Principal, Corporate Marketing Operations & Enablement

Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 121,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Stock ownership potential

Comprehensive health benefits

Paid sabbatical

Job summary

Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC is seeking a Principal, Corporate Marketing Operations & Enablement to drive operational excellence across vendor management, budgeting, technology operations, and internal communications. The role centralizes processes to enable marketing teams to focus on strategy while maintaining scalable, compliant operations.

You will own the vendor lifecycle, budgeting, and reporting, partnering with Finance, Legal, Procurement, and Technology to optimize spend and reduce

Qualifications

• Significant experience in marketing operations or business operations.
• Proven budget management, vendor contracts, procurement, and reporting skills.
• Ability to coordinate complex initiatives across multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end vendor lifecycle across Corporate Marketing.
• Maintain consolidated operating budget and forecast support.
• Coordinate operational management of marketing technology and licenses.
• Support planning and execution of internal communications and leadership updates.

Skills

Marketing operations

Budget management

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Procurement coordination

Job description

The Principal, Corporate Marketing Operations & Enablement is responsible for the operational infrastructure that enables Morningstar's Global Corporate Marketing organization to run efficiently. This role centralizes vendor management, procurement, budget administration, technology operations, reporting, and internal communications under a single owner. By providing operational leadership across these functions, this role enables marketing teams to focus on strategic priorities while ensuring Corporate Marketing operates effectively and at scale.

Lead Vendor & Procurement Operations

• Own the end-to-end vendor lifecycle across Corporate Marketing, including intake, vendor evaluations, procurement coordination, contract execution, renewals, and ongoing vendor management.
• Serve as Corporate Marketing's primary operational liaison with Procurement and Legal, ensuring vendor engagements move efficiently while meeting organizational requirements.
• Monitor vendor utilization, contract commitments, and renewals to maximize value and proactively identify risks or opportunities.
• Maintain accurate vendor documentation, contract records, and operational reporting.

Budget & Financial Operations

• Maintain Corporate Marketing's consolidated operating budget, including spend tracking, invoice reconciliation, forecasting support, and budget reporting.
• Partner with Finance to monitor actuals, identify variances, and support financial planning activities.
• Own allocation reporting and operational measurement in support of Corporate Marketing objectives.
• Develop and maintain reporting that provides leadership with visibility into budget health and vendor investments.

Marketing Technology & Software Operations

• Coordinate the operational management of Corporate Marketing's technology and software portfolio, including budgeting, licensing, renewals, permissions, and vendor coordination.
• Support the evaluation and procurement of new marketing technologies in partnership with Marketing Technology leadership.
• Maintain visibility into software utilization and identify opportunities for consolidation or cost optimization.

Coordinate Corporate Marketing Operations

• Coordinate recurring cross functional operational activities that support Corporate Marketing leadership, including budget reviews, vendor planning, allocation reporting, and organizational initiatives.
• Support the planning and execution of internal communications, including town halls, OKR updates, Market Minds sessions, and other leadership communications.
• Facilitate the Corporate Marketing NPS action planning process by coordinating follow-up activities, tracking commitments, and communicating progress.
• Maintain operational calendars, trackers, and documentation that improve visibility and consistency across the organization.

Drive Operational Excellence

• Create and maintain operational processes, documentation, and reporting that improve efficiency, consistency, and transparency across Corporate Marketing.
• Identify opportunities to simplify administrative work, improve cross-functional coordination, and reduce operational friction.
• Partner with Marketing Operations leadership and stakeholders across Finance, Procurement, Legal, and Technology to continuously improve how Corporate Marketing operates.

What We Are Looking For

• Significant experience in marketing operations, business operations, program management, or a similar operational role.
• Strong financial and business acumen, with experience managing budgets, vendor contracts, procurement, and reporting.
• Proven ability to manage complex operational initiatives across multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience partnering effectively with Finance, Procurement, Legal, Technology, and Marketing.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a passion for improving processes and driving operational excellence.
• Strong communication skills and experience coordinating leadership communications and organizational initiatives.
• Collaborative, service-oriented, and able to influence outcomes without direct authority.

Compensation and Benefits

• Financial Health
  100% 401k match up to 6% of salary
  Stock Ownership Potential
  Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission
  Physical Health
  Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coverages
  Additional medical
  Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual
  Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance
  Emotional Health
  Trust-Based Time Off
  6-week Paid Sabbatical Program
  6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
  Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Leave
  Adoption Assistance
  Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
  Annual Flex Stipend - $1000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses
  Tuition Reimbursement
  Social Health
  Charitable Matching Gifts program
  Dollars for Doers volunteer program
  Paid volunteering days 15+
• Employee Resource & Affinity Groups
• Total Cash Compensation Range $121,400.00-186,150.00 Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentive

Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.

001_MstarInc Morningstar Inc. Legal Entity

Morningstar is a global independent investment research and financial data company. Here, you'll help uncover what’s hidden, simplify what’s complex, and create insights that empower investor success.

Company overview

Morningstar Development Program

Morningstar is strongly committed to creating and preserving equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. We make all employment decisions—including recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, termination, and other personnel matters—without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship, gender identity and expression, parental status, or other legally protected characteristics or conduct.