Base Leader

We are seeking an inspirational, strong and determined team leader to spend up to five months (November – March) managing a team of 4-5 people who will be living and working at Port Lockroy in Antarctica running the seasonal operation of the site.

This includes managing a gift shop and a British Antarctic Territory Post Office, overseeing the annual maintenance and upkeep of the historic buildings and artefacts, wildlife observations and many other varied and challenging tasks.

As this role will involve working in Antarctica, the successful candidate will need to be physically and medically able to do the job. Successful applicants will be required to undertake a medical assessment with our Occupational Health experts as well as their own GP upon appointment.

Antarctica is a physically and mentally challenging place to work. If you have any medical concerns atthisstage, then please discuss with your GP or you are welcome to talk to usinformally.

ABOUT PORT LOCKROY Port Lockroy, Base ‘A’, is a British historic base situated on the tiny Goudier Island off the Antarctic Peninsula. It is our flagship historic site receiving circa 18,000 visitors each season, one of the most visited sites in Antarctica. It is also our primary source of income and supporters. Base ‘A’ was established in 1944 and operated as a British research station, initially under Operation Tabarin and later by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) until it closed and retired in 1962. The abandoned base was recognised for its historical importance and contribution to British science and given the status of Historic Site and Monument (HSM) No. 61 under the Antarctic Treaty.

In 1996, Port Lockroy was restored as a ‘living museum’ and since then has operated during the Austral summer as a visitor site welcoming those who travel to Antarctica on expedition vessels and yachts. Port Lockroy has been under the care and management of UKAHT since 2006 and each season we contract staff to operate the base to continue the ongoing maintenance of the historic buildings and their artefacts, promote British Antarctic history and science to the visitors through the experience of the museum at Port Lockroy and raise funds for the work of UKAHT in Antarctica and the UK.

Responsibilities:

Supporting UKAHT by:

• Actively managing the base and team on site throughout the occupancy period (November to early March)

• Coordinating contract staff on site that may be there for shorter periods of time to carry out other work, such as an electrical maintenance program

• Working alongside the Conservation Project Manager (when on site) or conservation staff to coordinate the conservation maintenance programme and ensure this fit within the Port Lockroy daily schedule

• Leading or co-leading a brief daily morning meeting to ensure all staff on site are aware of plans for the day and discuss any health & safety matters

• Ensuring all staff on site have a site safety induction and are all familiar with how to use all the communications equipment on site

• Taking the lead on site in the event of an emergency and act as the key point of contact with the UKAHT Operations team in the UK

• Acting as the key point of contact and maintain regular and clear communications with the UKAHT Operations team in the UK

• Overseeing the workload and responsibilities of all members of the team and assist where necessary

• Coordinating all vessel visits to the island in adherence to Antarctic Treaty guidelines

• Ensuring the team always operates in a safe and diligent manner and in line with all UKAHT Health, Safety & Welfare policies and guidelines

• Managing all day to day on health & safety matters on site, working closely with the UKAHT Operations Manager

• Reporting back and health & safety incidents as soon as possible to the UKAHT Operations Manager

• Adhering to all Standard Operating Procedures and risk assessments and update these as required throughout the season

• Overseeing onsite inventories and ensure there are updated as necessary

• Managing the annual work task list and assist in all maintenance tasks as necessary

• Liaising with Expedition Leaders to arrange appropriate pre-landing briefings and lectures on board ship where possible

• Overseeing the museum display in accordance with the guidelines given

• Liaising with Expedition Leader/ships to arrange taking a mobile shop and post-office on-board larger vessels (up to 500 pax) Port Lockroy Base Leader

• Taking responsibility for ensuring good time management, both short term and long term, to ensure all tasks are completed within the season

• Learn and be prepared to promote UKAHT through your daily dealings with visitors to Port Lockroy. This should include the history of Port Lockroy and other British historic bases on the Peninsula including Operation Tabarin, FIDS, Antarctic Science and the current heritage and conservation work of UKAHT

• Ensuring the reputation of UKAHT is always maintained and enhanced through our work

• Working flexibly with colleaguesin the widersupport of the aims of UKAHT As well as the above Base Leader duties, you will also assist in operating the Port Lockroy gift shop and management of all cash and credit card transactionsto include:

• Liaising with International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators(IAATO) ship Hotel Manager’s for any on-board sales ofstamps or merchandise, or banking facilities

• Assist in the operation of the Shop at Port Lockroy

• Assist in the operation of the Post Office on behalf of the British Antarctic Territory Government(BATG). This includes managing all postal stock, promoting and selling all postal stamps, hand franking all mail processed through the Post Office (up to 80,000 pieces of mail seasonally) and coordinating transport of mail and producing an annual sales report

• Assist in the penguin and other wildlife and environmental monitoring on behalf of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). A postseason report will be required by the end of March • museum display and interpretive material

• Assist in the management of day-to-day supplies(non-merchandise) including controlling the stock of food, equipment, tools in the base inventory etc.

• Take a proactive part in all aspects of daily living on an Antarctic base to include all domestic jobssuch as cleaning, cooking, waste management as well as daily snow digging, clearing of paths and other jobs which may arise • Delivering regular briefing talks to all visiting vessels prior to them landing at Port Lockroy (without aids to audiences of up to 250 people) and be prepared to deliver occasional lectures/talks when requested

• Creating engaging content for our communications and social media to include a weekly blog written from Antarctica and occasional participation in other media such as radio, TV and newspaper interviews pre, during and post the Antarctic season.

For a full information pack and Person Specification, please click here.