Software Program Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and results-oriented Program Manager to lead the delivery of complex, high-impact technology programs across the Morningstar Retirement organization. This role is responsible for owning program outcomes end-to-end, ensuring alignment with business strategy, and driving execution across multiple teams and stakeholders. You will partner closely with engineering, product, and business leadership to deliver initiatives that create measurable value. The ideal candidate brings a strong balance of program leadership, operational rigor, and critical thinking, with the ability to manage complexity, influence stakeholders, and scale delivery capabilities across the organization. Key Responsibilities
Own Program Strategy and Outcomes
• Own the successful delivery of complex, cross-functional technology programs, ensuring alignment with business objectives and measurable outcomes.
• Define program scope, objectives, success metrics, and execution approach in partnership with senior leadership.
• Ensure programs deliver on time, within scope and budget, while maintaining high quality and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Drive prioritization and trade-off decisions to align delivery with strategic goals.
Lead Cross-Functional Program Execution
• Oversee multiple concurrent programs, coordinating across engineering, product, and business teams.
• Manage dependencies, risks, and constraints across teams to ensure seamless execution.
• Maintain program governance, including planning cadences, status reporting, and decision frameworks.
• Coordinate resources and timelines across globally distributed teams.
Provide Strategic Visibility and Influence
• Provide data-driven insights on program health, risks, dependencies, and delivery trends to influence leadership decisions and guide strategic priorities.
• Communicate program progress, key milestones, and risks clearly to senior executives and stakeholders.
• Serve as a trusted partner to leadership, ensuring transparency and alignment across the organization.
Drive Operational Excellence and Scale
• Drive continuous improvement in program management practices to increase organizational delivery capacity, predictability, and operational efficiency.
• Standardize program governance, planning, and reporting frameworks across teams.
• Identify and implement improvements that enhance execution speed, quality, and predictability.
Enable Effective Delivery Practices
• Promote Agile and hybrid delivery methodologies as appropriate to program needs.
• Ensure teams are equipped with the tools, processes, and guidance needed to deliver effectively.
• Use delivery metrics and performance insights to improve execution and outcomes.
Leverage AI and Modern Tooling
• Identify and implement opportunities to leverage AI and automation to enhance program management, including forecasting, risk identification, reporting, and decision support.
• Partner with technology teams to introduce tools that improve visibility, efficiency, and data-driven execution.
• Champion modern, scalable approaches to program management supported by intelligent tooling.
Qualifications
Experience
• 8+ years of leading teams in program or project management roles.
• Significant professional experience leading large-scale programs in technology organizations.
• Proven success delivering complex, multi-team technology development programs from planning through execution. Understanding of SDLC (Software Development Lifecycle) is a must.
• Background in Agile environments, including experience as a Scrum Master or similar role.
• College degree in a relevant field is a must.
Skills & Expertise
• Strong program management expertise, including planning, governance, risk management, and cross-functional coordination.
• Ability to manage complexity and drive alignment across multiple stakeholders and teams.
• Experience providing executive-level reporting and influencing decision-making.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret delivery metrics and translate them into actionable insights.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, evolving environments.
Tools
• Experience with tools such as Jira and Asana preferred.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled program management or productivity tools is a plus. Strong interest in leveraging AI is a must.
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 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
If you receive and accept an offer from us, we require that personal and any related investments be disclosed confidentiality to our Compliance team (days vary by region). These investments will be reviewed to ensure they meet Code of Ethics requirements. If any conflicts of interest are identified, then you will be required to liquidate those holdings immediately. In addition, dependent on your department and location of work certain employee accounts must be held with an approved broker (for example all, U.S. employee accounts). If this applies and your account(s) are not with an approved broker, you will be required to move your holdings to an approved broker.
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.
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