NA Procurement Director

Stepan Company•Northbrook, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Stepan Company is seeking a Director of North America Procurement, Raw Materials to lead sourcing strategy and supplier management for critical direct raw materials supporting the Surfactant and Polymer businesses. This role is accountable for significant annual spend and supply continuity and leads a team of procurement professionals while partnering closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Commercial, Finance, Legal, and Sustainability teams. The role translates market and business dynamics into effective sourcing decisions that support cost competitiveness, risk mitigation, and long term value creation.

Requirements

Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, or Commercial leadership roles.
Experience sourcing raw materials within the Chemical, Petrochemical, Oleochemical or related manufacturing industry.
Demonstrated success by leading teams and influencing stakeholders in a complex, matrixed environment.
Strong negotiation, analytical, financial, and risk management skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage effectively at senior levels.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and previous experience with SAP or other Global ERP system
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed (up to ~25%).
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.

Nice To Haves

MBA or Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead North America raw materials sourcing strategy and supplier management to ensure cost competitiveness, supply reliability, and sustainability progress.
Own sourcing decisions for assigned raw material categories, including supplier selection, contracting strategy, pricing mechanisms, and risk trade offs, within established enterprise guidelines.
Provide market intelligence on commodity trends, pricing indices, tariffs, and supply risks to inform business and operational decisions.
Partner with Business, Supply Chain, Operations, and Commercial teams to align sourcing strategies with demand planning, customer requirements, and continuity needs.
Drive cost out, productivity, and value creation initiatives while maintaining a disciplined and actionable savings pipeline.
Lead, develop, and coach a team of procurement professionals, ensuring strong capability, performance, and role clarity.
Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contracts, forecasting, and business continuity planning while supporting continuous improvement and simplification of procurement processes.