources, corporate communications, legal, compliance, strategic planning, and technology with the goal of keeping our business running smoothly. Each of these functions plays an essential role in supporting our company's infrastructure, day-to-day operations, and ongoing strategic initiatives. 

The Role:

We believe that people are our most important asset. Our people—through their creativity, talent, and willingness to learn—are essential to the success of our company. We are looking for a bright, experienced, and proactive individual to serve as a Benefits Program Lead on our Total Rewards team. 

This role serves as a senior-level benefits professional, responsible for leading the administration and continuous improvement of health, welfare, and retirement programs across the Americas. The Benefits Program Lead will provide operational leadership, vendor oversight, and strategic design input to the benefits team, enhancing employee experience along the way. Reporting to the Director of Global Benefits, this individual will also have the opportunity to support global benefits initiatives and play a critical role in compliance, data analysis, and employee engagement. 

This role is based in our Chicago office, where we operate in a hybrid environment (3 days/week in office). 

Key Responsibilities: 

Program Leadership & Operational Oversight 

• Lead the day-to-day administration of health, welfare, retirement, and wellness programs, ensuring operational excellence and timely execution. 

• Serve as a subject matter expert and escalation point for complex employee inquiries and benefit issues. 

• Partner with the Director of Global Benefits to evaluate and implement program enhancements and process improvements. 

• Mentor and provide guidance to more junior Rewards & Operations team members, supporting their development and ensuring consistency in service delivery. 

Annual Enrollment & Strategic Projects 

• Oversee planning and execution of annual enrollment, including project timelines, vendor coordination, and employee communications. 

• Manage cross-functional initiatives related to benefits strategy, employee experience, and global harmonization efforts. 

• Collaborate with HR, Payroll, Legal, and Finance teams to ensure benefits programs are functional, compliant and funded. 

Compliance & Vendor Management 

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, etc.) and support audits and filings. 

• Oversee vendor relationships, monitor service level agreements, and lead resolution of escalated issues. 

• Evaluate vendor performance and contribute to RFPs and contract renewals as needed. 

Employee Communication & Engagement 

• Develop and deliver clear, engaging benefits communications and educational materials. 

• Lead benefits-related training sessions and support employee engagement campaigns. 

• Maintain and enhance benefits content on internal platforms and vendor portals. 

Data Analysis & Reporting 

• Analyze benefits data to identify trends, utilization