The Staff are the backbone of the JIRP research season; we rely on them for everything from supplying the expedition with groceries to navigating crevasse fields. There are two different staff positions on JIRP, Field Staff and Town Staff. Field Staff spend the summer on the Icefield, traveling with the student expedition and supporting field research and camp activities. Town Staff spend the summer in Juneau and Atlin, where they oversee helicopter logistics and support the expedition from afar. Both positions are essential for JIRP to function.

Our team is working tirelessly to find funding to compensate our staff and faculty, but for now the staff positions are volunteer-based. Staff will be provided room and board, a travel allowance, and a gear stipend. We are grateful to those willing to volunteer their time to support JIRP!

If you’re new to JIRP, we encourage reading about Our Mission, the Icefield Traverse, and the Student Information pages. Although some of this information is aimed at students, it gives a good idea of the educational experience that staff will be supporting.

Application Timeline

November 20: Applications open

December 31: Staff applications are due for all applicants.

(a) Application

(b) Resume (uploaded as a PDF)

(c) Contact information for two recommendations (recommendations submitted directly by the recommenders by Dec. 31)

Late January/Early February: First round of application decisions, including an invitation to interview for applicants advanced to the second round.

Mid-February: Final application decisions from JIRP. This will include a short waitlist while we work to determine final numbers of staff needed.

Late February: Staffers must either accept their offered position or work with the Program and Operations Managers to make a clear timeline for being able to do so.

Application Evaluation

The JIRP Leadership read staff applications with the goal of putting together a well-rounded staff cohort. Because the responsibilities of the staff are so wide-ranging, we do not expect individual applicants to have advanced previous experience in all areas. We strive to hire a team of staffers whose skills complement each other: people with and without experience at JIRP, with and without experience working on large teams, with and without experience teaching mountaineering, etc. Please do not let any particular skill missing on your resume stop you from applying.

Once we receive all the applications for Field Staff and Town Staff, our Program, Operations, and Safety Managers will read them through. We will make a preliminary list of applicants whom we invite for interviews via video call. During the interview we will make sure the applicant understands the responsibilities of the position, ask any follow-up questions about their application, and ask them to talk through a few decision-making exercises with us in real-time. We will also give the applicant the opportunity to ask any questions they have. Most interviews take 30-45 minutes.

After we conduct all the interviews, we will accept, waitlist, or reject applicants. We will make waitlist decisions based on which accepted applicants join the Expedition.

Town Staff Description

JIRP hires 2-3 Town Staffers to provide critical ground support to the field team. The Town Staff will gain experience in large expedition organization and operations management, from weather forecasting to grocery shopping to helicopter scheduling.  Town staffers also get to meet and network with engaging faculty and researchers before and after they go into the field.

This position is primarily located in Juneau, Alaska and Atlin, British Columbia. Juneau is a lively community with a vibrant downtown and excellent access to both the coast and the mountains. Town Staff will be provided a private room in a furnished, shared apartment and access to a JIRP-owned vehicle when it is not being used for expedition-related tasks.

If you are curious to learn about the complex operations required to support remote field campaigns and backcountry expeditions, you could be a good fit for Town Staff. We are eager to see your application!

Responsibilities include:

• Volunteer Engagement: Almost all staff and faculty at JIRP work as volunteers. Town Staff receive room and board for the entire season, several pro-deals for gear, a travel allowance ($750), and a living stipend. The final amount for the stipend is still being decided, but will be between $1000 and $1500 plus $12/day for food.

• Communication Management: Maintain regular communication with the field team. Communicate with the field team at minimum twice per day, using VHF radio, Inreach (satellite texting), and satellite phone. Town staff will receive training on radio operations, troubleshooting, and professional radio communication.

• Weather Forecasting and Reporting: Monitor local weather forecasting, and report daily to the field team. Use weather forecasts to make decisions about field logistics and helicopter flights. Town staff will receive training on reading detailed forecasts and how they inform field operations.

• Logistics Coordination: Coordinate personnel movement and transportation for faculty and researchers. Adapt helicopter schedules to dynamic weather conditions, prioritize materials going into the field, and dispose of materials coming out of the field.

• Expedition Support: Purchase groceries and sundry supplies from various stores in town. Plan and pack helicopter loads with expedition supplies. Support student activities and answer questions during Student Orientation at the beginning of the summer and Student Wrap-Up at the end of the summer.

• Administrative Support: Update various social media platforms with digital material coming out of the field. File receipts and track expenses.

• Task-based Time Management: The town staff work on mostly a task-based schedule which can mean irregular hours. Successful town staffers are self-motivated and take initiative when there are multiple tasks and schedules to balance. Some days there will be a good deal of free time, some days there will not. Field logistics schedules can change quickly, so town staff must be able to adapt to new deadlines and circumstances.

• Collaboration and Teamwork: The two town staffers have significant independence to split the workload in a way that works for them. They will be supervised by the Program Manager, who splits time between the field and town. This small group shares responsibilities and supports each other and in turn the entire expedition.

• Continuous Learning: Actively seek instruction for any skills you need help with. It is critical for town staffers to be comfortable asking for help. 

Qualifications

Field Staff Description

JIRP hires 5-7 Field Staffers per season who travel with and support the undergraduate program in the field. Field Staff join the Expedition to train to teach safety and backcountry travel skills, to manage camp activities and daily tasks, and to accompany researchers and students on fieldwork activities. Field Staffers begin the season with a two-week staff training. They will also receive several continuing education seminars throughout the field season.

Field Staff may also spend time working with externally funded research groups who are doing work in remote camps on the Icefield. These assignments are determined in the field and vary by season.

This position is located primarily in the field. Field Staffers should expect to be in the backcountry for eight weeks continuously. Room and board are provided in group living and eating situations in the field.

If you are curious to learn about the complex in-field operations required for remote field expeditions, group management and risk management, and how to teach basic alpine technical skills, you could be a good fit for field staff. We are eager to read your application!

Responsibilities include:

• Volunteer Engagement: Almost all staff and faculty at JIRP work as volunteers. Staff receive room and board for the entire season, several pro-deals for gear, a travel allowance ($750), and a gear stipend. The final amount for the gear stipend is still being decided, but will be between $1000 and $1500.

• Student Mentorship: During spring expedition preparation, work with a small group of students to answer questions about the gear list, physical training, expectations, etc. Especially for first-year staff, this task will include guidance from the Operations and Safety Managers. Later in the season, encourage students to improve their learning in route finding, skiing/mountaineering skills, remote camp life, and expedition dynamics.

• Attend Staff Training: This pre-season training will cover Icefield-specific wilderness first aid, ski mountaineering techniques and teaching skills, JIRP camp orientations, leadership and group management skills, and JIRP protocols and procedures.

• Teaching: Field staff lead clinics and exercises to teach safety skills to students and faculty during Safety Training (10-14 days) on the Icefield.

• Group Management: Lead trail parties during traverses and out-of-camp activities. Follow a route in accordance with principles learned during safety training, manage breaks, give first aid in accordance with WAFA training, comply with JIRP policies and protocols including, but not limited to, safety, medical, communication, and emergency protocols.

• Camp Management: Each field staff will take a turn managing an Icefield camp. Lead morning announcements, manage work detail, coordinate the Plan of the Day, burn trash, maintain communications with trail parties and Juneau logistics team, draft food and supply orders, run and maintain the generator, record camp log, assist Operations Manager and Asst. Operations Manager as needed.

• Risk Management and Logistics Support: Supervise planning and implementation of student and faculty-led research excursions. Assess risk before and during excursions to ensure safety of participants during research activities. Work with a rotating team of faculty advisers to provide academic continuity for the students.

• Expedition Support: Field staff serve a critical role in doing odd jobs and filling in gaps for the expedition team. This can include any number of tasks outside a traditional outdoor leadership position. We will train staffers in any required skills they haven’t yet mastered, but we also enthusiastically welcome a (perhaps surprisingly) varied array of technical skills and prior experiences.

• Continuous Learning: It is critical for field staffers to be comfortable asking for help from the Program, Operations, and Safety Managers and the maintenance staff, faculty, and others.

Qualifications

Application Process