Traverse Operations Supervisor - Spot & Field
No salary listed
Mid
Bachelor's
Antarctica+1 moreMore locations: Singapore
In PersonAntarctica deployment may be at McMurdo Station, the South Pole traverse, or remote field camps; extended deployment is required.
Vehicle Operation & Delivery
US Citizenship Required
About the job
Requirements
- A bachelor's degree is required; an additional four years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
- At least four years of experience in a polar guide, management, or field operations role is required, including at least two years in a supervisory or leadership role.
- Demonstrated ability to work with and independently manage a multi-skilled workforce.
- Good verbal communication and problem-solving skills are required.
- Ability to work and supervise in remote and isolated environments.
- Willingness and ability to deploy to Antarctica for extended periods.
- Successful completion of medical and dental examinations required by the National Science Foundation for deployment to Antarctica.
- Successful completion of the employer-required drug screening and background check.
- Successful completion of the Federal Background Check required by the National Science Foundation.
- Ability to lift and move items, parts, assemblies, and equipment up to the safety regulation maximum required by the position.
- Ability 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.
- Participation in community programs, including chores, station cleanup, recycling efforts, and safety objectives.
- A valid driver's license issued in the United States.
- U.S. citizenship is required for facility credentials and authorization at this work location; the employee must be able to obtain and maintain facility credentials and authorization.
Responsibilities
- Solve problems; navigate; supervise ground penetrating radar operations; analyze ground penetrating radar images; coordinate air support; supervise employees and camp visitors; cook; communicate; observe weather; move cargo; operate, repair, and maintain equipment; maintain trails; brief crews; conduct safety tailgate meetings; assess hazards continuously; mitigate route hazards; keep detailed records; evaluate employees; prepare end-of-season reports; and present traverse information publicly.
- Adhere to the planned traverse pace and identified field tasking within reason, and work with Antarctic Support Contract and National Science Foundation management to communicate current status and schedule or tasking changes.
- Ensure personnel operating ground penetrating radar are fully trained and follow procedures, and determine whether encountered crevasses are safe to cross using ground penetrating radar analysis, hot-water drill exploration, possible explosives, and engineering-provided formulas and standards.
- Conduct traverse operations in accordance with standard operating procedures, company policies, and objectives, and communicate daily progress to the Traverse Operations Manager, Science Traverse Supervisor, and/or Field Operations Manager.
- Supervise traverse staff, complete end-of-season personnel evaluations, assign daily tasking and priorities, identify start and stop times and scheduled breaks and meals, and set the operational tempo based on environmental and scheduling factors.
- Serve as safety coordinator; implement United States Antarctic Program environmental, health, and safety programs; hold regular safety meetings; maintain a safe workplace and ensure safety rules and regulations are followed; and ensure field materials are removed and environmental releases are properly remediated and documented.
- Report safety incidents and near misses using Antarctic Support Contract reporting protocols.
- Communicate professionally with staff and provide information needed for their work through staff meetings, performance appraisals, job requirements, structured training, standard operating procedures, and safety practices.
- Maintain and safely operate facilities and equipment, keep the camp tidy, store waste properly throughout the season, and identify, label, and handle hazardous cargo before disposal upon return to McMurdo Station.
- Handle confidential matters in accordance with management policy, complete paperwork with integrity, and meet department metrics.
- Assist the Traverse Operations Manager with the After Operations Report and other end-of-season reports, and potentially participate in traverse planning and off-season selection of traverse staff.
- Interact professionally and tactfully by email, telephone, and in person with crew members, Antarctic Support Contract management, the National Science Foundation, U.S. military personnel, and other agency officials.
- Maintain, organize, and transfer detailed records of fuel quantities, equipment hours, weather observations, camp and route waypoint locations, snow accumulation, travel logs, daily check-ins, and emergency response incidents.
- Coordinate and support required search-and-rescue missions or alternative emergency tasking along the route, potentially constructing an emergency skiway or runway and coordinating flights to field locations.
- Transfer fuel by hose between bladders, tanks, and vehicles, and potentially refuel aircraft and vehicles using hand or electric pumps.
- Perform directed preventive maintenance on filters, hoses, pumps, meters, and related equipment.
- Track and report accurate quantities of fuel stored, consumed, cached, and delivered.
- Inspect all fuel storage containers at least three times each day.
- Assist in tracking equipment engine hours, maintenance, and repair needs.
- Assist in operating small mechanical equipment such as chainsaws, drills, and welders as needed.
- Assist in repairing vehicles and other equipment as needed.
- Operate heavy equipment and tracked vehicles for required tasking.
- Perform other duties as required.
- For Spot-only deployments during the Austral summer, operate heavy equipment on an assigned traverse to the South Pole and back at least once and no more than twice, for a minimum duration of 50 days.
- For Spot-only deployments, live and work in close quarters with up to 10 people for the duration of the traverse; Austral winter deployment is at McMurdo Station.
- For Field Camps-only deployments, live and work in close quarters in a remote camp setting for the duration of the field season.
- For Field Camps-only deployments, assign daily equipment support, materials, and science support priorities according to the season plan.
- For Field Camps-only deployments, prepare cargo for field movement and complete load plans and cargo prioritization with the Science Traverses Supervisor and other departments before field deployment.
- For Field Camps-only deployments, operate heavy equipment for the assigned traverse.
- Complete applicable safety training and self-aid/buddy-aid responsibilities, participate in emergency response tasks, and serve on safety committees and teams.
- Conform to the Amentum Quality Policy and perform job activities in compliance with applicable quality-system documents and customer contracts; understand quality management and customer satisfaction responsibilities.
- Read, understand, and implement the general and specific operational, safety, quality, and environmental requirements of applicable plans, procedures, and policies.
Desired Qualifications
- Previous operations, project management, project planning, equipment operation, cargo movement, fuel operations, and/or 24-hour facility experience is preferred.
- Previous traverse experience in polar regions is strongly preferred.
About the company
Amentum provides technical and engineering services to government agencies to support high-stakes missions such as space launch, nuclear cleanup, and military operations. Its offerings combine workforce, engineering, and mission-support capabilities across the full lifecycle—from planning and design to operations and sustainment—delivered as contracted services. The company differentiates itself through scale and breadth: formed from a spin-off and expanded by acquiring DynCorp and PAE, and later merging with Jacobs’ Critical Mission Solutions and Cyber & Intelligence units, making it one of the largest government services contractors with about 53,000 employees and a public listing (AMTM). Its main goal is to help the U.S. and its allies achieve mission success for critical national programs by providing comprehensive, reliable government-focused technical services.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
Post IPO Equity
Headquarters
Chantilly, Virginia
Founded
2020
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Benefits
- Hybrid Work Options