British Antarctic Survey Reference: BAS 26/27 Contract type: AEP - Fixed-Term Appointment - 9 months Location: Antarctic Salary: AEP B1A £30,224 per annum (pro rata) Closing date: 03 May 2026 Interview date: 17 June 2026 Background/Overview British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is seeking to appoint a Station General Assistant (SGA) at Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula during the austral summer season to undertake outdoor support duties. SGAs form a component of the operational support teams, under the purview of the Station Logistics Manager, which are critical to maintaining an efficient and functioning station. Antarctica is the coldest and most isolated continent in the world, providing a unique and spectacular experience. Candidates must be comfortable working in an outdoor environment, with periods spent away from the station at isolated depot sites. Tasks are broad-ranging, physically demanding, involve the use of machinery and vehicles, and require the individual to operate with minimal supervision as part of a small team. A core responsibility for SGAs is managing the waste-handling facility, which is key to ensuring all waste produced is segregated and processed for return to the UK in line with environmental policies. SGAs also play a central role in handling cargo, by air or by sea, especially during station relief operations. Other routine tasks during the tour may involve riding snowmobiles, participating in station emergency response teams, flying on small aircraft to field locations or sailing through the pack ice on a polar class ship. This position is suitable for those seeking a challenging role in support of polar science, with opportunities to appreciate stunning coastal scenery and the wildlife inhabiting this amazing continent. Purpose: To undertake station general support activities including: waste management, cargo preparation and handling, field depot staffing, aircraft support duties when required, and site tidying. Possible additional tasks involve boating support and field support as deemed suitable for the candidate. Duties: Waste management associated with running the station and occasional similar tasks at field sites. Unpacking and packing Cargo Transport Units (CTUs) as part of station relief operations. CTU biosecurity checks. Completion of all necessary waste and cargo consignment documentation. Vehicle operations as required & according to training. Manual work associated with station depots and station clean-up tasks. Manual work associated with staffing and maintaining field depot sites on rotation. Fire cover duties in support of station Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (RFFS). Assist in general station running and domestic duties. Report writing for the above activities. Any other duties as required by station management. Head SGA opportunity There is a requirement to appoint a Head SGA at Rothera, who is responsible for managing the team of General Assistants on station. The Head SGA is locally supervised by the Station Logistics Manager and is selected from the pool of SGAs, after all the successful candidates have been identified. To be considered for this additional responsibility, candidates must provide evidence of supervisory experience at interview. Additional responsibilities include: Perform team supervision while reporting to the Station Logistics Manager. Conduct supervisor appraisals of peers for Station Leader. Chair team meetings. Training and quality assurance of peers (other SGAs), e.g. waste management and machinery operation. Distribution of workload across the team and task management. Lead on cargo unpacking from CTUs during station relief including biosecurity. Lead on cargo packing (including waste and dangerous goods) into CTUs, biosecurity and liaison with station management for bills of lading. Lead on air unit liaison for air cargo requirements. Stock management and submission of resupply indents. Production of closure reports for field sites and end-of-season station report with recommendations. The Head SGA is liable to receive a Supervisory and Responsibility Allowance (SRA) for the duration of the appointment. Skills, Qualifications and Experience Essential: UK Cat B driving licence (or equivalent) Operation of large vehicles, such as telescopic handler and tractor. Operation of machinery, such as compactors and balers. Manual handling. Waste handling. Good physical resilience, stamina and mobility including ability to reach, kneel and bend. Ability to lift, push and pull required loads. Basic MS Word and Excel for report-writing and inventory purposes Able to self-manage and motivate to achieve deliverables. Able to account for project resource requirements. Proficient in written and spoken English language. Competent at briefing others on duties. Able to prioritise tasks and act on own initiative. Able to make considered judgement calls for escalating incidents. Able to work harmoniously within a close-knit team. Must be adaptable to changing requirements. You will need to pass a medical to demonstrate that you are medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions. Desirable: CTU pack Living and working in remote environments. CTU packing experience. Working with power tools. Knowledge of COSHH regulations. Field work knowledge. Environmental work or training. Knowledge of construction industry. Trade skills, i.e. ability to take on a broad range of tasks. Perform calculations for cargo consignment (shape, space and measures). Able to lead a small team in a remote location. Able to manage stock and inventories. Experience of training other staff Able to complete cargo documentation. Able to complete stores indent paperwork and write station reports. 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. As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. 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. 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, 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. 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 Survey | Fixed-Term Appointment - 9 months | Antarctica | £30,224 per annum (pro rata) | Closing date: 03 May 2026