Wanted: highly motivated leaders willing to work in one of the harshest environments in the world.
The successful candidates will oversee teams in extremely remote locations where temperatures can plunge below minus-40 degrees Celsius.
And as family and friends experience the highs and lows of life back home, they’ll be thousands of kilometres away for up to a year, missing birthdays, weddings and funerals.
But despite the hardships, these roles are among the most-sought after on an entire continent.
Indeed, with more than 400 applicants to be station leaders in Antarctica, the process of selecting the best candidates is more akin to a reality TV contest than a public service job.
“It’s a very extensive process for our station leaders because it’s very important to get the right people into the roles,” the Australian Antarctic Division’s organisational psychologist Maree Riley said.
They’ll live in close quarters with the same colleagues they manage each day, including in the peak of winter, when darkness persists for weeks on end. Australia has three research stations in Antarctica — Casey, Davis and Mawson — as well as one on Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean.
During summer, the stations are like small towns, when they cater for a combined total of around 500 people, before reducing to a population of 80 people throughout winter.
Those who make the long journey south from Australia include tradespeople, chefs, communication specialists, doctors, and scientists.
But finding the right people to lead the stations is a gruelling process that takes up to eight months to complete.
Following the initial written application, candidates are shortlisted for video interviews, behavioural checks, medical screenings and a 24-hour assessment alongside other potential expeditioners.
Eventually, the pool is whittled down to just 18 candidates.
Their final challenge is a three-day camp in Tasmania that takes them out of their “comfort zone”, Ms Riley said.
“We’re really looking as to whether or not these applicants have the ability to lead a diverse community; that they have the ability to adapt their leadership style to the different requirements; and that we feel that they will be a good fit for our program.”
No faking it once fatigue sets in
The camp, held near Hobart, is designed to replicate station life, with candidates required to perform activities ranging from briefings and presentations to search and rescue operations.
