Job Description

Steel Erector

British Antarctic Survey

BAS 26/47

Contract type: Antarctic Employment Pool – Fixed Term Appointment (6 or 18 months)

Location: Antarctica

Salary: AEP B1A - £30,224 - £31,183 per annum (pro rata)

Closing date: 10th May 2026

Interview date: w/c 8th June 2026

Background/Overview:

Antarctica is the coldest and most isolated continent in the world. It’s also the most exhilarating, providing a unique and spectacular setting for our vital scientific research. By joining the team responsible for building and maintaining our facilities and equipment, you could play a crucial role in our success.

Working as a part of a small team, you will be responsible for maintaining and repairing the structure, fabric, fixtures and fitting of BAS stations. Using your own initiative, you will be required to be self-motivated and work both individually and as part of a team. You will need to have recognized experience within a steel erecting environment to UK standards, served a full apprenticeship or training program, BTEC, relevant City and Guilds or NVQ, together with on-site practical erection and fabrication experience.

Purpose:

As part of a small team play an integral role in the moving of the existing station, including raising and levelling the station, ancillary buildings and building new steel tower structures. Working closely with vehicles operatives in rigging and associated works for raising the accommodation modules, workshop facilities and support cabooses.

Duties:

• Raising ancillary caboose buildings as required.

• Rigging and associated works required for moving the buildings.

• Maintenance of all tools and equipment required to complete the works.

• Raising, adapting and building towers supporting scientific equipment or services distribution networks.

• It will also be necessary to complete non-routine repair and maintenance to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the base.

• Maintenance and revision of materials and tools stock lists to ensure sufficient spares, equipment and materials are available to carry out the planned works for the following year.

• To organise and carry out work in a safe, orderly way including compliance with all appropriate risk assessments and method statements.

• Working and assisting other building and engineering trades to ensure the planned projects are complete.

• Work with and ‘stand in for’ other staff to ensure the efficient and effective operational needs of the Station are maintained.

• Undertake other general duties as required or directed by the line manager and Station Leader.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

• Recognised experience within a steel erecting environment to UK standards. Served full apprenticeship /training program, BTEC, relevant City & Guilds or NVQ

• On-site practical erection and fabrication experience

• Rigging experience

• Ability to use tools & materials

• Basic skills to use MS Office programs and use emails

• Proficient in written and spoken English language

• Ability to read and interpret drawings and schedules

• Problem solving & flexibility

• Able to plan and manage both time and workload

• Ability to work within existing management structure, reference back to line manager with problems

• Ability to work individually and as part of a team

• Self-motivated

• You will need to pass a medical to demonstrate that you are medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions

Desirable:

• CSCS Certificate

• Welding experience

• General Building trade experience

• Understanding and experience of stock control

• Previous use of electronic PPM systems

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

Although this job is not UK based, the successful candidate will be required to attend training in the UK which will require a right to work.

For this role, the only potential for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa is where an individual is currently sponsored for another role/sponsor assigned via a certificate of sponsorship dated prior to 5 April 2024 who also continues to meet the New Entrant criteria of the Skilled worker route. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.