Safety Intern (Chicago)

Skender; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 2,066,000 - 3,444,000; Part time

Job summary

Skender is seeking a Safety Intern for Summer 2027 in Chicago, ready to learn safety in construction. You’ll work with the SPQ team across field and office settings, gaining hands-on experience in inspections, planning, documentation, and safety initiatives.

You’ll be pursuing a 4-year degree in safety or a related field, with a valid driver’s license. A strong eye for detail and teamwork will help you contribute to safer project delivery and professional development.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a 4-year degree in Safety, Occupational Safety and Health, Construction Management, Engineering or related field.
• Valid drivers license and access to a reliable vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Assist the SPQ team with weekly jobsite safety inspections.
• Attend start-up meetings and gain exposure to project safety planning.
• Assist with safety documentation, training, and other admin responsibilities.
• Support corporate safety initiatives that help teams work safely.
• Gain firsthand exposure to construction operations and safety's role in delivery.
• Continue building safety knowledge through hands-on experience and training.

Skills

Effective communication

Attention to detail

Documentation

Organizational skills

Questioning & learning

Construction safety interest

Field & office adaptability

Education

Pursuing safety degree

Job description

Hey! We’re Skender, nice to meet you.

At our core, we are builders — of communities, relationships, dreams, and careers. If you asked us to describe Skender, we’d say we’re ambitious, humble, and compassionate. We’re focused on building lasting partnerships with the right people. Our success starts and ends with our people. That’s why we seek out dynamic, high-energy teammates who are eager to learn, ready to take ownership of their careers, and excited to have fun along the way.

Who is Skender?

About 70 years ago, Skender got its start in the basement of our founder’s family home. Now, Skender has two locations, our Chicago headquarters and our Indianapolis office, with over 400 employees helping us raise the bar year after year.

From humble beginnings to now, Skender has become one of the nation’s top 100 construction firms building dream spaces for many of the world’s leading brands. In more recent history, we’ve won 30 best-place-to-work awards from three different organizations, each based on comprehensive workplace evaluations and employee input.

Our team is driven by three core values:

• Proactive: You take initiative, stay curious, and aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves to get the job done.

• Refreshing: You celebrate team wins, show appreciation freely, and always give credit where it's earned.

• True Partner: You thrive on collaboration, ask thoughtful questions, and are fully present and engaged with your team.

If our values align with yours, this could be a great match. We love meeting new people, so we can’t wait to hear about you!

Who are you?

We’re looking for a Safety Intern to join us for the Summer of 2027 who is ready to learn the ins and outs of a safety career path in construction. Do you enjoy being out in the field, learning how work gets done, and helping create a safe environment for everyone on site? Great. Are you someone with a team-first attitude who pays attention to details, asks questions, and looks for opportunities to improve? Even better.

What will you do as a Safety Intern?

Our Safety Intern is an important member of our Safety, Production, and Quality (SPQ) team. You’ll gain hands‑on experience in both field and managerial settings while learning how Skender’s safety management processes support our project and field teams.

• Assist the SPQ team with weekly jobsite safety inspections.

• Attend job start up meetings and gain exposure to project safety planning.

• Assist with safety documentation, training, and other administrative responsibilities.

• Support corporate safety initiatives that help our project and field teams work safely and effectively.

• Gain firsthand exposure to construction operations and the role safety plays in successful project delivery.

• Continue building your safety knowledge and skills through hands‑on experience, training, and professional development.

What education and experience are required?

• Must be pursuing a 4-year degree in Safety, Occupational Safety and Health, Construction Management, Engineering or a related field. Equivalent combinations of technical training and related construction experience may also be considered

• Valid drivers license and access to a reliable vehicle

What skills do we look for?

• Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with project teams and trade partners.

• Strong attention to detail and an interest in identifying and preventing potential safety concerns.

• Ability to stay organized and maintain accurate documentation.

• Willingness to ask questions, learn from others, and take initiative.

• Interest in construction safety, risk prevention, and jobsite operations.

• Ability to work comfortably in both field and office environments.

• Basic knowledge of construction practices or safety principles is preferred but not required.

• Interest in building a career in construction safety.

EEO

At Skender, our values guide our behavior and shape our actions. Our promise is an authentic commitment to equality, opportunity, and a respectful work environment for all. We embrace individuality and listen to diverse voices. We believe that hiring those with different experiences and backgrounds, ultimately enhances our expertise as an organization. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This statement applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.