Amentum is a global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology solutions, trusted by the United States and its allies to address their most significant and complex challenges in science, security and sustainability. Our people apply undaunted curiosity, relentless ambition and boundless imagination to challenge convention and drive progress. Our commitments are underpinned by the belief that safety, collaboration and well-being are integral to success. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, we have approximately 50,000 employees in more than 70 countries across all 7 continents. 

Summary:   

Supervises a team of Field Safety Coordinators (FSCs) and manages the Antarctic Field Safety Training Program. This team provides essential survival training and field safety courses for all USAP personnel that work in the Antarctic field environment. Course topics include specialized training for participants working in austere and extreme environments. I.E. glaciated or technical terrain, high altitude, sea ice, GPS use. This position also functions as a field safety consultant and risk management specialist. The FTS is expected to be a key member of the USAP SAR team. 

Position Responsibilities: 

• Deploys to Antarctica during the Austral Summer and will work several months in the U.S remotely during the Austral Winter.   

• Responsible for developing and maintaining a relevant and effective field safety training course curriculum for the US Antarctic Program. Evaluates each individual course’s effectiveness at the end of each season through participant and instructor feedback, and adjusts these courses accordingly to fulfill the USAP field safety training requirements established by the NSF. Each Field Safety course is developed around a syllabus that focuses on both basic knowledge acquisition and specific skill competency that must be delivered to and understood by participants with various learning styles. 

• Oversees instruction on cold weather related health and safety issues, survival techniques, risk management, critical thinking skills, incident response processes, radio procedures, area and terrain familiarization, local weather patterns, fundamental mountaineering skills, glacier travel/crevasse rescue techniques, and safe sea ice travel.   

• Demonstrates use and basic maintenance of field equipment; camp stoves, tents, sleeping bags, sleds, communications equipment, and climbing gear.   

• Recruits, supervises and trains the Field Safety Training Programs FSC staff. Required to provide seasonal expectations and performance reviews. 

• Updates/Creates in-house training documents and manages the updates in coordination with the Search and Rescue (SAR) Supervisor. 

• Reviews each individual grantee group’s Support Information Packet (SIP) for potential field safety and personnel issues, dedicated FSC support requirements, and field safety training needs. Completes course requirements and direct field safety support for all science events in Research Support Plans (RSP). Participates in on-ice science support meetings. 

•  Directly communicates with science teams to develop safe Antarctic field plans through specific terrain assessments, satellite/radar image examination and Risk Assessment processes.   

• Contributes to the overall Field Risk Assessment and Field Plan process, working closely with the Field Risk Manager, the FS&T Manager, the Field Support Supervisor and the  SAR Supervisor. 

• Plans, schedules, and executes the Field Safety Training Program’s multiple different courses for USAP personnel as required. Continually evaluates developing needs for curriculum changes and improvements. 

• Responsible for maintenance and oversight of the sea ice in McMurdo Sound, including finding and flagging safe routes to various locations. Ensures accurate record keeping, route information, current condition reports, and ongoing safety with all aspects of the annual sea ice and ice edge. Coordinates closely with all departments involved in annual sea ice operations. 

• Manages the field Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) inventory. Responsible for seasonal allocation of the units and upkeep on current technology, in coordination with the SAR Supervisor. 

• Responsible for the management of GPS data for recreational and operational GPS routes in the McMurdo  and Erebus areas. Manages these in coordination with the SAR Supervisor. 

• Responsible for the general daily maintenance, reporting and allocation of work center vehicle resources; Hägglunds, snow machines, Pisten Bullys, Mattracks and other light vehicles. Coordinates needs closely with the SAR Supervisor. 

• Participates as an active member in Joint Antarctic Search and Rescue Team trainings and actual emergency responses. Coordinates closely with the USAP SAR Supervisor on staffing and scheduling needs. 

• Assists in the management and training of the FSC responsible for Winter SAR. 

• Assists the Peninsula Field Supervisor in coordinating sea ice and FSC support when needed. 

• Responsible for management and procurement of Field Safety inventory. 

• Participates in Science Proposal Review as required. 

• Interacts directly with National Science Foundation, ASC Station Management, AntNZ, military and other agency officials, both over the telephone and in person, in a professional and tactful manner. 

• Handles confidential matters (personnel actions, management reports, etc.) in accordance with management policy. 

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

• Actively assists and fosters close working relationship with SAR Supervisor  and Field Support Supervisor; shares resources, performs cross-departmental tasking when needed, and ensures all contract staff understand the integration of the three departments. 

• Performs other duties as required. 

Required Education, Experience, Certificates and Licenses: 

• BS/BA degree required or relevant experience in lieu of degree. 

• A minimum of six years of experience as an Alpine Guide with extensive experience in glaciated mountaineering is required.   

• Minimum of two years of Supervisory experience.  

• Current CPR certification and current Wilderness First Responder certification.  

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

Expected Skills and Competencies: 

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

• Experience in the following areas is desirable: an outdoor education instructor, experienced Antarctic Field Assistant, extensive work/participant in major expeditions. 

Preferred: 

• Wilderness EMT or higher. 

• Mountain guiding certification in IFMGA, AMGA or equivalent.  

• Experience with satellite imagery, GIS, Ground Penetrating Radar, and route finding is desired. 

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. (PQ) 

• Successful completion of drug screening and background check required by employer. 

• Successful completion of Federal Extended Background Investigation (EBI) 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.