FS&T Assistant Supervisor - R0122218

Position Responsibilities: 

• In absence of supervisor, is responsible for all Field Center operations. Coordinates and presents departmental safety trainings. 

• Manages daily operations of the Field Center & Food Room in line with the Supervisor’s seasonal plan. 

• Coordinates tasking and support requests for the field coordinators. 

• Responsible for all equipment tracking logs and training. 

• Is a secondary member of the Emergency Operations Center core team responding in the absence of the Field Lead, FS&T Supervisor or during a prolonged event. 

• Responsible for improving work site and streamlining processes, decision making, and participating in seasonal planning and support.  

• Trains grantees and other USAP participants in the use of life-safety survival gear and field equipment stocked in the field center.  Repairs, maintains, and cleans life-safety field equipment including specialty items (variety of sleds, tents, stoves, ice coring equipment, and climbing equipment). 

• Facilitates the USAP Field Safety Training program at McMurdo Station providing detailed instruction on cold weather survival techniques, Risk Management, radio communications procedures, familiarization of surroundings, local weather, safe sea ice travel and basic first aid concepts. They may assist with instruction of the technical mountaineering skills and crevasse rescue techniques if they possess the appropriate skills. 

• Participates as an auxiliary member of the Summer USAP Search and Rescue Team, engaged in all support training exercises and actual incident response deployments. May be required to assist with Emergency Operations Center activities during prolonged responses. 

• 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. 

• Ensures that daily communications and weather observations are reported.  

• 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-up, 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 

• 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.  

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

• 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. 

• May review scientific research requirements and suggests/trains on proper survival and field gear.  Provides input to NSF sponsored events, supervisor and completes support and planning tasks as designated. 

• Operates and maintains snowmobiles, tracked snow vehicles, forklift, and all other mechanical equipment issued to the work center. 

• Works with Mac-Ops, Field Support Coordinators, Helo Ops and Av Ops to ensure resupply to the field groups; Packages, TCN’s, and tracks resupply cargo. 

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

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

• Operates industrial sewing machine to repair stock, modify and fabricate items for NSF sponsored groups as required. 

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

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

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

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

• Performs other duties as required 

Required Education, Experience, Certificates and Licenses: 

• High School diploma or equivalent 

• A minimum of six years’ experience is required to include the following: two years of supervisory experience; two years’ experience in logistics or supply; and two years’ experience in any combination of the following: expedition outfitting in polar climates or high-altitude winter settings, National Park Service positions, outdoor education, experience working with helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, and/or guiding services.  

• Wilderness First Responder certification  

• Incident Command System (ICS) 100 and 200 certifications (training offered on-line through FEMA). 

Expected Skills and Competencies: 

• A background in mountain/ski shop or maintenance of outdoor equipment  

• A proven ability to work in remote, harsh environments as a team player  

• Complies with applicable environment, health, and safety, and waste management policies and procedures.   

• Computer competency required with a proficiency in Microsoft Excel & Word 

Preferred: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in natural sciences  

• Weather Observation Training. 

• Glacial travel experience and basic mountaineering experience  

• Experience with meteorological, GPS, and communication equipment  

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.