British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has opened applications for a new round of jobs in Antarctica, with a fresh batch of roles now live and more vacancies expected to follow over the next three months.
The recruitment drive is likely to attract interest from Oxfordshire, which has a large student, graduate and skilled-trades workforce, as BAS looks to fill both scientific support and operational roles at its Antarctic research stations.
Current vacancies include Agricultural Plant Operator, Diesel Power Generation Technician, Boating Officer, Diving Officer, Meteorological Observer, Radio Operator and a range of marine and field-support roles. Contracts are expected to start between May and September, depending on the position.
What’s new this year
BAS says Antarctic-only roles are typically advertised between December and March, with jobs listed as they become available rather than all at once. Applicants are encouraged to check individual adverts for closing dates and to sign up for email alerts via the BAS recruitment pages.
The organisation is also transitioning to a new vacancy portal, meaning some roles may appear across more than one recruitment platform during the changeover.
Roles beyond science
While BAS is best known for its climate and polar research, its Antarctic stations operate as small, self-sufficient communities that rely on a wide mix of skills.
Mike Brian, who began his career with BAS as a polar guide at Rothera Research Station and now manages station operations, said many of the roles mirror those needed in any functioning community.
“If you think about what it takes to keep a community going – plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, engineers, chefs – there’s a job for that. The people working on our stations are ordinary people, often doing an ordinary job – just in an extraordinary place.”
BAS scientists famously discovered the ozone hole in 1985, and the organisation continues to study how the planet’s frozen regions are changing as the climate warms — and what that means globally.
Why go?
Jess Callaghan is a Zoological Field Assistant on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. She has spent the past 16 months living on this remote island and would recommend the experience to anyone.
“Living on Bird Island is an ornithologist’s dream come true. One day, I’ll be working among our colony of 45,000 macaroni penguins, and the next I might be helping weighing Antarctic fur seal pups. If you’re passionate about wildlife and are looking for an overseas adventure, I simply could not recommend this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Why people keep going back
For some staff, a single season turns into a long-term commitment.
Phill Coolman, a carpenter at Halley VI Research Station, first travelled south six years ago and has returned every season since.
“Being a carpenter in Antarctica requires adaptability and teamwork. I’ve gained skills here that I’ve carried back to the “real world” and done things I never thought I would get the chance to do.
Halley is a not only a station and a team, it’s a home and a family, and we all work together to keep the station and science running, even when the weather has other ideas! I planned on coming to Antarctica for one season and I’ve come back every season for the last 6 years and have no desire to stop any time soon.”
“Anyone can give it a try”
Dan McKenzie, now Station Leader at Halley VI, said his own route into Antarctic work began in a practical role rather than through academia.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work for BAS in a few different places. I started off as a plumber at Rothera and now I’m in the Station Leader role at Halley VI, an incredible place, filled with talented people.
I always think, I’m just a lad from Wigan, who never went to university and came from pretty humble beginnings, and now I’m here. That’s the beauty of BAS, anyone can give it a try and if you work hard you never know where it will take you.”
Pay, contracts and living costs
BAS says contracts typically run from six to 18 months and are flexible depending on role and deployment. Salaries vary by position, with accommodation, food, travel, specialist clothing, tools and training provided as part of the package. There are no day-to-day living costs while on station.
How to apply
The first batch of 2026 roles is now listed on the BAS vacancies page at bas.ac.uk/jobs/vacancies. More roles — including chefs, station leaders and zoological field assistants — are expected to be advertised over the coming weeks.
Applicants are advised to read individual job descriptions carefully, as closing dates and start times vary.
Want to know what life on the ice is really like?
BAS will host its biannual Open Day at its Cambridge headquarters on Saturday 21 March, giving visitors the chance to meet staff and learn more about living and working in Antarctica.
Readers can also listen to BAS’s Iceworld podcast, which features first-hand stories from people working in these roles.
For a longer guide to life and work in Antarctica, including what previous applicants said about their experience, see our 2025 feature: “Dream Job Alert: Work and Live in Antarctica with the British Antarctic Survey”.
