Air Transportation Specialist I

JobSpace; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Amentum in Christchurch, New Zealand, is seeking vigilant cargo handlers for Antarctica deployments. The role involves loading/unloading aircraft, operating material handling equipment, and maintaining strict safety standards in extreme conditions.

You will work as part of a dynamic team, ensure cargo integrity, and participate in pre-deployment medical/dental exams and background checks as required.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED.
• Minimum 6 months experience in loading/unloading aircraft or operating loading equipment.
• Experience handling cargo movement records or completing related steps is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct daily maintenance checks on material handling equipment.
• Use equipment for cargo loading/unloading and palletizing cargo.
• Ensure safe handling of hazardous materials and compliance with regulations.
• Verify cargo against manifests and document discrepancies.

Skills

Teamwork

Remote logistics experience

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Supports cargo and passenger movements to and from both McMurdo and South Pole Stations, Antarctica.

Position Responsibilities:

• Conducts and documents daily maintenance checks on automated and manual material handling equipment, including pallet jacks, forklifts, Delta III transport vehicles, passenger vans and pick-up trucks.
• Uses material handling equipment for cargo loading and unloading operations, including wheeled forklifts with 4,000-15,000 lb. capacities and cargo sleds.
• Follows safety and security precautions for handling and storing hazardous materials, special cargo, mail, and passenger baggage.
• Palletizes cargo for shipment via cargo aircraft, ensuring cargo is secured with appropriate devices and equipment in accordance with current USAF regulations.
• Ensures proper handling and loading of hazardous cargo according to military and/or commercial transportation regulations.
• Transports cargo to and from airfields and storage areas.
• Loads and unloads cargo and passenger aircraft according to established procedures.
• Checks arriving cargo against manifest, and documents overage, shortage, or damage.
• Receives, identifies and distributes cargo to end users in an efficient manner without compromising condition of cargo.
• Conducts quality assurance checks throughout the cargo movement and pallet building process, reporting any damage to cargo or equipment immediately to a supervisor for further documentation.
• Maintains and performs required preventative maintenance and inventory of tie-down equipment, including 463L Air Force pallets, cargo straps and nets, chains and tensioners.
• Identifies, labels and prepares damaged aircraft pallets and tie-down equipment for shipment to CONUS or Christchurch, New Zealand.
• Responsible for maintaining a safe workplace and ensuring that safety is the highest priority in the workplace.
• Attends and/or presents daily/weekly safety meetings.
• Performs other duties as required.

Required Education, Experience, Certificates and Licenses:

• High School diploma or GED
• Minimum 6 months experience in functions such as loading and unloading aircraft; operation of material handling and other types of loading equipment or devices; processing, scheduling, and maintaining records relating to passenger and cargo movement by airlift; or successful completion of one Austral Summer season in the ATS Apprentice position.

Expected Skills and Competencies:

• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Preferred:

• Previous experience with remote logistics operations.

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
• No clearance requirement but the contract and/or the site requires US Citizenship to be approved for access. (includes NACI / T1, MRPT, CAC): Must be able to obtain and maintain facility credentials/authorization. Note: US Citizenship is required for facility credentials/authorization at this work location.

Safety - Amentum enforces a safety culture whereby all employees have the responsibility for continuously developing and maintaining a safe work environment. As appropriate, each employee is responsible for completing all training requirements and fulfilling all self-aid/buddy aid responsibilities, participating in emergency response tasks, and serving on safety committees and teams.

Quality - Quality is the foundation for the management of our business and the keystone to our goal of customer satisfaction. It is our policy to consistently provide services that meet customer expectations. Accordingly, each employee must conform to the Amentum Quality Policy and carry out job activities in compliance with applicable Amentum Quality System documents and customer contracts. Each employee must read and understand his/her Quality Management and Customer Satisfaction responsibilities.

Procedure Compliance - Each employee must read, understand, and implement the general and specific operational, safety, quality and environmental requirements of all plans, procedures and policies pertaining to job.