Air Transportation Specialist II

Summary: 

Supports cargo and passenger movements to and from McMurdo and South Pole Stations, Antarctica. 

Position Responsibilities: 

• Supervises and mentors a cargo team consisting of four personnel and completes end-of-season evaluations for team members. 

• Assists with training department personnel in functions such as loading and unloading aircraft; proper pallet building and restraint procedures and techniques; and operating automated and manual material handling equipment and light vehicles. Provides ongoing and individual training as necessary. 

• Coordinates with ATO Shift Supervisor, Airfield Shift Supervisor, and Load Planners regarding daily tasking, and cargo staging and transportation needs. 

• Helps create, review and maintain procedures for loading passenger and cargo aircraft, preparing cargo for shipment, operating various vehicles and equipment, and documenting receipt and delivery of cargo. 

• Interacts professionally with Antarctic Support Contract (ASC), National Science Foundation, military, and other agency officials over the telephone and in person. 

• Conducts and documents daily maintenance checks on automated and manual material handling equipment, including pallet jacks, forklifts, Delta III and Kress transport vehicles, passenger vans and pick-up trucks. 

• Uses material handling equipment for cargo loading and unloading operations, including wheeled forklifts with 4,000-15,000 lb. capacities and cargo sleds. 

• Follows safety and security precautions for handling and storing hazardous materials, special cargo, mail, and passenger baggage. 

• Supervises palletization of cargo for shipment via cargo aircraft, conducting quality assurance checks to verify that cargo is adequately secured with appropriate devices and equipment in accordance with current USAF regulations. 

• Ensures proper handling and loading of hazardous cargo according to military and/or commercial transportation regulations.  

• Oversees transport of cargo to and from airfields and storage areas. 

• Loads and unloads cargo and passenger aircraft according to established procedures. Supervises aircraft operations in the absence of Airfield Shift Supervisor or Air Transportation Specialist III. 

• Checks arriving cargo against manifest, and documents overage, shortage, or damage.  

• Supervises the efficient receipt, identification and distribution of cargo to end users without compromising condition of cargo. 

• Maintains and performs required preventative maintenance and inventory of tie-down equipment, including 463L Air Force pallets, cargo straps and nets, chains and tensioners. 

• Identifies, labels and prepares damaged aircraft pallets and tie-down equipment for shipment to CONUS or Christchurch, New Zealand. 

• Organizes and maintains various work areas, creating an efficient and safe work environment while ensuring that safety is the highest priority in the workplace.  

• Reports safety incidents, injuries, or damage to cargo or equipment immediately to Shift Supervisor for further documentation and participates in incident investigations and implementation of corrective actions. 

• Attends and/or presents daily/weekly safety meetings. 

• Works 12-hour rotating shifts outdoors in inclement weather conditions, including weekends and extra hours as required. 

• Frequently perform strenuous physical work. 

• Occasionally needs to lift and push 75lbs. 

• Frequently needs to lift and push 50lbs. 

• Constantly moves 20 lb. objects. 

• Frequently climbs vertical ladders and platforms into and out of equipment and to access cargo. 

• Performs other duties as required. 

Required Education, Experience, Certificates and Licenses: 

• High School diploma or equivalent 

• Minimum 1 year’ experience in functions such as loading and unloading aircraft; operation of material handling and other types of loading equipment or devices; processing, scheduling, and maintaining records relating to passenger and cargo movement by airlift 

Expected Skills and Competencies: 

• Ability to work effectively in a team environment. 

• Knowledge of passenger and cargo movement functions; transport aircraft types, capabilities, and configurations; airlift transportation directives and documentation; cargo restraint techniques and calculations; and operation of material handling and other types of loading equipment or devices.  

Preferred: 

• One year of supervisory experience.  

• Previous experience with remote logistics operations. 

• Class “A” Driver’s license issued in the United States 

Physical and/or Other Requirements: 

• Willingness and ability to deploy to Antarctica for extended periods  

• Successful completion of Medical and Dental examinations required by the NSF for deployment to Antarctica 

• Successful completion of drug screening and background check required by employer 

• Successful completion of Federal Background Check required by the NSF 

• Must be willing and able to lift and move items, parts, assemblies, and equipment up to the safety regulation maximum as required by the position.  

• Must be willing and able to perform physical activities including heavy lifting, climbing in and out of equipment, crawling, and working outdoors in extreme cold as required by the position.  

• Must participate in community programs, such as “house-mouse” (chores), “daisy-picking” (cleaning-up around the station), recycling efforts & safety objectives.  

• Valid Driver’s License issued in the United States 

• Must be able to obtain and maintain facility credentials/authorization. Note: US Citizenship is required for facility credentials/authorization at this work location.