Senior Operator, Hazardous Waste

AbbVie Inc.; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k)

Job summary

AbbVie Inc. in North Chicago is seeking a Senior Operator to advance from Operator, performing high-level tasks, leading safety‑compliant operations, and supporting SME‑level training and audits.

You will set up systems, troubleshoot, perform minor maintenance, and backfill Operations Coordinator roles as needed, while driving process improvements and maintaining equipment reliability.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 3 to 4 years experience preferred.
• Forklift and portable hand truck certification.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly.
• EPA/RCRA and DOT 49 CFR certifications (incl. ability to sign compliance documents).
• Ability to drive trucks up to 10,000 pounds and vans.
• Knowledge of hazardous, chemical, and biologic materials handling and compliance.
• Strong analytical training, problem-solving, teamwork, organizational, and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Operate key process equipment and instruments as per procedures in varied outdoor conditions.
• Backup coordinator when needed and monitor changes to ensure compliance and output.
• Monitor parameters, address deviations, and manage removal, cleaning, and testing operations.
• Submit work orders for equipment repair and maintain production logs.
• Ensure compliance with AbbVie policies and act as SME during training.
• Document events from system checks and escalate unresolved issues.
• Coordinate logistics, track inventory, and secure resources for objectives.
• Support environmental, health and safety programs and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Teamwork

Organizational skills

Customer service

Manual material handling

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Forklift certification

Portable hand truck certification

EPA/RCRA certification

DOT 49 CFR certification

Respirator certification

Job description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people’s lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube.

Purpose

The Senior Operator position is an advancement from Operator requiring completion of all core tasks from the previous levels. Serves as a highly experienced operator, recognized for excelling across multiple operational areas within the facility. Independently executes, coordinates, and delegates daily operational tasks, ensuring efficient workflow and adherence to safety and compliance standards. Acts as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), supporting training, certification, documentation, and audit activities to uphold process integrity and regulatory requirements. Responsible for system set-up, advanced troubleshooting, minor maintenance, and providing critical support to ongoing projects and equipment reliability initiatives. Proactively identifies improvement opportunities, fosters operational excellence, and can fill in and perform the roles of Operations Coordinator when needed. Demonstrates leadership, technical depth, and reliability essential for supporting team development and maintaining high standards throughout materials management operations. Able to fill-in, execute and perform roles of Operations Coordinator as necessary.

Responsibilities

• Operates key process equipment and instruments (e.g., tanker trucks, pumps, machines, etc.) according to all applicable procedures in a wide range of outdoor operating conditions.
• Serves as backup coordinator as needed or supports the designated coordinator by monitoring project changes and operational workflows to ensure ongoing process compliance and scheduled output.
• Monitors critical parameters, anticipates and addresses deviations to mitigate risks of material loss, and coordinates or executes removal, cleaning, and testing operations.
• Submits work orders for equipment repair and maintenance, documents production and equipment status, and maintains logs.
• Ensures compliance with all AbbVie policies/procedures and regulatory requirements; serves as SME during training, ensuring proper use of PPE, operational procedures, and project/process knowledge
• Documents events and observations from system checks escape unresolvable issues to supervision.
• Coordinates logistic requests, tracks inventory transactions, and ensures required resources are available to meet project/process objectives.
• Promotes environmental stewardship and occupational health and safety by supporting EHS programs (incident reporting, waste management/disposal, use of PPE, etc.) and drive continuous improvement in these areas.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 3 to 4 years experience preferred.
• Forklift and portable hand truck certification.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly.
• EPA/RCRA, and DOT 49 CFR certifications (including ability to sign compliance documents), and respirator certification.
• Ability to obtain certification to drive trucks up to 10,000 pounds and vans on public roads.
• Knowledgeable in handling, storage, and compliance for hazardous, chemical, and biologic materials.
• Strong analytical training, problem-solving, teamwork, organizational, and customer service skills, including manual material handling.
• Previous experience in industrial, military, pharma, chemical or utility plant operations
• Demonstrates broad technical knowledge of processes, equipment and site-specific systems, maintains maturity in responding effectively to emergencies or unplanned situations.
• Proficiency in computerized systems; ability to read, write, interpret, and communicate effectively
• Strong mathematical/mechanical aptitude, understanding of lean tools, and regulatory compliance knowledge.
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision, strong interpersonal skills.

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.

This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more: https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html