Director of Institutional Research & Thought Leadership

Morningstar; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 196,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Stock ownership potential

Company provided life insurance

Health benefits

Disability insurance

Sabbatical

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Well-being stipend

Job summary

Morningstar is seeking a Director of Institutional Research in Chicago to lead forward‑looking market insights, macro research, and commercial applications of new ideas for the index business. You will produce original research, curate content, and influence product strategy while strengthening Morningstar's thought‑leadership footprint globally.

As an individual contributor reporting to the Global Head of Product and Research, Indexes, you will engage with cross‑functional teams, mentor

Qualifications

• 8-10 years experience in investment research, multi-asset analysis, or index research.
• Proven ability to write clear, accessible, and commercially relevant research.
• Experience influencing research direction or guiding project teams in a matrix environment.
• Strategic thinker who can translate insights into actionable commercial outcomes.
• Strong capital markets knowledge and proficiency with financial data tools.
• Excellent communication skills and comfort presenting to stakeholders.
• Comfortable being a public voice of the business.
• CFA or progress toward the designation; relevant graduate degree.
• Some travel will be required.

Responsibilities

• Set research agenda for the Morningstar Index business with input from product, sales and executive leadership.
• Create compelling insights, commentary, and thought leadership content for internal and external audiences.
• Collaborate with content creators to produce white papers, market commentaries, and deep-dive research.
• Set research standards and mentor research associates.
• Lead collaboration with broader research ecosystem to identify IP and content.
• Support creation of new IP to drive product development or enhance index methodology.
• Present research at industry conferences, client meetings, media interviews, and webinars.
• Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Product, Research, and Sales to amplify insights.
• Ensure research output meets standards of rigor, transparency, and neutrality.

Skills

Investment research

Capital markets knowledge

Written communication

Analytical thinking

Public speaking

Python

Excel

FactSet

Bloomberg

Morningstar Direct

Education

CFA (progress toward)

Relevant graduate degree

Tools

FactSet

Bloomberg

Morningstar Direct

Excel

Python

Job description

Morningstar is seeking a Director of Institutional Research in Chicago to lead forward‑looking market insights, macro research, and commercial applications of new ideas for the index business. You will produce original research, curate content, and influence product strategy while strengthening Morningstar's thought‑leadership footprint globally.

As an individual contributor reporting to the Global Head of Product and Research, Indexes, you will engage with cross‑functional teams, mentor