Job Description

PositionResponsibilities

All Field Safety Coordinators

• Trains grantees and other USAP participants in the use of life-safety survival gear and field equipment stocked in theBerg 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 technicalexpertise, 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 andmaintainssnowmobiles, tracked snow vehicles,fleet trucksand all other mechanical equipment issued to the work centeror field project.

• Works withCentral-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 formaintaininga safe workplace and ensuring that safety is the highest priority in the workplace

• May usea 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 USAPaircraftrequirementsMay require irregular sleep patterns.

• May be called upon toparticipatein 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 toappropriate workcenters before redeployment.

• Performs other duties asrequired 

• Prepares written reports after Field Safety assignments.

FieldTrainingonly

• Facilitates the USAP Field Training curriculumat McMurdo Station providing detailed instruction oncold weathersurvival 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 formaintainingall specialized Search and Rescue equipment.

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

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

• Supports the packing, prioritization, and loading and unloading of cargo fromaircraft

• 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 asrequired 

• Ensures field site and equipment aremaintainedand secured for Antarctic conditions. 

• Maintains a tidy camp, adheres to environmental protocol, andis responsible forretrograding waste as needed.

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

• Works with science teams at field camps to provide required support, troubleshoot issues, and is involved inrisk management and decision-making  May handle and resolvedifficult situationssuch as personnel issues or resource limitations.

• Identifiesand 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. 

• Utilizeanexceldatabase 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, routeflaggingand sea ice data collection.

South Pole Traverse/Science Traverseonly

• Reads and interprets GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) scans to clear the South Pole Route for safe travel on the first Traverse/orothertraverse route asrequired

• Works in theMcMurdoShear Zone (heavily crevassed area) before the first traversedepartsMcMurdo 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 Supportonly

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

• Required to work outside on various jobs in extremecold weatherconditions for long hours.

• Occasionally employee must work at high altitudes. 

• Field deployment duties may include the following:  

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

• Supports the packing, prioritization, and loading and unloading of cargo fromaircraft

• 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 asrequired 

• Ensures field site and equipment aremaintainedand secured for Antarctic conditions. 

• Maintains a tidy camp, adheres to environmental protocol, andis responsible forretrograding 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 resolvedifficult situationssuch as personnel issues or resource limitations.

• Identifiesand 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 orGED

• Current CPR certification and current Wilderness First Responder certification

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

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

Expected Skills and Competencies:

• A proven ability towork in remote harsh environmentisrequired

• Computer competency

• Public speaking skills

• Hands on andclassroom-basedteaching experience

• Ability to read mountain weather conditions

• Advancedcrevasse rescue skillsand 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 certificationor higher.

• Mountain guiding certification through IFMGA/AMGA

• ProfessionalSearch and Rescue experience 

• Denali level or other big mountain expedition experience.

• Proficiencyin 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.

• Mustparticipatein community programs, such as “house-mouse” (chores), “daisy-picking” (cleaning-up around the station), recycling efforts & safetyobjectives

• Valid Driver’s License issued in the United States

• Must be able to obtain andmaintainfacility credentials/authorization. Note: US Citizenship isrequiredfor facility credentials/authorization at this work location.