We are looking for committed individuals to make up a team that will spend up to five months (November to March) living and working at Port Lockroy in Antarctica. This will include welcoming up to 10,000 cruise ship visitors to the island, running the charity gift shop, a British Antarctic Territory Post Office, fundraising, creating media content, annual maintenance and upkeep of the historic buildings and artefacts, wildlife observations and many other varied and challenging tasks.

We are particularly looking for people with experience and skills in one or more of the following areas:

• Living and working in remote locations within a small team.

• Customer service roles: in particular, within the travel industry (guiding, leading groups etc.)

• Working in retail, museums, fundraising, visitor sites etc.

• Practical experience of living and working in basic conditions.

UKAHT is committed to equal opportunities and to learning how to increase the diversity of our people. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons and encourage applications from people currently under-represented in the polar regions.

Application deadline: 15 March 2026

ABOUT PORT LOCKROY

Port Lockroy, Base ‘A’, is a British historic base situated on tiny Goudier Island, off the Antarctic Peninsula. It is our flagship historic site receiving around 10,000 visitors each season; one of the most popular sites in Antarctica. It is also our primary source of income and supporters.

Base ‘A’ was established in 1944 and operated as a British research station, initially under Operation Tabarin and later by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) until it was closed in 1962. The abandoned base was recognised for its historical importance and contribution to British science and given the status of Historic Site and Monument (HSM) No. 61 under the Antarctic Treaty. In 1996, Port Lockroy was restored as a ‘living museum’ and since then has operated during the Austral summer as a visitor site welcoming those who travel to Antarctica on expedition vessels and yachts.

Port Lockroy has been under the care and management of UKAHT since 2006. Each season we contract staff to operate the base, continue the ongoing maintenance of the historic buildings and their artefacts, promote British Antarctic history and science to visitors through the museum, and raise funds for the work of UKAHT in Antarctica and the UK via the gift shop and Post Office.

LIVING CONDITIONS AT PORT LOCKROY, ANTARCTICA

Staff Accommodation

Staff accommodation is basic but comfortable, and we aim for our staff to live as sustainably as possible. Staff quarters are a purpose-built Nissen hut which is a reconstruction of the historic Nissen hut and is in keeping with the aesthetics of the other historic buildings on the island. Staff share one bedroom (hostel style bunkroom) with access to a kitchen/living/communications area, a separate boot room and washroom.

Water and Washing

We have no running water on the island, so washing facilities are very basic. Water is collected in jerry cans from visiting ships.

There are no shower facilities at Port Lockroy, so staff are expected to be comfortable living with these limited washing facilities, yet still keeping hygiene levels high. Visiting ships will offer showers approximately once per week, but when weather conditions are poor you could go up to two weeks without visitors or a shower.

There is no flushing toilet at Port Lockroy. There is a basic camping toilet which is emptied daily by the team on base.

Cooking and Heating

There is a gas cooker and heater in the main kitchen/living area. all staff share the cooking duties at Port Lockroy and take it in turns to make meals for the team on a rota system. Food is shipped from the UK and consists of a wide variety of dried and tinned foods, occasionally supplemented by fresh food donated from visiting ships.

Port Lockroy is a vegetarian base, but other dietary requirements, food allergies and/or intolerances are extremely difficult to accommodate. This is due to the team sharing meals, time available to prepare food and the type of long-life food available. Please consider this before applying.

Power

Power is limited at Port Lockroy. The base is run entirely on solar power, with a back-up generator for emergencies. Hair dryers, electric kettles, microwaves etc. can not be used. There is sufficient power to charge camera batteries and electric toothbrushes.

Communication

Communication is primarily via Starlink satellite internet. This is used to keep in touch with the UKAHT Operations team and coordinate ship visits and logistics onsite. It can be used for personal communications and Starlink does support WhatsApp calls, but on a limited basis. There is no mobile phone reception at Port Lockroy.

We have satellite telephones for emergency communications as well as VHF radio for comms on the island and with visiting ships and yachts.

Temperatures

You will be on the Antarctic Peninsula in the summer months so temperatures will vary between – 5°C to +5°C. Most days will be just a few degrees above zero, but overcast days and wind-chill will make it feel colder. It is also very wet, the conditions are similar to the Scottish Highlands in winter.

We will provide warm and waterproof clothing and footwear for your time at Port Lockroy which you will be expected to supplement with other layers. Most of your work involves spending many hours either outside or inside Bransfield House (a historic building with no insulation or heating) but often the work is very physical, so layers are important.

The Nissen hut is insulated and retains heat quite well, the average inside temperature is 14-15°C. However, early and late season temperatures are low, so you need to be prepared and equipped to live in colder conditions.

Physical fitness

The successful candidates will need to be physically and medically capable of working in challenging conditions in Antarctica. There is a lot of physical work at Port Lockroy and all team members are expected to contribute equally, regardless of age or gender. This includes: carrying 20 litre jerry cans of water, lifting and carrying 15kg boxes, digging a LOT of snow every day, cutting steps in snow/ice for safe visitor landings, unloading boats and cargo on slippery rocks. While candidates do not need to be athletes, they do need to be strong and resilient to undertake these tasks daily for several months.

Medical Facilities

There is no doctor stationed at Port Lockroy and the nearest hospital is in Ushuaia, Argentina. We stock a good supply of emergency equipment and our staff are given extensive remote first aid training. We have a 24 hour remote medical consultation service that can be contacted for both emergencies and routine medical concerns. In a medical emergency evacuation to a hospital could take up to 7 days. Please consider carefully your fitness for the role in terms of:

• Mental ability to manage a busy, demanding job in an isolated environment for 5 months, with few days off and limited contact with family/friends.

• Physical demands of living in the polar environment.

• Physical ability to help/rescue others.

• Personal medical supplies can not be resupplied once you're in Antarctica.

All Antarctic team members will be required to:

• Complete a confidential medical questionnaire which will be sent to our Occupational Health expert for assessment and review.

• Undergo a thorough medical and dental assessment (including a review of your complete physical and mental health history) signed off by your GP. Where there is a significant medical condition, we will seek medical guidance before confirming a place on the Antarctic team.

Please note that while all information received during the selection and training process is treated as confidential, any or all of it may be shared with suitably qualified third parties if this is deemed necessary for the safety or wellbeing of you or others while in Antarctica.

Sport and Recreation

Your safety is our first priority and Port Lockroy is in a remote and potentially dangerous place. We are unable to permit any adventurous recreational activity eg. skiing, watersports, glacier walking etc. Port Lockroy is situated on Goudier Island, which is the size of a football pitch and surrounded by sea. Due to the rocky/snowy terrain and penguin colonies, it is not possible to go for a run or take a long walk if you need time on your own. Exercise options are very limited, but the role is busy and physical and most team members don’t have the time or inclination for additional exercise.

Smoking

UKAHT operates a no smoking policy which extends to all our heritage sites in Antarctica. Smoking (traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and any other form of inhalation/vapes) is categorically prohibited on the island for protection of the historic buildings and wildlife. We don’t recommend using your time at Port Lockroy as an opportunity to quit smoking and “go cold turkey”; the pressures of island life would make this particularly difficult for you and could also impact the team dynamics.

Remote but hectic

Although Port Lockroy is an extremely isolated location, the base welcomes hundreds of visitors each day, nearly every day of the season. The team onsite are representing the charity and delivering excellent customer service from 9am – 6pm (they get one day off every two weeks), so it is not the peaceful retreat from the outside world that you might expect. Although the surroundings are truly spectacular, the workload is large and exhausting and there is very little free time to relax or switch off. As a recent team said: “it’s remote but hectic, basic but comfortable, and similar to living on a boat. You’re in a tiny place, surrounded by water and you can’t get off!”

The Team

You will be part of a small core team of 4-5 people, including a Base Leader and Shop Manager. Candidates with the potential to be considered as Base Leader and Shop Manager will be selected from the General Assistant applicants. If you would like to be considered for these roles, please highlight any retail or leadership experience in your application. The vast majority of the team's time is spent welcoming visitors to the island and working in the shop. Each team member will be assigned an additional responsibility; for wildlife, the museum or Post Office. Regardless of their responsibilities, each team member is expected to contribute equally to the running of the base.

You will be joined this season by a small team of conservation carpenters, who will be doing essential maintenance and repairs on the historic buildings. With the carpenters on base, there will be a maximum of 7 people living on the island at the same time.

THE ROLE

Job Title: Port Lockroy General Assistant

Reporting to: UKAHT Head of Operations

Job Role: Work as part of a team to deliver the seasonal operation of Port Lockroy, Antarctica.

Responsibilities:

Supporting the Port Lockroy Base Leader and UKAHT Operations team by:

• Taking part in the daily running of the busy Port Lockroy charity gift shop – this includes working behind a till (EPOS system) during ship visits, restocking the shop, tidying displays, dealing with customer enquiries from international visitors.

• Delivering regular lectures/presentations on the history of Port Lockroy and briefing talks to visiting vessels prior to them landing.

• Inspiring guests and asking for donations and charitable support.

• Creating engaging content for our communications and social media to include a weekly blog written from Antarctica, and occasional participation in other media such as radio, TV and newspaper interviews pre, during and after the Antarctic season.

• Engaging with audiences around the world via video link to share stories of life on base and the history of UKAHT sites to those that are unable to reach Antarctica themselves.

• Operation of the Post Office on behalf of the British Antarctic Territory Government (BAT). This includes managing all postal stock, hand franking all mail processed through the Post Office (up to 80,000 pieces of mail each season) and producing an annual sales report.

• Regularly cleaning the museum, checking the displays and interpretive materials.

• Penguin, wildlife and environmental monitoring on behalf of British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Training will be provided and a written report will be required at the end of the season.

• Taking a proactive and equal part in all aspects of daily living on an Antarctic base to include all domestic jobs such as cleaning, cooking, waste management as well as daily snow digging, clearing of paths and carrying water jerry cans and boxes.

• Managing day to day supplies (non-merchandise) including controlling the stock of food, equipment, tools and inventories.

• Contributing to the annual maintenance works programme and assisting in maintenance tasks when requested.

• Promoting UKAHT through your daily dealings with visitors to Port Lockroy. This should include learning the history of Port Lockroy and other British historic bases on the Peninsula including Operation Tabarin, FIDS, Antarctic science and the current heritage and conservation work of UKAHT. Be prepared to answer the same questions over and over from visitors, while maintaining enthusiasm for your subject.

• Ensuring the reputation of UKAHT is always maintained and enhanced through our work.

• Adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures on base at all times, paying particular attention to health and safety.

• Working flexibly, contributing equally and supporting colleagues at all times.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Skills - essential

• Very good communication skills – verbal and written

• Very good customer service skills

• High level of attention to detail

• Good IT skills: Office applications, Excel databases, basic photo editing

• Ability to analyse data and produce concise reports

• Fluency in written and spoken English

Skills - desirable

• Practical field skills for operating in remote or challenging environments

• Public speaking or communicating to groups

• Fluency/ability to communicate clearly in a second language (French, German, Spanish, Chinese languages preferably)

• Creating content for social media platforms

Knowledge - essential

• Knowledge and application of health and safety best practice

• Use of IT for managing information, communications and reporting

• Awareness of the conditions and limitations of life and work at Port Lockroy

• Environmental awareness and practical knowledge of minimal impact living

• Awareness of issues surrounding operating in Antarctica or similar remote and challenging environments.

Knowledge - desirable

• Awareness of the issues surrounding working with historic sites and buildings and associated artefacts.

Experience - essential

• Experience of living away from home and family for an extended period eg. three weeks or more.

• Experience of living with people that aren’t your immediate family/partner before eg. a house share, residential course, situation where you live and work together.

• Experience of working within a close-knit team.

Experience - desirable

• Experience of living without regular communication with friends/family.

• Experience of similar remote, basic and isolated living and working.

• Customer service roles – in particular, within the travel industry (guiding, leading groups etc.), retail, museums, visitor sites etc.

• Heritage and museums – in particular, visitor interpretation, artefact handling and management of a historic site.

• Wildlife monitoring/management of visitors around wildlife.

• Outdoor practical experience in remote locations.

• Experience of practical maintenance (carpentry, building maintenance or similar), or DIY.

Behaviour – essential

• A real people person with high levels of empathy and initiative, that thrives in a small team.

• Commitment to providing excellent customer service and a genuine enthusiasm for meeting people.

• Flexible and adaptable attitude, ability to cope with the unexpected and constantly changing plans.

• Happy and confident engaging with the public and asking for donations.

• Proactive and motivated, able to work without direct supervision.

• A strong work ethic, with a commitment to working long hours and getting the job done.

• Ability to work under pressure on a range of competing priorities.

• Passionate about nature and landscapes.

• Considerate and careful with colleagues, visitors and materials (knowing that artefacts are irreplaceable and equipment, tools etc. can’t be replaced easily).

• Committed to health and safety and the promotion of equality.

TERMS:

UKAHT contract staff are employed on a self-employed basis for a fixed-term contract. Contractors are responsible for paying any tax or national insurance due via their own HMRC self-assessed tax return.

Location

Port Lockroy, Antarctica

(preparatory work outside of the season will also be required – see dates below).

Salary

£1,449 - £2,096 per calendar month, depending on role

Duration

Six month agreement to cover:

• Service in Antarctica

• Training and preparation pre-Antarctic season

• Debrief post Antarctic season

• Outreach activities

• Ad-hoc obligations between June 2026 and April 2027, including a team-building weekend

Expenses

All pre-deployment travel (in the UK), training and accommodation needed as part of the role are covered by UKAHT. During Antarctic deployment all travel, food, accommodation and essential polar clothing are provided.

Dates you must be available

• Online interview: dates TBC with candidates

• Team selection residential, Northamptonshire: 11 – 13 May 2026

• Meet the team training, Wales or Peak District (location TBC): 4 – 6 September 2026

• Pre-deployment training, Cambridge: 28 September – 9 October 2026

• Service in Antarctica: Late October 2026 until end of March 2027

Right to work in the UK:

• You must have the right to work in the UK.

• While applications from non-UK nationals that meet the criteria above are encouraged, we can only accept applicants that reside in the UK. For operational and financial reasons, UKAHT is unable to facilitate or reimburse travel for Antarctic team members that reside outside of the United Kingdom. No exceptions will be considered, including self-payment of travel expenses.

• If selected, you will need to be able to travel through the Falkland Islands or South America, sometimes via the USA.

To apply for a position at Port Lockroy:

• Please complete the application form that follows within the stated word limits.

• All candidates must upload a CV.

• Personal statements can either be written or sent in as a short (under one minute) video.

• Please note: Due to the large number of applications received each year we are not able to provide any individual feedback at the application stage.