Benefits Specialist

The Team: 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 with the goal of keeping our business running smoothly. Each of these functions plays an essential role in supporting our company's infrastructure, day-to-day operations, and ongoing strategic initiatives. 

The Role: We believe that people are our most important asset. Our people—through their creativity, talent, and willingness to learn—are essential to the success of our company. We are looking for a bright, energetic, and driven individual to serve as a Benefits Specialist on our Total Rewards team. This role supports the administration and coordination of health, welfare, and retirement benefits for the Americas. This role ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, assists in employee benefits inquiries, and provides operational support to enhance the employee experience. Additionally, the Benefits Specialist will have the opportunity to support global benefits initiatives as needed and maintain oversight of strategic vendor partners to ensure high-quality service delivery. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, collaborative, and able to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment. This role is based in our Chicago office where we are operating in a hybrid environment, where we are in office 3 days/week. Key Responsibilities: Benefits Administration & Support

• Assist in the administration of health, welfare, retirement, and wellness programs, ensuring timely execution of operational processes.
• Support annual enrollment activities, including employee communication and vendor coordination.
• Maintain benefits documentation, update employee records, and ensure data accuracy within HR systems.
• Respond to employee benefits inquiries and provide guidance on eligibility, enrollment, and claims processing.
• Help coordinate leave of absence & ADA accommodation requests in partnership with HR and vendors.
• Support global benefits initiatives by assisting with research, project coordination, and administrative tasks as needed.

Compliance & Vendor Coordination

• Monitor compliance with regulatory requirements such as ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and FMLA.
• Assist in preparing compliance documentation, filings, and necessary employee notifications.
• Maintain oversight of vendor relationships, tracking service performance, handling basic issues, and escalating concerns when necessary.
• Collaborate with vendors to ensure consistent service delivery and adherence to company policies.

Employee Communication & Engagement

• Assist in developing and distributing benefits communications, including FAQs, summaries, and updates.
• Support employee engagement initiatives related to benefits awareness and education.
• Help maintain benefits-related information on intranet platforms and vendor portals.

Data & Reporting Support

• Compile and analyze basic benefits data to track employee enrollment, utilization trends, and program effectiveness.
• Prepare summary reports for management on program participation and employee feedback.
• Support leadership in identifying improvement opportunities based on employee usage patterns.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in benefits administration, HR operations, or a related role.
• Strong attention to detail with experience managing benefits processes and compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in HR systems (Workday or similar) and Microsoft Excel for data management and reporting.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for working with employees, vendors, and global partners.

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
  • 75% 401k match up to 7%
  • 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 Bonding Leave
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
  • Annual Education Stipend
  • Tuition Reimbursement

• Social Health 
  • Charitable Matching Gifts program
  • Dollars for Doers volunteer program
  • Paid volunteering days
  • 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups

Base Salary Compensation Range

$67,116.00 - 114,093.00 USD Annual

Total Cash Compensation Range

$72,150.00 - 122,650.00 USD Annual

Morningstar’s hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to work remotely and collaborate in-person each week. While some positions are available as fully remote, we’ve found that we’re at our best when we’re purposely together on a regular basis, typically 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.

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