Hazardous Cargo Specialist

Position Responsibilities: 

• Maintains a safe workplace and demonstrates a high level of safety awareness.  

• Complies with all ASC Environmental, Safety and Health (ESH), Waste Management and Quality Assurance requirements, goals, policies and procedures. 

• Accurately identifies, classifies, packages, marks, labels and documents hazardous goods for transport in compliance with 49CFR parts 100 - 185, IATA, AFMAN 24-604 and/or IMDG regulations.  

• Is cognizant of the relationship between the transportation regulations to merge and apply these regulations for multi-modal shipments. 

• Safely handles and stores hazardous materials in accordance with applicable federal and military regulation. 

• Researches and responds to customer inquiries regarding transport regulations of hazardous material. 

• Packs temperature-controlled science samples in accordance with established procedures to ensure the safety of the samples during retrograde shipping, to include both commercial airline and surface shipping methods. 

• Assists science team and community members in the proper packaging, labeling, and documenting of general cargo for shipment to field sites or for retrograde. 

• Performs cargo movement including receipt, storage, retrieval and onward movement of United States Antarctic Program (USAP) materials.   

• Accurately tracks the movement of cargo throughout all phases of shipment. 

• Performs daily routine prevention maintenance checks on ATO vehicles and loaders. 

• Ensures that each ATO vehicle has the proper operating/safety equipment aboard (i.e. chocks, window scrapers, etc.). 

• Safely transports McMurdo-generated cargo to appropriate staging areas for onward shipment both on and off the continent. 

• Safely operates all ATO vehicles in varying road and weather conditions while obeying all speed limits. 

• Possesses and applies a thorough working knowledge of MAXIMO Palletizes cargo and applies proper restraint. 

• Loads ISO shipping containers and performs blocking and bracing of cargo inside the containers to comply with maritime shipping requirements. 

• Communicates via two-way radio in accordance with proper radio etiquette and procedures. 

• Ensures workspaces and staging areas are properly maintained and organized. 

• Must be capable of regularly lifting 40 pounds (safety regulation maximum). 

• Works rotating shifts, including weekends and extra hours, as required.    

• Coordinates changes at any hour day or night.  

• Works 9-12-hour shifts - non-stop during resupply vessel operations. 

• Performs other duties as required.  

Required Education, Experience, Certificates and Licenses: 

• High School diploma or equivalent 

• Four years of experience of inventory control, warehousing, or aircraft cargo handling experience, including receipt, storage, and/or retrieval  

Expected Skills and Competencies: 

• HazMat employees must complete required initial training of 49CFR, IATA, IMDG, and AFMAN24-604 within 90 days of beginning the job in 5 key training areas.  

• general awareness/familiarization 

• function-specific 

• safety 

• security awareness 

•  in-depth security training, if a security plan is required; 

• Previous experience in a customer service environment  

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 2000 software within the Microsoft Windows operating system, and hazardous materials databases  

• Knowledge of aircraft load planning and regulations governing transportation of hazardous materials  

• Clear, accurate, concise communication skills. 

• Capable of interpretation of law text. 

• Ability to adapt to dynamic situations. 

Preferred: 

• Military aircraft knowledge is preferred.   

• Cargo operations experience within the USAP Program is preferred. 

• Certification of training and/or previous knowledge, use, and understanding of 49CFR, IATA, IMDG, and AFMAN 24-604 is preferred.   

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.