Senior Specialist, EHS

AbbVie; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 97,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie seeks an EHS leader to direct contractor and construction safety programs in Lake County, Illinois. You will craft and implement safety policies, perform risk assessments, and ensure regulatory compliance across projects and operations.

Key duties include incident investigations, field observations, and collaboration with project teams to embed safety into planning, onboarding, and execution while driving continuous improvement and training.

Qualifications

• Working experience in implementing EHS regulations.
• Experience conducting incident investigations.
• Experience interacting with regulatory agencies and external organizations.
• Managing cross functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead contractor and construction safety programs for Lake County, IL, including strategy, governance, procedures, tools, and continuous improvement.
• Provide day-to-day EHS support to construction projects, facilities activities, maintenance, and site operations; identify hazards and controls.
• Partner with project managers, engineering, facilities, operations, and contractor organizations to integrate EHS requirements into planning and execution.
• Conduct field observations, inspections, audits, and work reviews; verify compliance and drive corrective actions.
• Support high-risk work planning, including contractor prequalification, site orientation, pre-job planning, permitting, and control-of-work.
• Monitor regulatory requirements and program performance; implement actions to maintain compliance.
• Develop and deliver contractor safety training, communications, and tools for project teams and partners.
• Lead or support incident investigations; identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Track compliance status, KPIs, trends, and risks; communicate to stakeholders.
• Provide technical support and guidance to AbbVie locations as needed.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Incident investigations

Cross-functional teams

Project management

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in EHS/Engineering

Master’s degree in EHS/Engineering

Job description

• Compensation: USD 96,500 - USD 183,500 - yearly

Company 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.

Job Description

Provides leadership for contractor and construction safety programs and day-to-day EHS operational support, with primary responsibility for AbbVie operations and projects within Lake County, Illinois. Develops, implements, and maintains contractor safety, construction safety, and related EHS programs to ensure regulatory and internal compliance, reduce risk to employees and contractors, and support safe project execution and ongoing operations. Assesses risk and develops practical programs, policies, procedures, assessments, training, and field-based solutions. Provides technical support to other AbbVie locations or teams as business needs arise.

• Lead contractor and construction safety programs for Lake County, Illinois, including program strategy, governance, procedures, tools, performance expectations, and continuous improvement.
• Provide day-to-day EHS support to construction projects, facilities activities, maintenance work, and site operations by identifying hazards, evaluating risk, and recommending practical controls.
• Partner with project managers, engineering, facilities, operations, contractor hosts, procurement, and contractor organizations to integrate EHS requirements into planning, contractor selection, onboarding, mobilization, execution, and project closeout.
• Conduct field observations, inspections, audits, and work reviews; verify compliance with regulatory and AbbVie requirements; and drive timely correction of identified gaps.
• Support high-risk work planning and execution, including contractor prequalification, site orientation, pre-job planning, permitting, control-of-work activities, and escalation of significant risks.
• Monitor regulatory requirements, industry practices, internal standards, and program performance trends; assess business impacts and implement actions necessary to maintain compliance and strengthen contractor and construction safety performance.
• Develop and deliver contractor and construction safety training, communications, guidance, and tools tailored to project teams, contractor hosts, employees, and external partners.
• Lead or support incident investigations involving contractors, construction activities, or site operations; identify root causes and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions are implemented.
• Track and communicate compliance status, key performance indicators, trends, emerging risks, and priority actions to EHS and business stakeholders.
• Provide technical support, subject-matter expertise, and program guidance to other AbbVie locations or teams as needed, while maintaining primary accountability for Lake County operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree (EHS related, Engineering) plus 5+ years of EHS related experience or Master’s Degree (EHS related, Engineering) plus 3 years of EHS related experience. EHS or Engineering professional certification is preferred, but not required.
• Working experience in implementing EHS regulations, conducting incident investigations, interacting with regulatory agencies and external organizations and managing cross functional teams
• Ability to establish measurable project goals and implementation plans, balance conflicting work demands, and develop action plans including the identification of resource requirements.
• Ability to develop standards and/or policies that meet business objectives.
• Ability to actively listen, build and maintain effective working relationships with internal/ external colleagues and stakeholders, and resolve conflict constructively.
• Ability to successfully manage project and programs.

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state orlocal law:

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Companybelieves ingood faith it will pay for this role at thetimeofthis posting based on the job grade for this position.Individualcompensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographiclocation,andwemayultimatelypaymore or less than the posted range. This range may bemodifiedin thefuture.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick),medical/dental/visioninsurance and 401(k) to eligibleemployees.
• This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentiveprograms.

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 employer 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.