Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all US citizens who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements. Please see the “Other Information” section for further information.

As a Program Manager (Station Manager, Antarctica) you will alternate between on-ice assignments at McMurdo Station and off-ice program support in the United States. Each assignment period will span six (6) months. During these rotations, you will be responsible for the following duties:

Off-Ice (non-deployment periods)
When not deployed, the Station Manager participates in planning, review, and training activities, including but not limited to:

• Attending the Annual Planning Meeting with USAP agencies and partners.
• Participating in projects, programs, or budget reviews.
• Completing required training and readiness activities.

On-Ice (deployment periods)
While deployed at McMurdo Station, the Station Manager:

• Serves as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal, authorized to search, detain, and arrest for specific offenses alleged to have been committed by U.S. persons at any Antarctic location.
• Provides daily oversight of infrastructure and facility operations at McMurdo Station and directs logistics and operational decisions impacting South Pole and inland field sites.
• Prioritizes efforts when resource conflicts or limitations occur.
• Provides technical direction, where applicable, to contractors on station operations.
• Coordinates closely with AIL colleagues to ensure mission requirements are met.
• Implements and enforces regulations on conservation, environmental protection, and compliance with permits issued under USAP auspices.
• Maintains internal controls on support aspects of USAP to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, in accordance with OMB Circular A-123.
• May serve as a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), representing OPP in monitoring contractor performance under various contracts and agreements.
• Provides regular written and oral status updates to AIL staff and leadership.
• Serves as Director of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during emergencies or Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
• Conducts program performance reviews and compliance audits of USAP support contractors.
• Coordinates with international Antarctic programs as necessary.
• Deploys to other Antarctic stations as directed.

Service as NSF Representative, Antarctica
When delegated, the Station Manager assumes the duties of the NSF Representative, Antarctica, which include:

• Coordinating NSF science and contractor requirements with other USAP organizations (including Commander, Support Forces Antarctica).
• Advising OPP leadership on progress and challenges in operations relative to program plans.
• Serving as on-site federal representative for oversight and direction of NSF contractor activities at McMurdo, South Pole, and inland field sites.
• Coordinating with the NSF Science Representative to ensure adequate support for all domestic and international Antarctic research programs.

Conditions of employment

This position is outside the competitive civil service.

Appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a physical examination according to standards used for U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) medical/dental screening for travel to Antarctica. Please review the Office of Polar Program Physical Qualification (PQ) Guidelines that can be found here.

After onboarding, appointment is contingent upon successful completion of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Basic Criminal Investigator Course.

You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

The Selected Candidate(s) may be subject to a background investigation.

Qualifications

The Station Manager must hold an advanced degree and possess significant operational leadership experience. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a relevant scientific, engineering, or technical field, and at least six (6) or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position after the award of the degree.; OR A Master’s degree in a relevant scientific, engineering, or technical field, and at least eight (8) or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position after the award of the degree.

Relevant disciplines include civil, mechanical, structural, electrical, or electronics engineering; facilities operations and management; or a closely related field. This should be complemented by professional experience aligned with the mission of the Office of Polar Programs or directly relevant to the responsibilities of the position.

Must demonstrate the ability to:

• Manage large-scale, complex operations in remote or austere environments.
• Lead and oversee multidisciplinary teams.
• Direct logistics, infrastructure operations, and research station support.
• Apply knowledge of contracts, interagency agreements, or cooperative partnerships.
• Exercise independent judgment and decision-making under high-risk and resource constrained conditions.

Highly desired experience will be considered:

• Direct leadership experience in polar, expeditionary, or extreme-environment operations.
• Proven ability to manage remote research stations, large field programs, or comparable facilities in isolated settings.
• Expertise in emergency management, search and rescue coordination, or law enforcement authority in support of federal operations.
• Experience serving as a federal representative in interagency, international, or contractor oversight roles.
• Demonstrated success in resolving complex logistical and operational challenges involving multiple stakeholders, including international partners, the U.S. military, contractors, and research organizations.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, expertise, education, and research activities relevant to the duties of the position. In some cases, additional assessment processes may also be used.

All applicants must submit a resume in any format. Resume length should be limited to no more than two pages. It is also highly encouraged that applicants submit a cover letter detailing experience relevant to the position.

In order to be considered for federal appointments, Non-Citizens must affirm that they meet the Appropriations Law eligibility criteria by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered. Non-Citizens who are exempt from the Appropriations Law requirements due to their status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on December 16, 2009 must provide a statement with their application noting their exemption with documentation of proof of status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on that date.

You are strongly encouraged to upload a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how your background relates to the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) listed in the Qualifications and Evaluation Requirements section of this announcement. Additionally, you are encouraged to list all applicable awards either in your CV or in a supplemental statement. This information will be used in the evaluation process.

Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your application materials. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, you MUST submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.

All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.

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