Associate Managing Director, North American CMBS Ratings

Morningstar•Chicago, IL

1d•$187,450 - $293,883•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Managing Director serves as a senior transaction lead and people manager on Morningstar DBRS’s North American Commercial Real Estate team. The role is primarily responsible for the analytical rigor, credit quality, and execution of CMBS ratings, including conduit, SASB, CRE CLO, and other transactions. It requires deep commercial real estate and structured finance expertise, independent judgment on complex transactions, and the ability to uphold analytical standards, mentor junior professionals, and engage with senior market participants. The position leads analysis and rating of a broad range of commercial real estate debt and structured finance transactions. It includes serving as lead analyst and senior credit decision-maker, overseeing rating discussions and committees, chairing committees, and acting as an independent voter when approved. The role also manages and develops analysts, helps allocate deals and monitor workloads, represents the team with clients and market participants, leads topical research, approves rating-related publications, and contributes to methodology and process development. The North American Commercial Real Estate team analyzes and rates commercial real estate debt and structured finance transactions using property-level, loan-level, and structural analysis, supported by rating methodologies and market research. The role is based in Morningstar’s hybrid work environment; in most locations, employees work in-office four days each week. Domestic North American travel is approximately 15–20%, with international travel as required.

Requirements

At least 20 years of progressive commercial real estate credit experience, with substantial exposure at a rating agency, lending institution, private credit platform, or comparable credit-focused organization.
Demonstrated depth of experience in CMBS, structured credit, or securitized real estate products.
Strong understanding of commercial real estate valuation, cash flow analysis, and credit risk drivers across market cycles.
Demonstrated ability to exercise independent credit judgment and defend recommendations before senior committees.
Experience managing and mentoring analytical teams in a performance-driven environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex analyses for senior audiences.
Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial modeling, and comfort working with large datasets.
Bachelor’s degree in finance, real estate, accounting, or a related discipline.
Willingness to work outside normal business hours, including weekends.
Ability to travel domestically within North America approximately 15–20%, hold a valid driver’s license and passport, and complete international travel as required.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
Experience with Agency and highly customized or esoteric commercial real estate debt and structured finance transactions.

Responsibilities

Provide senior leadership and oversight for analysis and rating of CMBS transactions, including SASB, conduit, CRE CLO, Agency, and customized or esoteric commercial real estate debt and structured finance executions.
Lead analysis and serve as senior credit decision-maker on complex, high-profile transactions, exercising independent judgment consistent with Morningstar DBRS methodologies.
Evaluate credit risk through property-level, loan-level, and structural analysis, including cash flow modeling and downside stress testing; determine stabilized and transitional net cash flows across commercial property types and loan sizes.
Assess transitional business plans, sponsor quality, capital structures, reserve mechanisms, and execution risks.
Oversee credit rating discussions and committees, ensuring consistency and adherence to internal policies, compliance and regulatory requirements, and publishing standards.
Serve as a Committee Chair within the North American CMBS ratings team and complete required Committee Chair responsibilities; act as an independent voter with other Structured Credit groups when approved.
Manage, mentor, and develop analysts; establish analytical standards and ensure consistent application of rating criteria.
Work with business development and senior leaders to allocate deals across the new issuance team and monitor workloads.
Represent the team with issuers, lenders, investors, and intermediaries, including attending conferences and meetings and participating in speaking engagements.
Create and lead topical research with publishing and other content creators for presentation to the market.
Approve presale reports, final rating reports, press releases, and analytical publications.
Apply expert knowledge of credit models and tools, including their inputs, drivers, and outputs.
Contribute to refining existing methodologies and developing new methodologies or processes.

Benefits

100% 401(k) match up to 6% of salary.
Stock ownership potential.
Company-provided life insurance equal to 1x salary plus commission.
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions of up to $500–$2,000 annually for specific plans and coverages.
Additional medical wellness incentives of up to $300–$600 annually.
Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance.
Trust-Based Time Off.
Six-week paid sabbatical program.
Six-week paid family caregiving leave.
Paid parental leave of 8–24 weeks.
Adoption assistance.
Leadership coaching and formal mentorship opportunities.
Annual flex stipend of $1,000 for personal education and well-being expenses.
Tuition reimbursement.
Charitable matching gifts program.
Dollars for Doers volunteer program.
Paid volunteering days.
15+ employee resource and affinity groups.
Hybrid work environment, with in-office work four days each week in most locations.