EHS System Lead
AbbVie · Chicago, IL
📍 North Chicago, IL, usvia smartrecruitersPosted 2026-09-21
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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.
EHS Systems Lead
Reports To: Associate Director, Environment, Health & Safety
Position Summary
The EHS System Lead is responsible for leading the deployment, maturity, integration, and continuous improvement of the North Chicago Manufacturing (NCM) EHS Management System. The role provides governance and oversight for EHS programs aligned to Global EHS Management and Technical Standards while developing a network of EHS Program Leads embedded across the site.
Working collaboratively with business leaders, functional experts, and operational teams, the EHS System Lead drives a structured and sustainable approach to EHS program ownership, ensuring clear accountability, effective implementation, and continual advancement of site EHS performance. The role serves as a coach, facilitator, and strategic partner to strengthen EHS capabilities throughout the organization and enable long-term readiness for internal and external assurance activities.
Key Responsibilities
EHS Management System Leadership
Lead the ongoing development, deployment, and continuous improvement of the NCM EHS Management System.
Ensure EHS programs are aligned with applicable Global EHS Management Standards, Technical Standards, corporate requirements, and regulatory expectations.
Establish and maintain a structured governance framework for monitoring program health, maturity, effectiveness, and performance.
Promote a systems-based approach to EHS program ownership across the organization.
Program Ownership Network Leadership
Lead and coordinate a network of EHS Program Leads from multiple departments and operational functions across the site.
Define and communicate roles, responsibilities, and accountability expectations for EHS program owners and process owners.
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to drive consistent implementation and sustainment of EHS programs.
Establish communities of practice that encourage shared learning, standardization, and continuous improvement.
Coaching and Capability Development
Coach EHS Program Leads, managers, supervisors, and functional leaders on their responsibilities within the EHS Management System.
Translate corporate EHS standards into practical operational expectations that can be effectively implemented in day-to-day activities.
Build organizational capability through mentoring, training, workshops, and structured development plans.
Support leaders in integrating EHS requirements into business processes, decision-making, and operational routines.
Program Maturity and Strategic Improvement
Develop and maintain the site EHS Program Maturity Roadmap.
Manage and coordinate project plans associated with closing gaps against Global EHS Standards and audit findings.
Track program maturity, key milestones, actions, and performance indicators to ensure sustained progress.
Identify improvement opportunities and implement systematic solutions that strengthen EHS performance and resilience.
Stakeholder Engagement and Influence
Partner with operational leaders to embed EHS ownership into daily management systems.
Facilitate leadership reviews and governance forums to communicate program status, risks, priorities, and resource needs.
Maintain strong working relationships across all levels of the organization to drive engagement, ownership, and accountability.
Influence positive organizational change through collaboration, leadership, and effective communication.
Assurance, Audit and Compliance Support
Support site readiness activities for internal and external EHS audits and assessments.
Monitor program effectiveness through management reviews, self-assessments, audits, inspections, and performance reviews.
Ensure corrective actions, improvement actions, and strategic initiatives are effectively tracked and completed.
Provide leadership support during audit preparation, execution, and post-audit improvement activities.
Key Competencies
Strategic EHS Leadership
Change Management
Influencing Without Direct Authority
Program and Project Management
Coaching and Talent Development
Systems Thinking
Stakeholder Engagement
Continuous Improvement
Organizational Capability Building
Data-Driven Decision Making
Communication and Facilitation Skills
Success Measures
The EHS System Lead will be successful when:
EHS programs progressively mature toward full conformance with Global EHS Management and Technical Standards.
Program ownership is clearly established and sustained within operational departments.
Leaders understand and effectively execute their EHS responsibilities.
Audit readiness improves, and significant findings are reduced.
Program health metrics demonstrate continuous improvement.
The site develops a sustainable culture of ownership, accountability, and engagement for EHS excellence.
EHS requirements are embedded into routine business processes and operational decision-making.
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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 c
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