Marine Operations Assistant Rothera - Antarctica Cambridge, East of England, England
Job description
Background/Overview:
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is seeking to appoint a Marine Operations Assistant (MOA) 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 MOA is a key component of the marine team which enables onsite and visiting scientists to achieve 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 programme 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 ground-breaking science. Typical projects involve marine wildlife surveys, deployment of data-loggers, collection of sediment samples and deployment 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 tour may involve riding snowmobiles during winter trips, participating in station emergency response teams, flying on small aircraft to field locations or making use of various recreational activities.
HSE SCUBA (or HSE approved equivalent qualification) and RYA Powerboat Level 2 are mandatory. RYA Advanced Powerboat, RYA Instructor and Dive coxswain experience are highly desirable.
Purpose:
As a key member of the Rothera marine team (Boating Officer, Field Dive Officer, Marine Assistant, Marine Biologist) the MOA facilitates a wide range of operational requirements to support science. These include maintenance and operation of small boats (RIBs), incident response cover, transporting researchers and station staff to local islands, SCUBA diving operations, deployment and retrieval of scientific instruments and support to marine and terrestrial sampling operations.
Duties:
- Boat coxswain / marine SAR cover / boat cover for aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Services (RFFS).
- SCUBA diver in support of scientific diving operations.
- Diving support (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:
- Act as dive supervisor.
- Conduct training of cox and crew (RYA instructor qualification required).
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 20 months
Salary: From £25,179.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
- Store discount
- Work from home
Schedule:
- Flexitime
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: BAS 23/16
