Now Hiring: Penguin Census Taker (Yes, Seriously!)

If you love penguins, don’t mind the cold, can handle manual labor, and would like to leave the hustle and bustle of civilization behind, this odd job might be for you. Every year from November to March, the world’s tiniest post office needs a small team of workers to perform an unusually diverse set of job duties, including penguin census taker. The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) runs Port Lockroy in Antarctica, the most southern post office in the world.

What Does a Penguin Census Taker Do?

The penguin census taker job at Port Lockroy may have you counting penguins, but there are many more responsibilities beyond that. Each year, the UKAHT hires around three to five people for seasonal positions. In 2024, UKAHT sought a team of five including a base leader, one shop manager, and three general assistants.

The job duties are various and may include some of the following:

• Sorting about 80,000 pieces of mail that arrive each season
• Running the gift shop
• Maintaining the museum in Bransfield House
• General maintenance and upkeep of the buildings
• Taking care of the 18,000 tourists that visit via cruise ship during the season
• Shoveling snow and cutting ice steps for tourists

Perhaps the best part of the job, aside from the breathtaking mountain and glacier views, is monitoring wildlife and counting penguins. The team members are responsible for observing and collecting data on the nesting gentoo penguins on the island and recording information on their mating and nesting behaviors. The data goes towards a long-term study conducted by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

However, here is where it gets tough. There is no running water on the island. If you want a shower, you may get one on a passing cruise ship every few weeks if you’re lucky. Your bathroom will be a bucket. There is no phone and pretty much no internet. You might get spotty service from Starlink.

And finally, if you’re looking to get away from others in a remote location, this is not the job for you. You will be living in close quarters with your teammates, sharing duties, and cooking together inside a small building. You will also be in charge of caring for the thousands of tourists that come through the site each Antarctic summer.

Despite the hardships, for the right person, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an unforgettable experience.

How Can I Get Hired at Port Lockroy?

Keep an eye on UKAHT’s job portal and social media pages. Hiring usually begins in February or March. In 2024, job openings were announced in February on UKAHT’s Instagram account, while in 2023, the openings weren’t announced until March. If you see the job openings appear, don’t delay applying, the application window is only open for a limited time. In 2024, interviews took place in April with final selections occurring in May.

Where Is Port Lockroy?

Port Lockroy is a British base known as Base A that was established in 1944 during WWII, although it was used in the early 20th century as a base for whaling fleets. It’s located on Goudier Island off of the Antarctic peninsula. Today it’s a popular stop for cruise ships touring Antarctica.

The Port is on a small island and is made up of three buildings. The largest building is the Bransfield House and it contains a museum, post office, and gift shop. The building was constructed in 1944 using pre-fabricated timber. The second largest building is the boat house, built in 1957. Finally, the third is the Nissen, which is where the staff makes its home.

Other Jobs That Involve Penguins

Competition is stiff for job openings at Port Lockroy and the season is short. You also need to either be a citizen of the United Kingdom or have the right to work in the UK. However, there are other jobs around if you want to work around penguins. Some jobs where you can encounter penguins include zookeepers, marine biologists, field researchers, or veterinarians specializing in exotic animals.

You can also look for volunteer opportunities or job openings at your local zoo. If you’d like to encounter penguins in the wild, there are various organizations that may hire volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to get your foot in the door and gain hands-on experience. For example, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds relies on volunteer support to help endangered African penguins.

If you’re interested in a job in Antarctica and you live in the U.S., the United States Antarctic Program hires around 3,000 people each year to head to Antarctica for various positions. While there is a need for researchers and scientists, there are also openings for support staff. Other people accepted to the program can include writers, artists, and educators.