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.
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.
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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:
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.
Established in 1932, 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 22 global manufacturing locations and over 2,500 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.
Stepan Company's vision is to create innovative solutions for a cleaner, healthier, more energy efficient world. We want to accomplish that vision by partnering with you. As a publicly-traded, international manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemical products, we collaborate with our customers to bring high-quality products that drive growth in the consumer space and functional markets such as construction, oilfield, agriculture, paints and coatings.
Since 1932, Stepan continues to be a mainstay in the industry, committed to developing sustainable practices and products that reflect our core values: responsibility, integrity and innovation. By always putting you – the customer – first, we bring continuous improvement to the chemical industry and our global community.
Stepan is headquartered in the Greater Chicagoland area (Northfield, IL). We provide timely customer support anywhere in the world by utilizing state-of-the-art manufacturing, and research and development facilities, along with a robust distribution network throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.
