Thousands Apply for Jobs at the World’s Most Remote Post Office.
Port Lockroy Post Office, affectionately nicknamed the “Penguin Post Office.” Covering an area equivalent to a football field, it is also home to hundreds of penguins. This post office is the most isolated in the world, located on Goudier Island in Antarctica – the coldest, driest, and windiest place on Earth.
The post office functions as a museum and is managed by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT). Each year, UKAHT hires four postal workers to live on the island from November to March.
Due to the pandemic outbreak, this location has been closed to tourists for the past two years. Each summer, it welcomes around 18,000 visitors, necessitating staff to manage operations.
Port Lockroy Post Office is the most remote post office in the world. (Photo: Washington Post).
High-Paying Jobs in the Most Remote Place on Earth
In early October, the post office announced that they had selected four new suitable candidates for the upcoming season. They will serve as the Base Leader, Postmaster, Shop Manager, and Wildlife Supervisor.
Qualified candidates will undergo a week of training in Cambridge (UK), followed by a trip to Antarctica in October, where they will stay until March 2023. Depending on the specific role, the salary ranges from $1,600 to $2,300 per month.
Each staff member has a specific role but shares a common responsibility to maintain the historic site and serve thousands of tourists arriving by boat. The staff are also responsible for wildlife monitoring – including counting penguins – and collecting environmental data.
Applicants are warned that this is not an attractive job. Employees must live without running water, internet, or mobile phone service for five months. The team lives together in a small lodge, sleeps in bunk beds, and shares camping-style bathroom facilities. They can shower when tour boats visit.
The island is home to hundreds of penguins, and the post office managers are responsible for counting them. (Photo: Washington Post).
However, the job remains highly sought after. In early April, the post office announced recruitment for staff to work there for five months. This announcement attracted over 6,000 interests and received more than 4,000 applications.
“We have candidates of all ages from all over the world, from every walk of life. We are looking for strong, resilient individuals who genuinely enjoy meeting people and tourists,” Nichol added.
Four Candidates with Advanced Degrees
Clare Ballantyne recently earned a Master of Science in Geology from the University of Oxford and has participated in ultra-marathons in the Azores. She will serve as the postmaster, responsible for processing around 80,000 postcards sent to over 100 countries.
Mairi Hilton is pursuing a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology in Australia. She will take on the role of Wildlife Supervisor, primarily responsible for counting the number of penguins on the island and keeping an eye on the newly hatched chicks and their nests.
Clockwise from top left: Natalie Corbett, Lucy Bruzzone, Clare Ballantyne, and Mairi Hilton will be staff at Port Lockroy from November to March. Photo: The New York Times.
Lucy Bruzzone was previously a scientist seconded from the University of Cambridge to an Arctic expedition, coordinating visiting ships and liaising with expedition leaders. She is thrilled to apply: “My lifelong dream has been to work at the Antarctic post office. I can’t wait to go to where the penguins lay their eggs.”
Finally, newlywed Natalie Corbett left her husband and family to work in Antarctica right after being hired. She has over ten years of experience in retail, carrying the responsibilities of a gift shop manager.
These four strong women have faced various challenges and worked tirelessly to secure their positions in Antarctica.
Antarctica is frozen year-round with snow, even in the summer. The average temperature at the Port Lockroy post office ranges from -15°C to 5°C. The four staff members must work outdoors in the freezing cold for several hours each day.