Principal EHS Business Partner

Abbott; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 87,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Excellent retirement plan

Global company

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

Abbott is a global healthcare leader with a Cancer Diagnostics focus in Madison, WI. The Principal EHS Business Partner will lead safety and environmental initiatives across designated sites, shaping a culture of compliance and continuous improvement to reduce risk and protect people.

You will partner with HR, Legal, and site leaders to drive regulatory adherence, incident investigations, and sustainability efforts while maintaining strong relationships with regulators and auditors.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of EHS experience with program development and auditing.
• Professional knowledge of OSHA/EPA regulations.
• Experience interfacing with regulatory agencies and auditors.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of EHS programs across designated sites.
• Serve as SME for environmental, health, and safety matters.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local requirements (OSHA, EPA, WDNR, MMSD).
• Lead investigations of workplace accidents and environmental incidents.
• Perform site inspections, safety audits, and risk assessments; maintain risk registers.
• Establish EHS KPIs, manage regulatory reporting, and communicate trends to leadership.
• Collaborate with HR, Legal, managers and staff on workers’ compensation and return-to-work.
• Drive environmental sustainability efforts to reduce footprint.
• Engage stakeholders and regulators, supporting training and awareness programs.
• Stay current on evolving regulations and integrate changes into programs.

Skills

EHS program management

Auditing & monitoring

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health, Chemistry, Lab Sciences

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You’ll also have access to :

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

This position works out of our Madison, WI location in the Cancer Diagnostics division. Abbott’s Cancer Diagnostics business was established through the acquisition of Exact Sciences, bringing together Abbott’s global diagnostics leadership with Exact Sciences’ expertise in cancer screening and diagnostic testing. Together, we’re advancing the early detection of cancer and improving outcomes for patients through innovative, accessible testing solutions. Our combined portfolio and reach allow us to bring life-changing diagnostic technology to more patients, providers, and health systems worldwide.

As the Principal EHS Business Partner, you’ll have the chance to lead the development, implementation, and execution of safety and environmental initiatives across designated sites, foster a sustainable culture of EHS compliance, mitigate risk, and drive continuous improvement in safety and environmental performance.

What You’ll Work On

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of EHS programs, policies, and initiatives across designated sites to strengthen safety performance, environmental sustainability, and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for environmental, health, and safety matters, providing guidance on workplace hazards, new equipment and process changes, employee health concerns, and other activities that may impact EHS compliance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including OSHA, EPA, WDNR, MMSD, State Fire Marshal requirements, permits, company EHS standards, and Quality Management System policies and procedures.
• Lead workplace accident and environmental incident investigations, analyze trends and root causes, and drive timely corrective and preventive actions to reduce injuries, illnesses, and environmental impacts.
• Conduct site inspections, safety audits, Job Hazard Analyses, and risk assessments; maintain Risk Registers and ensure identified hazards are appropriately controlled and corrective actions are completed.
• Establish and monitor EHS performance metrics and KPIs, maintain required regulatory records and reporting, and communicate safety priorities, trends, risks, and progress to site and senior leadership.
• Partner with HR, Legal, managers, supervisors, and employees to manage workers’ compensation, injury care, and return-to-work programs while fostering employee engagement, accountability, and a strong culture of safety.
• Lead environmental sustainability efforts related to waste, water, energy use, emissions, and other environmental impacts, identifying opportunities to reduce the organization’s overall footprint.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and auditors, while developing and supporting effective EHS training, communications, and awareness programs.
• Stay current on evolving regulations, industry best practices, and EHS trends, incorporating relevant changes into company programs and ensuring required EHS documentation is accessible in appropriate local languages.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health, Chemistry, Lab Sciences, or a related field.
• 7+ years related EHS work experience.
• Professional experience in program development and maintenance, auditing and monitoring, adherence to regulatory or accreditation requirements, and delivering complex multi-directional communications required.
• Professional working knowledge with OSHA and EPA regulations required.
• Professional experience interfacing with various regulatory agencies and auditors required.
• Basic computer skills to include Internet navigation, Email usage, and word processing.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the Essential Duties of the position with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Environmental, Safety and Health or Business highly desirable.
• 10+ years of EHS work experience.
• Experience in a biotech manufacturing environment, medical device technology and/or clinical laboratory.
• Experience with FDA, CLIA, and/or CAP.
• Experience working under FDA 21 CFR 820 regulations and ISO13485 guidelines.
• Experience with ISO 45001 standards.
• BCPE, CSP, CHMM, CEP, CIE, or CIH certification(s).

The base pay for this position is $86,700.00 – $173,300.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.