Process Engineering Leader

Stepan Company•Elwood, IL

4d•$123,000 - $166,000•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides leadership for the Process Engineering organization at our Millsdale, IL site and serves as the technical authority for process technology, process safety, manufacturing optimization, and capital project development. The Process Engineering Leader develops engineering talent, advances manufacturing capabilities, and ensures that process engineering resources effectively support business objectives, capital investment priorities, and the site’s long-term strategy.

Requirements

Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in the chemical, specialty chemical, or related process manufacturing industry.
Strong experience in process engineering, manufacturing support, process optimization, and process safety management, with demonstrated business acumen to align technical solutions with operational and financial objectives.
Experience with Front-End Loading (FEL), Stage Gate processes, capital project development, and project execution.
Demonstrated success managing capital projects, external engineering firms, and technical consultants.
Strong knowledge of Process Safety Management (PSM), Management of Change (MOC), Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), and Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR).
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

Polyester Polyol and/or Sulfonation experience preferred.
Master’s degree or PE is a plus.

Responsibilities

Define the Process Engineering function’s technical direction, priorities, capabilities, staffing needs, and resource plans to support site capital development.
Lead, coach, and develop Process Engineers through performance management, mentoring, succession planning, and technical competency development.
Serve as the site’s primary Subject Matter Expert for process technology, providing technical direction for complex troubleshooting, process optimization, capacity expansion, reliability improvement, and manufacturing excellence.
Partner with Operations, Asset Management team, EHS&S, and Manufacturing leadership to identify, evaluate, and prioritize capital investment opportunities that address business growth, customer requirements, regulatory compliance, operational risks, and asset reliability.
Lead front-end development of capital projects, including technology selection, alternatives analysis, scope definition, project justification, and business case support, while ensuring alignment with established business drivers and strategic objectives.
Evaluate and recommend the optimal technical approach for each project by balancing safety, product quality, operability, maintainability, reliability, environmental performance, capital cost, schedule, and lifecycle value.
Evaluate the effectiveness of project development and engineering work processes, recommending practical improvements that increase efficiency, strengthen decision quality, and support consistent project execution.
Oversee execution of the site’s capital project portfolio and manage internal resources, external engineering firms, and technical consultants to ensure that deliverables, milestones, budgets, schedules, and expected benefits are achieved.
Review and approve Management of Change (MOC), CAPAs assignments, Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), and Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) documentation, while maintaining technical governance of applicable Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements.
Ensure engineering designs, technical standards, and work processes comply with Responsible Care®, applicable regulatory requirements, Stepan standards, and recognized practices for safety, reliability, operability, maintainability, and environmental stewardship.