Halley Vehicles Engineering Manager

Location: Cambridge Expected time south – Variable Annual Commitment of up to 6 Months
Interview Date: 23rd April 2025

Purpose:

1. To be responsible to the Head of Vehicle and Engineering Section for the development, provision and support of vehicles, plant and engineering.
2. To have specific responsibility for developing, planning and co-ordinating the support and maintenance of Halley vehicles, plant and associated technology.

Duties:

• The specification, procurement, design, engineering and development, modification and maintenance of Halley vehicles, plant and associated engineering and technology for operations in Antarctica.
• The setting up and support of a planned maintenance system for all vehicles plant and workshop equipment. Ensuring all relevant documentation is available Page 2 of 2 and current.
• The supervision and active management on site of Mobile Plant Mechanics undertaking project and routine maintenance work in both Cambridge and Antarctica. Annual commitment variable of up to 6 months.
• Requirement as directed by line management to deploy outside specific area of responsibility i.e. Rothera, Halley, Traverse to cross skill knowledge to reduce single point of failure.
• Providing support to Mobile Plant Mechanics, Operators and other site staff in Antarctica. Ensuring relevant standards are adopted and providing advice as necessary on vehicle technology issues.
• Purchase of vehicles, plant, machinery spares to ensure effective use is made of resources. § Keeping work programmes within schedule and ensuring objectives are met.
• Acting as a professional focus for Mobile plant Mechanic and Operators.
• Introducing new techniques to overcome the challenges of the polar environment and improve operating efficiency and safety.

It is essential that the post-holder is experienced in vehicles and plant, has appropriate qualifications and has the technical and management ability to lead a team of Mechanics and Operators supporting, developing, installing and maintaining often innovative vehicles and plant in Antarctica. There will be a need to introduce new techniques in the field of polar vehicle technology and engineering. The post-holder must also have the ability to work with a wide range of people including other Engineers, Scientists, Administrators and contractors operating under commercial constraints.

Skills Specification Qualifications:

Essential:

• C&G / N.V.Q. / B. TECH or equivalent, in a mechanical discipline.

Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Wide range of relevant experience in the maintenance / overhaul of contractor’s plant, farm machinery or heavy vehicles including P.P.M

Numerical ability

Essential:

• Analytical and problem solving skills

Desirable:

• Financial management including preparation of estimates and budgetary control

Computer / IT skills

Essential:

• Familiar with P.P.M systems

Desirable:

• Able to produce reports.

Managerial ability

Essential:

• Evidence of effective management of staff and provision

Desirable:

• Evidence of having had a positive impact in a middle management role

Communication skills

Essential:

• Able to convey technical problems/information by e-mail or phone.
• Proficient in written and spoken English language

Desirable:

• Effective verbal and listening communications skills

Decision making

Essential:

• Consultative decision making style

Interpersonal skills

Essential:

• Be understanding and respectful of peers and colleagues 

Other Factors

Essential:

• Must have flexible attitude to their daily tasks.
• Physically capable and medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions
• Highly organised Self-starter able to achieve demanding and time limited objectives

Desirable:

• Be of a ‘resourceful’ nature 

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment. 

Who are we?

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Its skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through its extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). NERC is part of UK Research and Innovation www.ukri.org.

We employ experts from many different professions to carry out our Science as well as to keep the lights on, feed the research and support teams and keep everyone safe!  We aim to attract the best people for our jobs.  If you are looking for an opportunity to work with amazing people in amazing places, then British Antarctic Survey could be for you.

Our vision

At BAS, our vision is to be a world-leading centre for polar science and operations. Making our vision a reality depends on the excellence and diversity of our staff. We are committed to creating a workplace where all our staff can flourish and succeed.  BAS is a Disability Confident employer, we are proud to hold a silver Athena Swan award and we are a member of enei, the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion.

Working at BAS

Choosing to come to work at BAS means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  You can find out more about our benefits here.  

We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with several family and carer-friendly policies. Plus, a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.  We also operate a hybrid working policy to support the balance of working time between the office and home.