British Antarctic Survey Opens Jobs for Unique Polar Roles, Dublin

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is hiring for roles at its research stations in Antarctica, offering skilled workers a unique opportunity to live and work at the end of the Earth.

Vacancies include carpenters, chefs, plumbers, boat handlers, scuba divers, and plant operators. Contracts range from six to 18 months, with salaries starting at £30,244 and all living costs covered.

BAS operates several self-sufficient polar stations. Mike Brian, operations manager at Rothera, said: “If you think about what it takes to keep a community going – plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, engineers, chefs – there's a job for that.”

The stations are home to groundbreaking climate research. BAS scientists were behind the discovery of the ozone hole in 1985 and continue to study polar changes today.

Jess Callaghan, a zoological field assistant on South Georgia, described the job as “an ornithologist's dream”. She works with penguins and fur seals, calling it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Many staff return year after year. Carpenter Phill Coolman, now in his sixth season, said:
“Halley is not only a station and a team, it’s a home and a family.”

Dan McKenzie, Station Leader at Halley VI, started as a plumber and worked his way up. “That’s the beauty of BAS – anyone can give it a try,” he said. Current vacancies include Boating Officer, Diving Officer, Meteorological Observer, and more. Jobs start between May and September. Details and applications are available at bas.ac.uk/vacancies.

Applicants can also attend BAS’s Open Day in Cambridge on Saturday, 21st of March, to learn more.

For more insights, the BAS podcast Iceworld shares stories from the ice.