British Antarctic Survey BAS reference: BAS 26/05 Contract type: Antarctic Employment Pool - Fixed Term 20 Months comprised of 3 months UK pre-deployment training (Aug - Oct 2026) and 17 months Antarctic deployment (Nov 2026 - Mar 2028) Location: Antarctica Salary band: AEP B1A - £31,183 per annum (pro rata) Closing date: 8th March 2026, 23:55 Interview Date: w/c 13th April 2026, start date in July. Candidates will need to be available for practical assessments in the UK in late April or early May. As part of your application, please complete this diving information form - Boating and Diving Form - Marine Operator - Fill in form. Failure to complete may result in the application not being considered. Purpose The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is seeking to appoint an exceptional Marine Operator (MO) to support year-round marine and terrestrial science projects, scientific SCUBA diving, and small boat operations at Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. Assisting the Field Dive Officer and the Boating Officer, the MO is a key component of the marine team which enables scientists to achieve their research objectives. Antarctica is the coldest and most isolated continent in the world, providing a unique and spectacular experience, but Rothera is also being modernised through an ongoing construction program lasting several years. Candidates must be comfortable living and working in a remote yet densely populated station with long days spent on marine operations within the boating area. This role is ideally suited to experienced divers and powerboat handlers, providing a fantastic opportunity to support groundbreaking science. Typical projects involve marine wildlife surveys, deployment and recovery of data-loggers, collection of sediment samples, and deployment and recovery of autonomous and remotely operated vehicles. Scientific diving operations continue year-round, predominantly deployed from small rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) and occasionally (when conditions allow) through sea ice. Contributing to communal station duties on a rota basis forms a key part of the role. This includes cleaning, cooking and night-watch rounds (training will be provided). Other opportunities during the deployment may involve riding snowmobiles during winter trips, participating in station emergency response teams, flying on small aircraft to field locations or taking advantage of various recreational activities. As a key member of the Rothera marine team (MO, Boating Officer, Field Dive Officer, Ocean Scientist, Marine Biologist) the MO facilitates a wide range of operational requirements to support science. These include operation and maintenance of RIBs, incident response cover, transporting researchers and station staff to and from local islands, SCUBA diving operations, deployment and retrieval of scientific instruments and support to marine and terrestrial sampling operations. Duties • Operating small boats to provide safety cover for aircraft operations • Operating small boats and SCUBA diving in support of scientific operations • Hyperbaric chamber operations • Assist the Boating Officer and Field Dive Officer with planned preventative maintenance of boating and diving equipment • Support marine water sampling operations and marine deployment / retrieval of scientific instruments (including autonomous and remotely operated vehicles) • Perform communal station duties including cooking, cleaning and night watch rounds (on a rota basis) as required by the Station Leader • Undertake other duties as directed by the Station Leader, Winter Station Leader or Deputy Station Operations Manager to ensure that BAS meets its objectives • Additional Duties and Responsibilities - subject to qualifications and experience: o Act as dive supervisor o Deliver training in small boat operations to other station personnel, if RYA instructor qualification is held Skills, Qualifications, and Experience Essential • HSE SCUBA (or HSE approved equivalent) • RYA Powerboat Level 2 • Experienced SCUBA diver, with 100 logged dives (including 50 cold water dives [less than 12°C]; 25 drysuit dives) • Competent and experienced small boat handler with experience of coastal water operations • Experience of full-face masks and comms • Proficient in written and spoken English language • Able to self-manage and motivate to achieve professional deliverables • Able to manage equipment and spares resourcefully • Basic word processing (report writing) • Able to calculate requirements for re-supply of stocks • Able to follow policies and procedures, including under emergency situations • Able to make conservative judgment calls • Able to work and live in a remote and isolated community, including involvement in communal tasks such as cleaning and cooking • Good team worker and considerate to others • Able to be managed remotely by line-manager in the UK • Must have current (or be able to pass) HSE Dive Medical • You will need to pass a medical test to demonstrate that you are medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions Desirable • RYA Advanced Powerboat • RYA Advanced Powerboat Instructor • Marine VHF Radio Qualification • Diver First Aid • Chamber Operator • Experience of coxing dive boats • Experience of working with remotely operated (ROV) or autonomous vehicles • Outboard engine maintenance • Knowledge of HSE Science and Archaeology ACOP • Compressor operation • Hyperbaric chamber operations • Scientific diving • Able to liaise with scientists and support project planning • Able to lead and motivate a small team • Familiar with spreadsheets and databases • Familiar with MAXIMO for inventory management and re-ordering 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. As part of your application, please complete this diving information form - Boating and Diving Form - Marine Operator - Fill in form. Failure to complete may result in the application not being considered. About Us 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, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. 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. 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. About the Team British Antarctic Survey (BAS) delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Our skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of theNatural Environment Research Council (NERC).NERCis part of UK Research and Innovation www.ukri.org We employ experts from many different professions to carry out our Science as well as keep the keep the lights on, feed the research and support teams and keep everyone safe! If you are looking for an opportunity to work with amazing people in one of the most unique places in the world, then British Antarctic Survey could be for you. We aim to attract the best people for those jobs.British Antarctic SurveyBAS reference: BAS 26/05Contract type: Antarctic Employment Pool - Fixed Term 20 Months comprised of 3 months UK pre-deployment training (Aug - Oct 2026) and 17 months Antarctic deployment (Nov 2026 - Mar 2028)Location: AntarcticaSalary band: AEP B1A - £31,183 per annum (pro rata)Closing date: 8th March 2026, 23:55Interview Date: w/c 13th April 2026, start date in July. Candidates will need to be available for practical assessments in the UK in late April or early May.