THE world's most remote post office surrounded by penguins on an island smaller than a football pitch is hiring.

The role is based in Antarctica, and one of the key responsibilities include counting penguins and cleaning up their poo.

The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) will choose four candidatesto fulfil the job for five months at Port Lockroy, also dubbed as the "Penguin Post Office".

The historic site marked its 80th anniversary this year and also doubles as a museum.

It is located on a tiny island the size of a football field, populated by hundreds of penguins.

Each year, the British charity hires four postmasters to live on an icy island from November to March.

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The candidates will care for the flagship site, run the Post Office and gift shop, and maintain artefacts at the museum at Bransfield House.

They will be responsible for catering to thousands of visitors who come by boat during the season.

The employees will also process about 80,000 pieces of mail per season, all written by tourists.

And they will be in charge of wildlife monitoring and environmental data collection on penguin population.

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In other words, the staff will keep a daily penguin count, including their nests, eggs and chicks for the British Antarctic Survey.

But the job isn't all snow and hanging out with penguins – it comes with tough living conditions.

Lucy Dorman, who was a base leader at Port Lockroy in 2019-2020, considered tracking the penguin presence on the island as a job perk but said that “most people are probably not so aware of how smelly they are.”

Getting used to penguins smell is just a tip of the iceberg.

Homesickness might hit the workers hard as there is barely any communication with home.

Employees will have to give up cellphones for five months as there is no internet or service on the island.

The only way to contact the outside world is via satellite and for work purposes only.

That's not the only blessings of civilisation candidates would have to bid goodbye to.

There is also no running water, which means the only time the employees get to shower is when a visiting ship stops by.

The postmasters can expect to go without showering for up to two weeks.

The team resides in a small lodge with bunk beds and share a single bathroom.

They also need to be prepared to empty camping toilet every day as it doesn't come with flushing.

And it's not just human excrement they'd have to dispose of.

The job also includes spending a lot of time brushing penguin poop off rocks.

“Living there is quite hard work.

“You might be working 12-hour days.

There’s not much time for rest and relaxation,”said Camilla Nichol, the chief executive of the trust, to Washington Post.

Dorman said that there's a lot of carrying around "boxes, buckets and jerrycans through the snow or over slippery rocks most days."

UKAHT is looking for resilient, adventurous individuals with love for Antarctica to take on the role.

Physical and mental strength are important for the job full of challenges.

And the compensation for such a demanding job ranges from about £1,260 to £1,800.

But still, it doesn't scare away potential candidates as the job remains highly popular.

Each year hundreds of applicants seek the postmaster position.

One year, more than 2,500 candidates applied.

Nichol said: "We get people of all ages from all over the world.

"We are looking for people who are fit and resilient and really love meeting people and visitors."

About 18,000 tourists travel to the historic site each year on cruise ships and yachts to marvel at the frosty sight.

Dorman said: "“For many of the people, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and to be able to be part of that is quite special."

Seasonal postmasters must be real history geeks to educate and guide tourists on Port Lockroy's past.

Port Lockroy, also known as "Base A", was established in 1944 as the British government launched a top-secret expedition to the Antarctic.

Named the Operation Tabarin, this mission established a permanent presence of the British in Antarctica.

It also carries a scientific significance that draws applicants to the site.

In 1945, the post office was the original founding place of the British Antarctic Survey, a polar research institute.

For nearly two decades, the island served as an important science research hub.

These days, the site transitioned into a historic monument surrounded by dramatic glacier scenery.

The applicants must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom.

"The application process involved several steps, including a medical screening, as well as a week-long group gathering with shortlisted applicants to ensure a strong team dynamic," added Dorman

Nichol echoed: "You’ve got to get along, because you can’t get away from each other very easily

“We’re looking for a team; four people who can live and work together.”

Successful candidates spend one month in Cambridge training for the job before they set off on their Antarctic excursion.

Despite all the challenges, Dorman thinks the job is worth it.

She said: "there’s a real sense of community

"That sort of togetherness and what you can achieve in a short period of time is very rewarding.”

Nichol added: "You can watch the sun go down and hear the glacier ice melting.

“It’s an extraordinary place.”

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