- Work closely with Antarctic stations, operational teams and external partners to coordinate activities and support the safe delivery of program objectives.
- Play a key role in maintaining situational awareness across the Australian Antarctic Program and supporting informed operational decision-making.

Who we are The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is part of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. As primary agency for Australia's Antarctic Program (AAP), the AAD is responsible for achieving the Australian Government's Antarctic goals.

These goals are to

- maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and enhance Australia's influence within it
- protect the Antarctic environment
- understand the role of Antarctica in the global climate system
- undertake scientific work of practical, economic and national significance.

The AAD also has responsibility for administering the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.

The Operations and Logistics Branch oversees our operations in Antarctica – supporting people in our year-round research stations and remote field bases. The branch oversees air and sea transport (and the contracts to manage Australia’s icebreaker, the RSV Nuyina and Aviation capabilities) to transport expeditioners south and enable them to travel around Antarctica. We have staff with diverse skills, located primarily in Tasmania, in Antarctica and on Macquarie Island.

The Operations Management Centre (OMC) coordinates and monitors operational activities across the Australian Antarctic Program, providing a central point for situational awareness, operational decision-making and incident management. Working closely with Antarctic stations, field teams, transport providers and key stakeholders, the OMC supports the safe and effective delivery of operations across Antarctica and the Southern Ocean by analysing operational information, managing competing priorities and responding to emerging risks and issues.

The Job

- Maintain operational oversight of Antarctic, sub-Antarctic, and Southern Ocean operations, exercising delegated after-hours operational authority to coordinate responses to emerging issues and risks.
- Lead surge workforce and watchkeeping arrangements to sustain enhanced 24/7 monitoring during periods of heightened operational activity or incident response.
- Maintain and coordinate the flow of information from the AAD Headquarters and the deployed operational elements such as Antarctic and sub-Antarctic Stations, shipping, aviation, and major deep field camps to support situational awareness and informed decision-making.
- Manage the day-to-day workflows of the OMC including the coordination and development of timely and accurate operational briefings for the Branch Head, Operations and Logistics, Division Executive, Ministerial Offices, external agencies,



key stakeholders, and delivery partners.
- Exercise operational judgement to identify events requiring escalation, ensuring significant incidents, risks and operational impacts are promptly communicated to the Chief of Operations and other key decision-makers.
- Serve as the initial point of contact and coordinator for all incident management operations across the AAP and ensure response, planning and reporting arrangements are timely and well-coordinated in consultation with primary incident response stakeholders.
- Work collaboratively with stakeholders across the AAD and other agencies (including other federal and state Watch Offices and response partners), to coordinate response efforts for crises in AAD operations or other international events as required.
- Act periodically in the Chief of Operations role to provide leadership and oversight of the effective delivery of key OMC functions and services and
- Coordinate the effective handover to OMC staff to ensure that continuous situational awareness and continuity of operations is maintained.

What you'll gain from the experience

This role offers the opportunity to develop expertise in coordinating complex, high-consequence operations in one of the world's most challenging environments. You will gain experience in operational decision-making, incident management, stakeholder engagement and the use of real-time information to support the safe delivery of Australia's Antarctic Program.

What we are looking for

We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate the following:

Frontline operational leadership experience in complex, dynamic and high-consequence environments. Applicants will have experience leading operational teams, coordinating responses to incidents and emerging issues, and exercising judgement in situations where decisions have significant safety, operational, environmental, or organisational consequences.

Skills and capabilities

- Demonstrated ability to apply skilled judgement, assess risk, and make effective decisions under pressure with limited supervision in dynamic and high-consequence environments where outcomes are time-critical.
- Demonstrated capability to engage and influence a broad range of stakeholders, building trust, managing competing priorities and ensuring effective communication across organisational boundaries.
- Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, emerging issues, deadlines, and operational support needs to provide clear direction to operational teams,



recognising organisational, seasonal, operational and logistical constraints.
- Proven ability to lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams to deliver operational objectives, fostering a collaborative culture and aligning expertise to achieve successful outcomes; and
- Demonstrated ability to analyse information from multiple sources, maintain situational awareness, and communicate clear, timely and actionable advice through effective written and verbal communications.

Please note that the successful applicant may be required to travel to the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions therefore they may be required to meet specific medical, adaptability and personal qualities requirements appropriate to working in those environments.

In order to undertake travel to the Antarctic & sub-Antarctic regions they will need to:

- demonstrate the range of personal qualities and interpersonal skills necessary to perform as a successful team member within isolated Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments
- demonstrate an ability to effectively adapt and respond to the demands of living and working in an isolated and confined environment as determined by a psychological (adaptability) assessment
- be certified as fit for Antarctic service by the AAD’s Polar Medicine Unit.

Desirable qualifications

- MSIC and ASIC Licences

Additional Information

Applicants must be willing and able to participate in a rotational on-call roster, including responding to operational issues outside normal business hours.

Eligibility

Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.

Security Clearance - this position requires a Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance. You will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Pre-employment checks - your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recruitment

You may use AI tools to support your participation in this recruitment process, unless advised otherwise. If you use AI, you must ensure your use is transparent, authentic and truthful, and that all information reflects your own skills and experience.

The department may use AI in a limited, transparent and responsible way to support parts of this recruitment process. AI does not make decisions - all assessments and selection outcomes are made by people.

For more information, see:

- - Artificial Intelligence Transparency Statement
- AI in recruitment | Australian Public Service Commission

📌 – Antarctic Operations Manager (Watch Supervisor) (Kingston)
🏢 Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
📍 Kingston