Senior Global Compensation Specialist

Senior Global Compensation Specialist

Location: Northbrook, IL, US

The Senior Compensation Specialist is a key member of the Total Rewards team, responsible for analyzing, administering, and enhancing compensation programs that support competitive, equitable, and compliant pay practices. This role partners closely with HRBPs, Finance, and cross-functional teams to deliver data-driven insights and support strategic compensation decisions across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Compensation Strategy & Benchmarking
• Conduct market pricing and internal job evaluations to ensure competitive and equitable pay.
• Maintain job architecture, salary grades, and job codes.
• Determine FLSA classifications for U.S. roles.
• Provide recommendations for offers, promotions, and pay adjustments.

• Compensation Planning & Annual Cycles
• Support annual salary, bonus, and long-term incentive processes.
• Prepare compensation analytics, modeling, and reporting.
• Partner with HR and Finance to ensure accurate program execution.
• Administer equity programs (RSUs, SARs, Performance Shares) and maintain participant data.

• Market Intelligence & Surveys
• Participate in global and regional compensation surveys.
• Analyze market trends to inform salary structure updates and program recommendations.

• Global Projects & Governance
• Support global initiatives including pay equity, job architecture, and compensation harmonization.
• Lead or contribute to compensation design, process improvements, and system enhancements.
• Maintain documentation and audit processes for compliance.

• Union & Hourly Workforce Support
• Partner with Plant HR on union and hourly wage administration.
• Provide data analysis to support negotiations and labor relations.

• Systems & Tools
• Support compensation systems, survey vendors, and HRIS data accuracy.
• Contribute to dashboard, reporting, and workflow improvements, including AI-enabled enhancements.

Qualifications

Required: 4+ years of compensation analysis experience. Experience with stock plan administration. Strong Excel and analytical skills; proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, Outlook. High attention to detail, confidentiality, and organizational skills. Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

Preferred: Experience with HRIS/compensation systems (e.g., SuccessFactors). CCP certification or progress toward it. Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Finance, or related field.

Pay Range: $86,000 - $116,000

The salary range for this position is determined by considering a variety of factors such as skills, experience, qualifications, and the location of the position. At Stepan Company our comprehensive benefits package includes: Discretionary Bonus Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance 401K with Match Profit Sharing Paid Time Off (PTO) Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD / LTD) Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Health Savings Account (HSA) Paid Parental Leave Adoption Assistance Reactions Recognition Program Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Stepan Company is a major manufacturer of basic and intermediate chemicals including surfactants, polymers, as well as specialty ingredients that go into consumer, household, and institutional products such as laundry detergents, shampoos, and surface cleaners. Stepan Company currently has 19 global manufacturing locations and over 2,400 employees. We have a strong record of growth. Our growth allows us to provide meaningful career opportunities and stability to our team members. We have big goals at Stepan and know every team member will be crucial to achieving our objectives. Regardless of function, we are looking for team members who bring with them a growth mindset, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to thrive in an evolving environment. We celebrate diversity at Stepan and are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.