ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Polar Expedition Jobs (NOW HIRING)

All JobsPolar Expedition Jobs

Polar Expedition information

See salary details

$40K

$100.7K

$169K

How much do polar expedition jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for polar expedition in the United States is $100,705.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,500.00 and $120,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Polar Expeditions?

Polar expeditions are journeys to the Earth's polar regions, specifically the Arctic and Antarctic, for purposes such as scientific research, exploration, or adventure. These expeditions often involve challenging conditions, including extreme cold, ice, and remote locations, requiring specialized equipment and training. Participants may conduct studies on climate, wildlife, or geology, or retrace historical routes taken by early explorers. Preparation and safety are critical for successful polar expeditions due to the harsh and unpredictable environment.

What are some common challenges faced by team members during a polar expedition, and how are they typically addressed?

Participants in a polar expedition often encounter extreme weather, isolation, and logistical difficulties. Teams must be prepared to handle rapidly changing conditions, manage limited resources, and maintain strong communication despite harsh environments. Safety protocols, thorough training, and clear role assignments help address these challenges, while effective teamwork and adaptability are essential for ensuring the success and well-being of all members during the journey.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Polar Expedition Leader, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Polar Expedition Leader, you need expertise in outdoor survival, navigation, risk management, and first aid, often supported by certifications in wilderness medicine and leadership experience in extreme environments. Familiarity with GPS navigation systems, satellite communication devices, and specialized cold-weather gear is typically required. Exceptional leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help manage team dynamics and respond effectively to emergencies. These skills are crucial for ensuring the safety, cohesion, and success of expeditions in some of the world's most challenging and unpredictable conditions.

What is the difference between Polar Expedition vs Polar Guide?

AspectPolar ExpeditionPolar Guide
Required CredentialsRescue certifications, survival training, navigation skillsRescue certifications, survival training, navigation skills
Work EnvironmentRemote polar regions, research stations, expedition vesselsRemote polar regions, guiding tourists or researchers
Employer & IndustryResearch institutions, exploration companies, adventure travelTour operators, adventure travel companies, research expeditions

Both Polar Expedition and Polar Guide roles require similar certifications and work in remote polar environments. However, Polar Expedition typically refers to the broader scientific or exploratory missions, while Polar Guides focus on leading and ensuring safety for tourists or clients during polar journeys. Understanding these distinctions helps in choosing the right career path in polar exploration and adventure travel.

More about Polar Expedition jobs
What cities are hiring for Polar Expedition jobs? Cities with the most Polar Expedition job openings:
What states have the most Polar Expedition jobs? States with the most job openings for Polar Expedition jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Polar Expedition jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Polar Expedition jobs are:
Polar Expedition jobs near you
Infographic showing various Polar Expedition job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 25% In-person, and 75% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,705 per year, or $48.4 per hour.
Field Logistics Coordinator

Field Logistics Coordinator

Digital Harbor Foundation

Baltimore, MD • Remote

Contractor

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Overview

The Field Logistics Coordinator is a contract role anticipated through February 2027 with Arête Glacier Initiative is responsible for serving as the science team’s primary logistics planner and ALE liaison. This is a planning and coordination role as much as a field role. The coordinator will work closely with our science team and ALE staff to ensure that every logistical requirement for the expedition is anticipated, communicated, and resolved - from cargo manifests and instrument shipping to field safety protocols and day-to-day communication at Thwaites. You will be the person who knows both the science team’s needs and ALE’s systems well enough to keep the two in sync. 

 

Arête Glacier Initiative is supporting a multi-institutional glaciology research expedition to Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica, deploying in the upcoming austral summer (December/January). A science team of approximately five researchers will conduct geophysical fieldwork - including seismic sensor deployment, GNSS/GPS stations, and ground penetrating radar - at a fly-in field site accessed through Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions’ (ALE) Union Glacier camp. Field logistics on the ice will be handled by ALE.

 

Climate change is destabilizing marine ice sheets, creating a risk of catastrophic sea-level rise over the next century. Arête Glacier Initiative is a new nonprofit initiative dedicated to understanding this risk and assessing the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of potential interventions to stabilize ice sheets. We aim to fund, coordinate, and accelerate research to enable informed societal decisions regarding these interventions.

 

Digital Harbor Foundation is dedicated to fostering learning, creativity, productivity, and community through education with a vision of digital equity for everyone. Driven by our sincere belief that access to opportunity is a basic right, we take bold yet practical actions to support making a better future now. Through a portfolio of projects focused on developing leadership within communities, we support those closest to challenges to take deliberate actions based in design thinking approach, backed by data analysis, grounded in a practice of collective impact, and driven by a commitment to racial equity.

Experience Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

  • Demonstrated polar field experience, preferably including at least one Antarctic season, with strong working knowledge of the realities of remote ice-sheet fieldwork
  • Experience working within or alongside a commercial or national Antarctic logistics provider; familiarity with how field plans, cargo systems, and flight scheduling work in practice

Preferred Qualifications

  • Direct prior experience with ALE operations and Union Glacier staging
  • Personal Antarctic field experience, providing firsthand understanding of the environment and constraints the team will be working in
  • Background in glaciology, geophysics, or a related cryosphere science; familiarity with seismic, GNSS, or radar field operations
  • Experience coordinating multi-institutional science teams
  • Prior role as field PI, science coordination office member, or expedition manager on a polar project

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Strong organizational skills; ability to manage complex, multi-party logistics with long lead times and limited margin for error
  • Excellent communication skills; able to represent the science team’s needs to a logistics provider and translate operational constraints back to scientists
  • Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a remote environment across a geographically distributed team
  • You have a deep understanding of what it takes to plan and execute a remote Antarctic field campaign - whether from direct experience, a logistics coordination role, or both
  • You are proactive and detail-oriented, able to anticipate problems before they reach the field and resolve them efficiently across time zones and institutions
  • You are a clear communicator who can work effectively with both scientists and logistics providers, and know how to bridge those two worlds
  • You are comfortable working in an early-stage organization where priorities may evolve and initiative is valued
  • You are organized, reliable, and able to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines simultaneously
 

Additional Notes

This contract position is fully remote with occasional in-person meetings as needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.

Work is anticipated to end in February 2027.

Role and Responsibilities

Pre-Deployment Planning

  • Serve as the primary point of contact for ALE for all expedition logistics: flight scheduling, cargo, camp configuration, field movement planning, and communications setup
  • Work with the science team to develop a detailed Field Plan covering site access, instrument deployment sequences, traverse routes, daily schedules, and contingency plans
  • Coordinate equipment procurement, packing, documentation, and cargo shipping to Punta Arenas staging
  • Coordinate team medical/fitness clearances and any ALE-required training or documentation
  • Liaise with science team members across multiple institutions to consolidate logistics requirements

Post-Season 

  • Oversee equipment repatriation, cargo tracking, and shipping from Punta Arenas
  • Compile a post-season logistics report documenting lessons learned, ALE costs, and recommendations for future seasons

Other Duties

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the candidate for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

 Compensation

Compensation for this position is $50-$75 hourly, commensurate with experience. 

If our mission and vision align with your personal values, please apply!

A cover letter outlining your qualifications for the position along with your resume is required. Interviews will be conducted virtually. Digital Harbor and Arete Glacier Initiative are equal opportunity employers.


 

Powered by JazzHR

oQe2SzAlYY