Australian Antarctic Division

Deputy Wilkins Aerodrome Manager

Lead & supervise a small team of expeditioners and operate a wide range of plant and machinery to maintain Australia’s only ice runway.

Responsibilities include day‑to‑day tasking and supervision of staff at Wilkins Aerodrome, operating heavy and light machinery, servicing ground support for aircraft, filling in for the Aerodrome Manager when absent, and maintaining the accommodation and facilities. The deputy will work up to 6 months in a remote environment and may transition to the Winter Wilkins Aerodrome Manager role.

Salary:

• Annual base salary (Australia) starts from $105,861 per annum.
• Base salary + allowances (Antarctica) starts from $178,797 per annum.
• Employer superannuation up to 15.4%.
• Recreation leave 20 days per annum pro‑rata (available only when in Australia).

Qualifications & Licences:

• Statement of Attainment – Front‑End Loader (LL).
• Statement of Attainment – Skid Steer Loader (LS).
• Valid Heavy Rigid (HR) driver’s licence.
• Australian citizenship (or eligible residents/NZ citizens).
• Valid passport with expiry at least 6 months beyond intended stay.
• Wilderness First Aid (SISSS00140) – includes HLTAID011, HLTAID010, HLTAID009 (valid 18 months, 6 months for HLTAID009).

Knowledge & Experience:

• Supervisor of a small team in a remote setting with conflict resolution.
• Understanding of aerodrome manuals and SOPs.
• Time‑pressure work, flexible hours.
• Mobile plant operation relevant to Wilkins Aerodrome.
• Tasking and maintaining a heavy & light equipment fleet.
• Experience at Wilkins Aerodrome for at least 2 months in construction/maintenance.

Desirable:

• Track dozer, grader, snow groomer, all‑terrain vehicles, snow blowers, quadtrac tractors for compaction/rolling.
• Previous experience at Wilkins Aerodrome in decommissioning/reinstatement.
• Computer literacy – MS Word, Outlook, Excel.
• Previous aerodrome reporting officer role.

Winter Wilkins Aerodrome Manager

On‑site management of Wilkins Certified Aerodrome, including pack‑up and reinstatement to operational level and maintenance of aerodrome equipment and camp infrastructure.

Responsibilities include scheduling and conducting winter maintenance activities for plant and equipment, recommissioning the runway, supervising aviation staff, and reporting directly to the Casey Station Leader.

Salary:

• Annual base salary (Australia) starts from $121,755 per annum.
• Base salary + allowances (Antarctica) starts from $194,691 per annum.
• Employer superannuation up to 15.4%.
• Recreation leave 20 days per annum pro‑rata (available only when in Australia).

Qualifications & Licences:

• Statement of Attainment – Front‑End Loader (LL).
• Valid Heavy Rigid (HR) driver’s licence.
• Australian citizenship (or eligible residents/NZ citizens).
• Valid passport with expiry at least 6 months beyond intended stay.
• Wilderness First Aid (SISSS00140) – includes HLTAID011, HLTAID010, HLTAID009 (valid 18 months, 6 months for HLTAID009).

Knowledge & Experience:

• Operation of relevant plant.
• Maintenance of heavy & light equipment fleet.
• Construction, project or operations experience.
• Time‑pressure work, flexible hours.
• Previous supervisory/leadership experience.

Desirable:

• Experience at Wilkins Aerodrome with decommissioning/reinstatement of the runway.
• Construction and maintenance of aerodromes or similar civil construction environments.
• Computer literacy – MS Word, Outlook, Excel.
• Previous aerodrome reporting officer experience.

Additional Information

These positions are designated as performing Safety Sensitive Aviation Activities (SSAA) under the organisation’s Aviation Drug and Alcohol Management Plan (DAMP) and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR Part 99). As a condition of employment, employees performing SSAA are required to comply with all applicable drug and alcohol management requirements.

Contact

For general enquiries, please email the Hays Expeditioner Recruitment Team at antarctica@hays.com.au.

For job specific (technical or trade related) enquiries, or to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Hays at antarctica@hays.com.au.

This content was last updated 3 weeks ago on 29 May 2026.