British Antarctic Survey offers generous benefits packages. These vary depending on the contract type and whether or not staff work in BAS Cambridge or at research stations or onboard polar ships.
Cambridge and Cambridge/Antarctica contracts
Financials
- Salary start point takes into account relevant skills and experience
- Defined benefit pension scheme
- Additional allowance for periods spent in the Antarctic
- Comprehensive sick pay coverage
- During Antarctic deployment all food, accommodation and polar clothing are provided
- Employer discount scheme on a range of travel gifts and leisure.
Leave and flexible working
- 30 days annual leave (pro rata for part time and short term contracts)
- 10.5 public and privilege days holiday annually
- Flexible working hours
Family-friendly policies
- Flexible working hours
- Home working considered
- Career breaks
- Generous maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Unpaid parental leave
- Special leave
- Welfare service
Antarctic-only contracts
Financials
- Set starting point but with staged increases for subsequent tours
- 10% salary based bonus on successful completion of Antarctic tour
- All pre-deployment training and accommodation (away from Cambridge) covered
- Additional Accommodation allowance if significant pre deployment attendance required at Cambridge
- During Antarctic deployment all food, accommodation and polar clothing are provided
- Comprehensive sick pay coverage
- Defined benefit pension scheme (for more information see the Nest pensions website)
Leave and flexible working
- 2.5 days per month for time spent in the UK prior to departure
- 10 days “embarkation leave” prior to deployment
Marine Contracts
Financials
- Generous benefit pension scheme
- Comprehensive sick pay coverage
- During Antarctic deployment all food, accommodation and polar clothing are provided
- Employer discount scheme on a range of travel gifts and leisure
- Support for further tickets/training courses
Learning and development opportunities
As an Investors in People accredited employer, BAS offers its staff opportunities to undertake appropriate personal and professional development training.
Training for Antarctic staff is based around the annual briefing conference, which is held at the beginning of September in Cambridge. Staff are invited to this week long conference to learn about life in Antarctica and to undertake first aid training. Job-specific is discussed in more detail at that time. The training does not stop once you arrive at the Antarctic station — you will be taught a range of skills, including how to light a primus stove and how to pitch a tent in the snow!
- Access to learning resources and individual learning plans
- Job-specific training and development
- Polar survival skills training
- Access to libraries
- Mentoring scheme
- Support for further education
Stimulating work environment
Whether you work in Cambridge or in the polar regions we strive to give all employees the kind of working environment that stimulates productivity and job satisfaction. Staff can expect:
- State-of-the-art research facilities
- Talented, diverse and supportive teams
- Opportunity to work in the Earth’s greatest wilderness areas
- Opportunities to learn new skills
- Access to technologies and tools to help you do your best
- Free car parking in Cambridge; no parking issues in the polar regions!
- Opportunities to make a difference to knowledge and understanding of issues of global concern