Executive Operator Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

The Group

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 - to ensure our business runs smoothly. Each function plays a critical role in supporting the company's infrastructure, day-to-day operations, and long-term strategic initiatives. These teams do not operate in silos. They work in close coordination with one another and with the rest of the firm to keep Morningstar's infrastructure sound and its strategic direction clear. When a business decision needs a legal read, a financial model, a communications plan, and an operational owner - all at the same time - Corporate is where that coordination happens.

Working in Corporate means being close to decisions that affect the whole organization. You will collaborate with leaders across functions, contribute to firm-wide initiatives, and see how the different parts of Morningstar connect to its mission of empowering investor success. The work is varied, the stakes are real, and the people you work with are serious about doing it well.

About the Role

The Executive Assistant will provide exceptional, high-touch administrative support to the Chief Executive Officer and manage key Board of Directors-related activities. This role is essential to enabling the CEO's focus on strategic leadership, external engagement, and organizational priorities.

Your work enables the CEO and leadership team to operate effectively. You bring order to competing priorities, anticipate needs, coordinate key activities, and ensure the right people and information come together at the right time. From managing the rhythm of the CEO's office to supporting leadership events and strategic planning efforts, you help create the conditions for strong decisions and effective execution

The ideal candidate is resourceful, proactive, and highly self-directed, with the ability to think critically, act independently, and consistently demonstrate strong judgment. They operate with a high degree of professionalism, confidentiality, and composure in a fast-paced environment. You will work closely with senior leaders, Board members, and external partners. The situations you navigate will not always come with a clear playbook. What they will always require is sound judgment, steady composure, and the ability to act with confidence when the answer is not obvious.

Location: This role is based at our global headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. Regardless of office, there is an expectation of four days per week in the office. Morningstar operates a flexible in-office model in which employees select their preferred remote workday.

Executive Operations

Manage the CEO's calendar end-to-end: set priorities, resolve conflicts, protect focus time, and ensure every commitment has a clear purpose and the right preparation behind it

Coordinate meetings and engagements across multiple time zones, including briefing materials, agendas, and follow-up actions

Anticipate what the CEO will need next - information, context, logistics, or a decision - and move ahead of it

Process executive-level expenses in Concur accurately and on time, and flag any anomalies for review

Travel and Logistics

Plan and manage complex domestic and international travel: flights, accommodation, ground transport, visas, and contingency options

Build detailed itineraries that account for time zones, schedule changes, and business priorities

Serve as the real-time point of contact when travel is in motion, resolving issues before they become disruptions

Board of Directors Support

Coordinate Board meeting logistics: scheduling, materials preparation, room setup, and follow-up documentation

Manage communications between the CEO and Board members with accuracy and appropriate discretion

Maintain organized records of Board-related materials, resolutions, and correspondence

Projects and Stakeholder Liaison

Support CEO-level special projects and confidential initiatives from planning through execution

Serve as a professional, informed first point of contact for internal leaders and external partners on behalf of the CEO

Identify recurring inefficiencies and propose improvements to how the office operates

Experience and Scope

7+ years of experience as an Executive Assistant supporting senior executives - VP level or above - in a complex, global organization. The environments you have worked in required you to manage competing demands, operate with significant autonomy, and hold yourself to a high standard without close supervision.

A track record of working in organizations where the stakes are real: where a missed commitment, a scheduling error, or a confidentiality lapse has genuine consequences. You have operated in that environment and performed well in it.

Experience supporting Board of Directors activities, including coordinating board meetings and materials, managing sensitive and confidential information, and partnering with senior leaders to ensure seamless execution of board-related processes.

Calendar and Priority Management

Demonstrated experience managing high-volume, high-conflict executive calendars. You do not just fill time slots - you make active decisions about what belongs on the schedule, what does not, and how to sequence commitments to protect the executive's focus and energy.

Comfort with ambiguity: when two priorities conflict and there is no obvious answer, you have a process for working through it and the confidence to act on your judgment.

Travel and Logistics

Experience planning and executing complex domestic and international travel: multi-leg flights, accommodation, ground transport, visa requirements, and contingency options. You build itineraries that anticipate what could go wrong, not just what should go right.

Comfort managing travel in real time - when flights change, meetings shift, or plans fall apart - and resolving issues quickly without escalating unnecessarily.

Tools and Systems

Proficiency with productivity, scheduling, and collaboration tools used in a global executive environment.

Hands-on experience with Concur or an equivalent expense management platform. You process expenses accurately, maintain organized records, and flag anomalies without being prompted.

Confidentiality and Judgment

A consistent record of handling sensitive and confidential information - personnel matters, strategic discussions, Board-related materials - with appropriate discretion. You understand that confidentiality is not a rule you follow when reminded. It is a standard you hold yourself to at all times.

Proven judgment in ambiguous or fast-moving situations. You can distinguish between a decision that is yours to make, one that needs to be escalated, and one that requires more information before moving forward. That distinction matters enormously in this role.

Direct support experience at the CEO or C-suite level. You have worked with a principal whose schedule, relationships, and decisions carry firm-wide weight. You understand what that environment demands and have performed well in it.

Familiarity with Board governance. You know how Board meetings are structured, what documentation they require, and how to handle Board-related materials and correspondence with appropriate care. You do not need to learn the basics on the job.

Global time zone experience. You have coordinated across regions - scheduling across EMEA, APAC, and the Americas, managing international travel logistics, and working with colleagues and stakeholders in multiple countries simultaneously.

Financial services or regulated industry background. You are familiar with the standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and accuracy that a regulated environment requires. You understand why those standards exist and hold yourself to them.

CAPABILITIES

Collaborating and Influencing

Builds trust with internal and external stakeholders by representing the CEO's office with consistency, professionalism, and clear communication

Coordinates across functions, time zones, and seniority levels to move work forward - knowing when to communicate directly, when to escalate, and when to connect the right people

Understands Morningstar's mission and how the CEO's priorities connect to it; uses that understanding to make better decisions about how the CEO's time and attention are directed

Leading Change

Adapts quickly when priorities shift; keeps operations stable and the CEO's schedule functional even as circumstances change

Identifies problems before they escalate and proposes practical solutions without waiting to be directed

Models discretion, integrity, and sound judgment in every interaction - setting a consistent standard for how the CEO's office operates

Driving Results

Continuously improves how the executive office functions - refining processes for scheduling, travel, Board support, and correspondence to raise quality and reduce friction

Delivers on commitments accurately and on time, managing a complex and shifting workload without losing precision

Measures success by the CEO's ability to focus on what matters most; works proactively to remove anything that gets in the way of that

Compensation and Benefits

At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That's why we champion your wellness through a wide range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:

• 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 plansand coverages

  • Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual

  • Company-provided long- and short-termdisabilityinsurance

• 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 & FormalMentorshipOpportunities

  • 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

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.