Senior Manager: Planning & Strategy

Our mission is to create the Experience of a Lifetime for our employees, so they can, in turn, create the Experience of a Lifetime for our guests. We own and operate the most renowned destination resorts in the world as well as regional and local ski areas outside major cities, and connect them all through one unrivaled network. We are looking for ambitious leaders, innovators and creators to join our talented team. If you’re ready to pursue your fullest potential, we want to get to know you!

Candidates for year-round positions are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted up to 90 days after the posting date, or until the position is filled (whichever is first).

Purpose: The purpose of the Senior Manager, Planning and Strategy role is to lead the development, execution, and refinement of strategic plans that drive operational excellence across the resort enterprise.

This role serves as a strategic partner to the executive leadership team, with a focus on organizational planning, business strategy, and operational execution. This role ensures alignment between executive vision and enterprise-wide initiatives, driving clarity, accountability, and performance across departments and is key in aligning organizational goals with market opportunities, enabling data-driven decision-making, and ensuring strategic initiatives are effectively prioritized, executed, and measured. This role will also be working closely with our mountain operational leaders to establish and operationalize key performance indicators (KPIs) to be able to deliver data-driven insights to the business on training and strategic planning. By leveraging these insights, and through partnership with leaders, this role will design, project manage, and ensure the success of operational improvements. The role is responsible for achieving results in cross-functional groups, comprised of internal and external resources, across a broad range of projects in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead training and strategic planning process in collaboration with executive leadership.
• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives, ensuring timely execution and alignment with business objectives.
• Monitor business performance through KPIs, dashboards, and strategic reporting.
• Recommend solutions for increased efficiency and scalability.
• Develop and communicate strategic roadmaps and business plans across departments.
• Analyze internal and external data to identify business trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Translate strategic priorities into operational initiatives and performance metrics.
• Partner with finance, marketing, operations, and product teams to align plans and resources.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure scalable application through training and strategic planning, effective resource allocation, and disciplined execution.
• Responsible for the implementation and delivery of employee training programs and talent development processes to all levels of employees. Including but not limited to new employee training, ongoing skills-based training and leadership development.
• Ensures that our leaders understand and utilize the training development tools and resources available for consistent and scaled approach.
• Help facilitate team meetings, ensuring clear agendas, documentation, and follow-through on action items.
• Responsible for the administration of programs within the curriculum. This will include calendar administration, facility and materials administration and documentation of training.
• Evaluates processes, identifies, and recommends opportunities for efficiencies, executes on recommendations.

Job Specifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Planning or Strategic Management, Operations Management, or related field.
• 5+ Years previous experience in operations planning, process improvement, or strategic management
• Experience defining training program requirements and using data to inform processes and strategy preferred, not required
• Proficiency with planning tools (e.g., Microsoft Excel, ERP systems, project management software).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to support senior Leadership teams

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Operational Efficiency – project timeliness and adherence to planning and strategic initiatives
• Cost management and efficiency gains in training and SOP operations.
• Staff Engagement in Strategic Goals and internal culture and employee engagement in new or improved initiatives
• Strategic Initiative Completion Rate and Delivery
• GX Guest Satisfaction Scores for feedback on new or improved services or facilities implemented as part of the strategy.

The expected Total Compensation for this role is $92,396 - $125,793 + annual bonus. Individual compensation decisions are based on a variety of factors.
 

Job Benefits

• Ski/Mountain Perks! Free passes for employees, employee discounted lift tickets for friends and family AND free ski lessons
• MORE employee discounts on lodging, food, gear, and mountain shuttles
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Excellent training and professional development

Full Time roles are eligible for the above, plus:

• Health Insurance; Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, and Vision Insurance plans (for eligible seasonal employees after working 500 hours)
• Free ski passes for dependents
• Critical Illness and Accident plans

Vail Resorts offers a ‘Hybrid’ work environment for Broomfield-based roles where employees must live within 50 miles of the Broomfield office and work on-site Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and have flexibility to work off-site on Mondays and Fridays.

Please note that the ability to work in person or off-site, and the particulars related to such work, are subject to change at any time; and, accordingly, the Company reserves the right to change its policies and/or require in-person/in-office work or off-site work at any time in its sole discretion. 

In completing this application, and when submitting related documentation, applicants may redact information that identifies their age, date of birth, and/or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. 

Vail Resorts is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.

Requisition ID  508915
Reference Date: 05/30/2025 
Job Code Function: Project Management