Associate Director of Marketing, Research

Chicago, IL
December 18, 2024
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Job Description

About Morningstar:
Morningstar’s mission is to empower investor success. One way we accomplish this is by offering independent data, research and great products to the financial community. We believe that when the investor wins, we all win. Independent research is a cornerstone of Morningstar. With input from hundreds of analysts globally, Morningstar delivers comprehensive and actionable insights on securities, funds, markets, and portfolios.
The Team:
As part of the Content and Platforms team, the Research Amplification Team is dedicated to connecting professional investors with Morningstar’s independent research. The Research Amplification Team identifies actionable and relevant research to bring to life for professional audiences, including advisors and asset managers. We foster cross-functional collaboration across research, editorial, comms, central, product, demand gen, & global marketing teams. We lead the strategy, planning, and execution of research campaigns designed to drive reach, engagement, and top of funnel lead generation across owned, earned, and paid media channels.
The Role:
We are looking for an experienced team leader to assume responsibility for the execution of research content marketing campaigns designed to maximize the reach and engagement of our independent investment research, with the goal of influencing leads at the top of the funnel. In this role, you will manage a small team of marketers working across functional teams (research, comms, editorial, creative, and various marketing functions) to launch research campaigns via organic and paid channels; including, earned media, digital, SEO, email, events, paid media, social, and sales enablement channels.
This position is in our Chicago office, we follow a hybrid policy in which onsite work is required at least 3 days per week. The position reports into the Senior Marketing Director, Research Amplification, on our corporate marketing team.
Responsibilities:

  • Lead and Develop a High Performing Team: Coach, develop and mentor a team of high performing marketing professionals with a test, learn, iterate mindset
  • Execution is Everything: execute content marketing programs and campaigns to support the publication and promotion of high impact research content authored by our Equity, Behavioral, Manager, and Portfolio Research teams, as well as research from our business units including Sustainalytics and Investment Management
  • Drive Influence and Collaboration Across Teams: lead collaboration across teams-research, communications, creative services, editorial, and various marketing functions-and across borders, to develop and execute research campaigns designed to drive top-of-funnel lead generation
  • Build Bridges: responsible for the identification and coordination of cross-functional resources needed to execute research marketing programs that drive awareness, increase content engagement, and drive top of the funnel lead generation
  • Maximize Reach and Engagement: Collaborate with content strategy and SEO experts to identify and optimize derivative digital research content; such as, our research library, research topic and pillar pages, as well as our gated landing pages
  • Data Driven: Maniacal about measuring impact, using data to drive decisions, and deciding where to invest the next dollar. Test and measure campaign strategies and tactics to optimize performance and marketing channels and analyze campaign KPIs, providing feedback and recommendations to various stakeholders
  • Drive Program Growth and Maximize Efficiency: help lead the expansion of Research Amplification into new digital and social channels, taking a test and learn approach
  • Thought Leadership: Serve as a thought leader and subject matter expert in content marketing, staying up-to-date with the latest trends, channels, tactics, and best practices in the industry

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree, ideally in marketing, advertising, communications, or related field
  • 10+ years of work experience, preferably B2B marketing experience with an emphasis on content marketing
  • 5+ years of experience leading high performance teams
  • Extensive experience developing and implementing content marketing programs and supporting tactics
  • Proven program management experience, and experience leading cross-functional global teams
  • Exceptional project and time management skills with strong attention to detail
  • Superior interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills
  • Strong creative and analytical skills and ability to think outside of the box and innovate the art of marketing
  • Ability to learn quickly and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
  • Experience using AI copywriting tools is as asset
  • Self-starter with proven ability to navigate ambiguity, move multiple projects forward, and manage shifting timelines

001_MstarInc Morningstar Inc. Legal Entity
Morningstar’s hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to work remotely and collaborate in-person each week. We’ve found that we’re at our best when we’re purposely together on a regular basis, at least three days 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.