Your priority as the SMS is to ensure all mechanical works are carried out in a safe and appropriate manner.
An Antarctic station has limited trades, plant and equipment, materials and resources, and there can be conflicting priorities for the work program due to science support, station operational requirements, community assistance and the disrupting influence of the weather. It will be your responsibility to schedule the daily work tasks of the mechanical team based on the predicted weather and availability of plant and resources to meet not only the works program, but the overall station needs.
As well as managing the section and leading a small mechanical team (1 to 6 staff), you will also perform some mechanical work and operate equipment as part of the mechanical team. As part of the wintering crew you are required to participate in an on-call roster, to respond to out of hours issues – mainly related to the station powerhouse.
Station Mechanical Supervisors are 12-month deployments at Casey, Davis or Mawson stations. A Mechanic for Macquarie Island and a Wilkins Aerodrome Diesel Mechanic will also be selected from suitable Expedition Mechanic and/or Station Mechanical Supervisor applicants.
Training for this role will occur prior to deployment along with ongoing support and technical advice from the Mechanical team based at Kingston during your time in Antarctica. No prior Antarctic experience is required for this role.
The Australian Antarctic Program’s (AAP) vision is to ensure Antarctica is valued, protected and understood. Working with the AAP provides a unique opportunity to experience Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, while supporting world-leading science.
The AAP aims to support expeditioner growth, professionally and personally, with a focus on wellbeing. We strive to employ versatile, proactive and community minded people. Expeditioners will need to contribute to a small team and be resilient as they face the challenges of living in an isolated environment.
For more detailed information about the requirements of the role and the selection process, please see the job description document and link to more information on the application process below.
Employment conditions
- The annual base salary when in Australia starts from $98,632 per annum
- Base salary + additional allowances when in Antarctica starts from $166,586 per annum.
- A generous employer superannuation contribution of up to 15.4% will be paid in addition to salary and allowances.
- You will accrue recreation leave at the equivalent of 20 days per annum pro rata. Please note that recreation leave is not available in Antarctica, but will be paid out on return to Australia.
What we are looking for
Essential
To apply for this role you must have the skills and licences listed below:
Qualifications/licences
Provide copy with application:
- Suitable Mechanical Trade - Certificate III MEM or AUR qualification or recognised equivalent such as motor mechanic, diesel mechanic, plant mechanic, fitter and turner, or auto electrician
- Forklift (High Risk) Licence
- Driver’s Licence – A current, unrestricted “C” class (manual) Australian driver’s licence.
- Citizenship - In accordance with the PS Act 1999, APS employees are required to be Australian citizens. Persons who are not Australian citizens will generally only be considered where there are no suitable Australian applicants, with next considerations being Australian residents with work rights and New Zealand citizens.
Obtain prior to commencement:
- Valid Passport - The expiry date of the passport (and any relevant visa) must be at least 6 months beyond the planned end date of your intended stay in the Antarctic or sub-Antarctic
- Provide First Aid (HLTAID011) must be valid for at least 18 months beyond the date of AAD commencement
- Provide CPR (HLTAID009) must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of AAD commencement
Knowledge and experience
Recent experience (within the last 5 years):
- Maintaining appropriate work site safety procedures, including knowledge of work health and safety standards.
- Diesel engine maintenance, diagnostics, repair, and overhaul (such as Caterpillar, Cummins, electronic and non-electronic).
- Maintenance and repair of heavy plant, including tracked, wheeled and stationary equipment (such as Cat loaders, tractors and excavators, Grove cranes, Komatsu crushers).
- Managing plant and equipment and workshop facilities and supervision of a mechanical trades team.
Capabilities:
- Proven team leader skills.
- High level verbal and written communication skills to communicate clearly and effectively across a broad range of stakeholders.
- Demonstrated planning and scheduling of workshop activities to meet defined targets.
- Technical knowledge/experience in a field related to the maintenance of mobile plant, including an understanding of appropriate quality control methods and an ability to assess compliance with relevant standards and specifications.
- Demonstrated capability maintaining appropriate work site safety procedures, including sound knowledge of work health and safety standards, proficiency in risk assessments and job hazard analyses.
- Capability using a variety of technology including computer-based maintenance management systems and OEM diagnostic software.
- Current or very recent proficiency in risk assessments and job hazard analyses relating to heavy plant maintenance.
Desirable
These are not essential to the role however to be suitable you will need to have at least some of these. We encourage you to apply even if you do not fit 100% of the requirements.
Qualifications/licences
Provide copy with application:
- Dogging (DG) licence
Knowledge and experience
Recent hands-on experience (within the last 5 years):
- Petrol engine maintenance, repair and overhaul.
- Maintenance and repair of medium vehicles and plant, including over snow vehicles, trucks, forklifts, etc.
- Maintenance and repair of light vehicles, including Toyota 4x4 vehicles, Honda all-terrain vehicles, etc.
- Maintenance and repair of small plant, including pumps, generator sets, heaters, ice drills, outboard motors, etc.
- Installation, commissioning, operation, servicing, and maintenance of single and three phase power generation equipment
- Hydraulic systems
- Automotive electrics
- Fitting and machining
- Welding and metal fabrication
- Workshop practices, including an understanding of current work health and safety policies
- Maintenance of stock inventories including stocktaking, reordering spares and consumables, etc.
- Preparation of monthly and annual reports.
Additional
Should your application be successful, it is useful to have some understanding of any additional licences you have.
Qualifications/licences (provide copies in your application):
- Current Heavy Rigid (HR) driver’s licence valid in Australia
- Forklift
- Confined space
- Dozer
- Elevated Work Platform
- Excavator
- Loader
- Operation of a crane
- Rigging
- Skidder
- Skid steer loader (Bobcat)
- Telescopic materials handler
- Working Safely at Heights
Other requirements
As a proactive and positive member of the community you will:
- Maintain a personal and practical commitment to AAD policies and standard operating procedures (including work, health and safety and environmental policies). Training and guidance in regard to all responsibilities relevant to your position will be provided.
- Be rostered to perform duties to support the community life of the expedition, such as general kitchen duties, garbage clearance, general cleaning duties, and assisting other expedition members with official programs, to ensure an equitable contribution.
- Work in areas outside of your primary role, for example, aiding other areas or science projects, or participating in general labouring tasks such as clearing snow or handling cargo.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At the AAD, we value diversity in all its forms – background, experience, and perspective. We recognise the challenges that come with our work and are committed to fostering an inclusive culture for all. We encourage applications from everyone, especially people from under-represented groups like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, gender-diverse people, LGBTQIA+ communities, and those of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Personal qualities
During the recruitment selection process the AAD assesses individual personal qualities expeditioners need to successfully live and work in an isolated Antarctic/sub-Antarctic community.
Covid-19
Expeditioners must comply with the AAD’s Infectious Respiratory Disease Management Plan, including the requirement to have had a COVID-19 vaccination or a medically documented COVID-19 infection, within 12 months of deployment. More information is available.
Contact
For general enquiries, please email the Hays Expeditioner Recruitment Team at antarctica@hays.com.au.
For job specific (technical or trade related) enquiries, or to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Richard Evans at MechanicalAntarctica@aad.gov.au.
Applications will not be accepted via email.
How to apply
- Read about the application process and life as an expeditioner. This is an overview of the recruitment and selection process.
- Review the job description. This describes the job and specifies essential qualifications and experience. It also tells you what documents you need to attach to your application.
- Have your documents ready to attach (e.g., licences, qualifications and current CV/résumé). You must include these to be considered for the job.
- When you have completed steps 1 to 3 above, click ‘Apply Now’✱ to start your application. Applications will not be accepted via email.
