Supports the National Science Foundation managed United States Antarctic Program as part of the Antarctic Support Contract (ASC). The Weather Observer will perform weather observing and data collection tasking under the supervision of the Meteorological Operations Manager and Camp Manager. 

Position Responsibilities (not all inclusive): 

• Maintains a safe workplace program and ensures that safety is the highest priority in the workplace. 

• Complies with all ASC Environmental, Safety and Health (ESH), Waste Management and Quality Assurance requirements, goals, policies and procedures. 

• Weather observation is primary responsibility.  Intensive weather reporting occurs on days when there are flights.  Observation, recording, and reporting of surface weather conditions begins six hours before aircraft depart McMurdo station.  Hourly observations are reported via Portable Polar Meteorlogical Kit (PPMK) and to MacWeather forecaster via Iridium phone during PPMK outage.  May require irregular sleep patterns if plane is scheduled to depart early morning or late at night.  On non-flight days, weather is reported three times a day. 

• Observes, records and reports wind direction, wind speed, cloud height, cloud cover, surface visibility, and other weather conditions and phenomena following Federal Meteorological Handbook (FMH1-b) standards. 

• Maintains and reports Quality Control Report to Meteorological Operations Manager. 

• Sets up and maintains portable weather station and operates handheld ceilometer.  Operates and maintains backup sensors. 

• Assists with daily reporting.  Communicates with McMurdo via HF radio and Iridium phone. 

• Contributes to end of season report and Quality Control Report, as required. 

• When in McMurdo, primary duties are to receive trainings and prepare cargo for camp.  Weather delays may be experienced.  When all camp specific tasks are complete, other departments may have tasking, which may be considered menial labor (dish washing, checking equipment, conducting inventories, shoveling, etc.) 

• When not reporting weather (on no-flight days in between weather observations), works as support labor for general camp and science support activities.  Required to work outside on various jobs in extreme cold weather conditions. 

• Duties may include the following: 

Cargo Responsibilities: 

• Loading/unloading aircraft.   Communicates with load masters and aircraft personnel. 

• Prepares cargo for movement.  May include packaging, labeling, weighing, and palletizing cargo.  Communicates weights and sizes of cargo with Fixed Wing Supervisor. 

• Assists with waste retrograde and hazardous cargo identification - labeling and handling prior to shipping back to McMurdo Station via fixed wing aircraft.  May separate and dispose of materials.  Tracks and manifests hazardous waste.  Responsible for packaging and documenting hazardous cargo. 

• Prepare and stage equipment and maintains storage berms. 

Fuels Responsibilities (where no dedicated fuels position exists): 

• Performs fuel tests on aviation fuel. 

• Performs fuel transfers, via pipe, hose and tanks.  May refuel aircraft, buildings and vehicles with hand or electric pump. 

• Performs preventive maintenance tasks as directed. 

• Tracks and reports quantities of fuel delivered to field and amounts given to aircraft. 

Mechanical Responsibilities: 

• Assists with tracking maintenance and repair needs of all equipment in camp. 

• Assists with operating small mechanical equipment, including chainsaws, drills, welderators, etc. as appropriate. 

• Provides mechanical assistance in the repair of vehicles and other equipment. 

• Operates light equipment vehicles, such as snow mobiles and tracked vehicles.  May groom around camp and runway. 

• Assists in the installation and maintenance of the skiway as needed. 

Science Support/Customer Service: 

• Assists grantees with support requests and needs, as appropriate. 

Other Duties: 

• Performs functions with manual equipment such as shovels, picks, and similar implements. 

• Assist with cooking, track food use, plan re-supply, galley tasks and dishwashing as needed. 

• Frequently lifts the safety regulation maximum. 

• Performs other duties as required. 

Required Education, Experience, Certificates and Licenses: 

• High School diploma or GED 

• A minimum of three (3) years of combined experience in any of the following: weather reporting, equipment operation, cargo movement, fuel operations, mechanical equipment proficiency, logistics support, or other related experience. One of the three years’ experience must be in weather observation (METAR) code 

Expected Skills and Competencies: 

• Demonstrated ability to observe, record and report wind direction, wind speed, cloud height, cloud cover, surface visibility, and other weather conditions  

• Demonstrated ability to work in remote and isolated environments  

• Computer competency and proficient in MS Office Suite 

Preferred: 

• Valid Driver’s license issued in the United States  

• Wilderness First Responder Certification  

• Weather Observer Training. 

• Federal Meteorological Handbook (FMH1-b) experience  

• Rawinsonde Balloon experience 

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. 

The starting hourly rate for this position is $30/hour based on a 40-hour workweek