Port Lockroy: Antarctic post office now hiring

ARE you looking for a career change? Do you fancy being away from it all, in the freezing cold, with a bunch of penguins? This may be the job for you.

Port Lockroy 1962

ARE you looking for a career change? Do you fancy being away from it all, in the freezing cold, surrounded by penguins? This may be the job for you.

The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) is looking for four enterprising young souls to spend five months on the tiny Goudier Island off the Antarctic Peninsula.

The role involves running the shop, post office, maintenance and museum operation at the British historical base, now a tourist destination, at Port Lockroy.

You can check out the job ad here, and the job description here.

The Port Lockroy base was established in 1944 and operated as a research station until it closed in 1962. In 1996, it was restored as a living museum under the Antarctic Treaty.

During the austral summer between November and March, the site is visited by around 18,000 tourists — around two ship visits per day — who send around 70,000 items of mail.

To qualify for the role, applicants require a pretty diverse array of skills. The UKAHT is looking for people with good physical and mental fitness, competence with spreadsheet design and formulae, and the ability to carry heavy items over slippery rocks while “dodging penguins”.

Could you live here for five months?

Conditions are “comfortable though basic”.

Applicants must love penguins.

Seriously, they’re everywhere.

The successful applicant will be meticulous (“Can you keep accurate records, be it penguin eggs, t-shirts, or food stock?”), positive (“Can you enthuse to visitors when it is -5C° and blowing a blizzard?”) and personable (“Can you live and work with just three others for five months and be friendly and cooperative throughout?”).

You’ll also need to be adaptable to different situations. “Are you happy not to shower for up to a month,” asks the job ad, “live in close proximity to three people and 2,000 smelly penguins for five months?”

While the pay is not great — £1100 ($A2160) per calendar month — and living conditions are “comfortable though basic”, we’re willing to bet it will look pretty good on your CV.

Travel will be by commercial flight to South America and then via expedition ship to Port Lockroy. Expenses and subsistence for the period of employment will be covered by the UKAHT.

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Originally published as Port Lockroy: Antarctic post office now hiring