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Senior Specialist, EHS

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Engineering

Posted Sep 15, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about an incident investigation you led that involved a contractor. How did you get to root cause?

What they are checking: Whether they dig past human error to find system causes, so the same incident does not happen again.

This role sits between project managers, engineering, facilities, operations, procurement and the contractors themselves. How do you get safety requirements into planning instead of bolted on at the end?

What they are checking: Whether they can build safety into project planning early, influencing groups they do not manage.

What would you do

You're on a field observation and a crew is working at height with no tie-off, and the job is behind schedule. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they stop the job and how they handle the pressure that follows

The posting says you verify compliance and drive timely correction of gaps. What do you do when a corrective action keeps slipping past its due date?

What they are checking: Whether they escalate overdue actions firmly and follow through, since unresolved safety gaps can lead to serious injuries.

About the work

This role leads contractor and construction safety across Lake County, Illinois. Walk me through how you've run a contractor safety program from prequalification through the end of the job.

What they are checking: Whether they have run a contractor safety program from start to finish, not just performed site walks and inspections.

How do you handle contractor prequalification? What disqualifies a contractor for you?

What they are checking: Whether they have clear prequalification criteria and will actually reject unsafe contractors, even when it causes delays.

Describe your approach to control of work and permitting for high-risk tasks.

What they are checking: Command of hot work, confined space, energy isolation and work-at-height permits

How do you keep up with changing federal and state safety requirements and translate them into something a crew will actually follow?

What they are checking: Whether they track regulatory changes and turn them into practical guidance that crews can actually follow.

What measures tell you a contractor safety program is working, beyond the recordable injury rate?

What they are checking: Whether they use leading indicators, like observations and near misses, to spot problems before injuries happen.

The posting asks for a bachelor's in a safety field or engineering plus five years, or a master's plus three. Where do you sit against that, and have you dealt directly with a regulatory agency?

What they are checking: Whether they meet the education and experience requirements and have dealt directly with regulators like OSHA.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

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. Responsibilities: •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. . •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. ​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

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