Airfield Shift Supervisor

Summary: 

Maintains operational control over Antarctic Terminal Operations (ATO) areas and facilities and coordinates cargo operations at multiple airfields. 

Position Responsibilities: 

• Coordinates with Movement Control Center (MCC) staff regarding transportation assets, personnel support, and equipment necessary to successfully conduct ATO functions at multiple airfields. 

• Serves as the ATO Point of Contact (POC) for airfield related issues. 

• Supervises functions including loading and unloading aircraft, operating automated and manual material handling equipment, and maintaining records on passenger and cargo movement by airlift, including updating mission documents as necessary. 

• Supervises the safe loading and unloading of various aircraft operated by Kenn Borek Air (KBA), US Air Force (USAF), NY Air National Guard (NYANG), Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), and other contracted airlift providers, while maintaining operational control of ATO resources on the aircraft ramp. 

• Verifies eligibility of cargo and mail offered for airlift. Ensures all cargo documentation, packaging, labeling and marking requirements have been met.  

• Selects, assembles, palletizes, and transports aircraft cargo loads to and from aircraft and storage areas.  

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

• Secures cargo with appropriate devices and equipment adhering to current USAF regulations. 

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

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

• Supervises and executes procedures for handling sensitive or high-profile cargo/passengers, including explosives transports, medical evacuations, and distinguished visitors. 

• Conducts quality assurance checks on pallets and oversees necessary changes. 

• Reports incurred damage to cargo or equipment immediately to Shift Supervisor for further documentation. 

• Serves as subject matter expert regarding pallet building techniques and requirements.  

• Leads and/or assists with departmental training and provides individual training as necessary. 

• Leads training for cargo and field camp personnel on cargo theory and pallet building, including proper use of tie-down equipment.  

• Operates and conducts daily maintenance checks on automated and manual material handling equipment, including pallet jacks, cargo sleds, forklifts, Delta III transport vehicles, passenger vans, and pick-up trucks. 

• Implements standard operating procedures and oversees the review and revision of operating procedures, as required. 

• Follows procedures for loading passengers and cargo aboard aircraft. 

• Attends and/or conducts daily/weekly safety meetings and provides attendance and subject matter documentation. 

• Maintains airfield inventories each shift reflecting all pallets, loose load cargo, and passenger survival bags. 

• Coordinates the building of oversized material onto pallet trains, following a provided priority list. Ensures that proper restraint is used, and center of balance is calculated and marked accurately.  

• Directly supervises Air Transportation Specialist III, evaluating employee’s performance throughout the season and providing end-of-season evaluation. 

• Indirectly supervises rotating cargo teams at the airfield and provides feedback on performance, including input for end-of-season evaluations. 

• Provides clear communication between the airfield and the Movement Control Center (MCC) throughout the shift concerning delays, passenger/cargo issues, and any deviation from normal airfield operations. 

• Interacts with the National Science Foundation (NSF), military personnel, and other agency officials, both over the telephone and in person, in a professional and tactful manner. 

• Handles confidential matters (personnel actions, medical evaluations, etc.) in accordance with USAP policy. 

• Responsible for implementing and maintaining a safe workplace program and ensuring that safety is the highest priority in the workplace. 

• Performs other duties as required. 

Required Education, Experience, Certificates and Licenses: 

• Bachelor’s Degree and at least two years’ experience in freight movement, including documenting, expediting, tracking, and hazardous material transportation is required. An additional four years of experience will be accepted in lieu of a degree.  

• Airlift Mobility Command (AMC) Load Planner Certification must be attained prior to deployment; training is provided if current certification is not already held. 

• A minimum of two years of air cargo supervisory or leadership experience.  

Expected Skills and Competencies: 

• Ability to work effectively in a team environment. 

• Knowledge of passenger and cargo movement functions, including transport aircraft types, capabilities, and configurations; weight and balance factors; airlift transportation directives and documentation; cargo securing techniques; operation of material handling and other types of loading equipment or devices; and interpreting and following aircraft load plans. 

Preferred: 

• Class “A” is preferred, issued in the United States. 

• Familiarity with automated data processing/tracking programs such as MAXIMO, ICODES, and Microsoft Office 2016 software within the Microsoft Windows Operating System.  

• Working knowledge of US Air Force loading regulations (dash 9). 

• Previous experience with remote site and/or polar logistics operations. 

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.