Supports the National Science Foundation managed United States Antarctic Program as part of the Antarctic Support Contract (ASC). Field Safety Coordinators will conduct field safety training courses, provide direct field safety support to science groups, conduct route safety assessment while on traverse and participate in daily operations of the field equipment center. Tasking is based on employee’s prior work experience, project requirements and ASC schedule requirements. 

Position Responsibilities: 

All Field Safety Coordinators 

• Trains grantees and other USAP participants in the use of life-safety survival gear and field equipment stocked in the Berg Field Center.  This includes but is not limited to sizing climbing equipment, operating camp stoves, erecting a variety of tents, and offering instruction on the proper use of a large variety of other field equipment. 

• Repairs, maintains, and cleans life-safety field equipment including specialty items (variety of sleds, tents, stoves, ice coring equipment, and climbing equipment). 

• Provides technical expertise, support and risk assessments for science groups, other sub-contractors (e.g. air support providers), military, and ASC personnel in technical terrain and associated situations 

• Interacts with National Science Foundation, other sub-contractors (e.g. air support providers), military, other agency officials, and Antarctica New Zealand, both over the telephone and in person, in a professional and tactful manner. 

• Operates and maintains snowmobiles, tracked snow vehicles, fleet trucks and all other mechanical equipment issued to the work center or field project. 

• Works with Central-Comms, Helo Ops and Av Ops to ensure resupply to the field groups; Packages, TCN’s, and tracks resupply cargo 

• Educates field-bound groups on the risks and prevention associated with Carbon Monoxide issues 

• Routinely works without direct supervision and often in role requiring leadership or delegation of tasking 

• Frequently needs to lift and push 50 lbs. constantly moves 20 lbs. objects 

• Responsible for maintaining a safe workplace and ensuring that safety is the highest priority in the workplace 

• May use a variety of techniques to safely travel in crevassed terrain including, but not limited to, roped foot travel, roped snow machine travel and use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for crevasse detection. 

• May read and interpret GPR data on a tractor or snow machine traverse for crevasse detection. 

• Report intensive weather observations on flight days as per USAP aircraft requirements.  May require irregular sleep patterns.  

• May be called upon to participate in a Search and Rescue situation and act as an Incident Commander, SAR Team Leader or SAR Team Member. 

• Will coordinate rescue operations as directed by the Emergency Operations Center in McMurdo, and potentially through communication with ASC Camp or Traverse Managers or Supervisors, other Field Safety Guides, and other qualified personnel in the region. 

• Ensures all cargo is returned from the field to McMurdo and is cleaned and returned to appropriate work centers before redeployment. 

• Performs other duties as required.  

• Prepares written reports after Field Safety assignments. 

Field Training only 

• Facilitates the USAP Field Training curriculum at McMurdo Station providing detailed instruction on cold weather survival techniques, Risk Management, radio communications procedures, familiarization of surroundings, local weather, technical mountaineering skills, crevasse rescue, safe sea ice travel, use and repair of USAP issued camping equipment and basic first aid concepts. 

• Participates as an active member of the Summer USAP Search and Rescue Team, engaged in all trainings, exercises, and deployments. Responsible for maintaining all specialized Search and Rescue equipment. 

• Performs remote field support duties to NSF sponsored events as required. When deployed into the field, takes on a leadership role to support science activities. Required to work outside on various jobs in extreme cold weather conditions for long durations. Occasionally employee must work at high altitudes.  Field deployment duties may include the following:   

• Maintains a field safety role focusing on risk assessment and management of field hazards. 

• Supports the packing, prioritization, and loading and unloading of cargo from aircraft. 

• Responsible for hazardous cargo identification, labeling, and handling prior to, while in, and during transport from the field. 

• Builds, breaks-down and hooks live sling loads from helicopters.  

• Performs duties such as equipment operation, weather observations, and fueling as required.  

• Ensures field site and equipment are maintained and secured for Antarctic conditions.  

• Maintains a tidy camp, adheres to environmental protocol, and is responsible for retrograding waste as needed. 

• Acts as a first responder in the field as necessary, providing medical care at the Wilderness First Responder Level or higher. 

• Works with science teams at field camps to provide required support, troubleshoot issues, and is involved in risk management and decision-making.  May handle and resolve difficult situations such as personnel issues or resource limitations. 

• Identifies and provides many logistical needs, including; inventory reporting, fuel deliveries, and snow melting. 

• Ensures that daily communications and weather observations are reported. 

• Provides support cooking, re-supply food planning, and galley tasks and dish washing as needed.  

• Utilize an excel database to track field equipment that is issued to and returned from sponsored events. 

• Participates in an annual inventory cycle count and ship-offload activities 

• Reviews scientific research requirements and/or field plans and provides guidance for proper survival training and necessary field gear.   

• Supports the sea ice POC in sea ice assessment efforts, route flagging and sea ice data collection. 

South Pole Traverse/Science Traverse only 

• Reads and interprets GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) scans to clear the South Pole Route for safe travel on the first Traverse/or other traverse route as required. 

• Works in the McMurdo Shear Zone (heavily crevassed area) before the first traverse departs McMurdo Station as the lead safety officer while the traverse team remediates crevasses for the South Pole Traverse.   

• Participates in traverse operations as directed by traverse supervisor.  

• Prepares an end of season report before redeployment. 

Field/Direct Science Support only 

• Performs remote field support duties to NSF sponsored events as required. When deployed into the field, takes on a leadership role to support science activities.  

• Required to work outside on various jobs in extreme cold weather conditions for long hours. 

• Occasionally employee must work at high altitudes.   

• Field deployment duties may include the following:   

• Maintains a field safety role focusing on risk assessment and management of field hazards. 

• Supports the packing, prioritization, and loading and unloading of cargo from aircraft. 

• Responsible for hazardous cargo identification, labeling, and handling prior to, while in, and during transport from the field. 

• Builds, breaks-down and hooks live sling loads from helicopters.  

• Performs duties such as equipment operation, weather observations, and fueling as required.  

• Ensures field site and equipment are maintained and secured for Antarctic conditions.  

• Maintains a tidy camp, adheres to environmental protocol, and is responsible for retrograding waste as needed. 

• Acts as a first responder in the field as necessary, providing medical care at the Wilderness First Responder Level 

• Works with science teams at field camps to provide required support, troubleshoot issues, and is involved in decision making.  May handle and resolve difficult situations such as personnel issues or resource limitations. 

• Identifies and provides many logistical needs, including; inventory reporting, fuel deliveries, and snow melting. 

• Ensures that daily communications and weather observations are reported. 

• Provides support cooking, re-supply food planning, and galley tasks and dish washing as needed.  

• Reviews scientific research requirements and/or field plans and provides guidance for proper survival training and necessary field gear.   

• Prepares an end of season report before redeployment. 

• May supervise other camp staff and complete end of season evaluations on camp personnel in conjunction with the Continental Field Supervisor. 

Required Qualifications: 

• High School diploma or GED 

• Current CPR certification and current Wilderness First Responder certification 

• Incident Command System (ICS) 100 and 200 certifications required for offer consideration (training offered free through FEMA). 

• A minimum of eight years of experience in outdoor education and leadership is required, to include at least four years of technical mountaineering and guiding in glaciated alpine environments. 

Expected Skills and Competencies: 

• A proven ability to work in remote harsh environment is required.  

• Computer competency.  

• Public speaking skills. 

• Hands on and classroom-based teaching experience. 

• Ability to read mountain weather conditions. 

• Advanced crevasse rescue skills and instruction experience. 

• Ability to read mountainous and glaciated terrain and find safe routes through such terrain. 

• Ability to work as a team member, team leader or alone with little to no supervision. 

Preferred: 

• Wilderness EMT certification or higher.  

• Mountain guiding certification through IFMGA/AMGA. 

• Professional Search and Rescue experience.   

• Denali level or other big mountain expedition experience. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. 

• Ground Penetrating Radar experience.  

Physical and/or Other Requirements: 

• Willingness and ability to deploy to Antarctica for extended periods  

• Successful completion of Medical and Dental examinations required by the NSF for deployment to Antarctica 

• Successful completion of drug screening and background check required by employer 

• Successful completion of Federal Background Check required by the NSF 

• Must be willing and able to lift and move items, parts, assemblies, and equipment up to the safety regulation maximum as required by the position.  

• Must be willing and able to perform physical activities including heavy lifting, climbing in and out of equipment, crawling, and working outdoors in extreme cold as required by the position.  

• Must participate in community programs, such as “house-mouse” (chores), “daisy-picking” (cleaning-up around the station), recycling efforts & safety objectives.  

• Valid Driver’s License issued in the United States 

• Must be able to obtain and maintain facility credentials/authorization. Note: US Citizenship is required for facility credentials/authorization at this work location.