Successful applicants will travel to Antarctica later this year to help tend to the post office and local wildlife, including penguins
If you don’t mind the cold weather and you love penguins, some recently advertised – and slightly quirky – jobs might be for you.
Charity is looking for a team of people to manage the world’s most remote post officewhich is located in the bay of Port Lockroy in Antarcticfor five months.
So where exactly is the post officewhat positions are available and how to apply?
Here’s what you need to know.
Where is the post office?
The post office, which is the southernmost operational post office in the world, is on Goudier Island in Port Lockroy.
Port Lockroy is the oldest permanent British base on the Antarctic Peninsula.
It was created in 1944 and is currently the most visited site in the Antarctic.
Who owns the post?
Great Britain Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) owns the post office, which has been open since 2006.
The Trust, which is based in Cambridge, usually advertises seasonal postmasters annually on the site.
However, they have not been able to open the job opportunities to the public since 2019, due to Covid-19.
What positions are available and what will be the responsibilities?
The association is looking for a base manager, a store manager and a general assistant to work at the post office for five months.
The roles are not limited to tending the post office, successful candidates will be required to conduct wildlife sightings and count the growing colony of penguins in the area.
The work has been described as “physically and mentally demanding” and candidates have been advised to consult their GP for health advice before applying for the job.
Prospective applicants are also warned that most days are usually only “a few degrees above zero” in Port Lockroy, so if you wish to apply, make sure you have enough warm clothes and accessories for you. help you feel good.
Applicants should also be aware that there is no running water on the island and no flush toilets. Instead, water supplies are transported to the island from visiting ships and stored in jerrycans.
Accommodation will be provided, but the room has been described as ‘basic but comfortable’, so make sure you’re happy to adopt a simpler lifestyle.
What kind of applicants is the charity looking for?
UKAHT Antarctic Operations Manager Lauren Luscombe said BBC News that the charity is looking for applicants who have a range of skills.
She said: “Given the nature of the day-to-day tasks necessary to keep Port Lockroy running smoothly, we are looking for candidates who can bring a range of skills to the team, such as retail experience, heritage , conservation and maintenance of buildings, and direction or management.
“But beyond that, it’s important that applicants show us who they are – we need to get to know them, through their application and throughout the selection process.
“Successful applicants will be living in close quarters for five months, so it’s also critical that we strike the right balance of skills and personalities.”
How do I apply for the roles?
Hundreds of people typically apply for these jobs, according to the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust.
This is the first time the roles have been available to apply for since the coronavirus pandemic, so the Trust expects the roles to be particularly popular this year.
Persons wishing to apply for the position can do so on the UKAHT websitebefore closing at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 25.
Successful candidates will receive a week-long training in Cambridge in October 2022, before departing for Antarctica later in the year.
They will then live and work at the post office from November 2022 to March 2023, which is the summer season in Antarctica.
