Create Your Experience of a Lifetime!
Come work and play in the mountains! Whether it’s your first-time seeing snow or you were born on the slopes, joining our team means discovering (or re-discovering!) a passion for the outdoors while building lifelong connections with teammates and guests from around the world.
With 40+ resorts across 3 continents, you can join our team for a season or stay to build a career. From day one, you'll receive some of the highest compensation rates in the industry, free Epic pass(es) along with free ski and snowboard lessons, 40% retail discounts, the chance to grow through Epic Service - our leading training and development experience, and wellness benefits to fuel your success.
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).
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
- Referral Program
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
Job Summary:
The Senior Manager of Mountain Operations will lead and manage several departments, including Lift Experience, Lift Maintenance, Building Maintenance, Grounds Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance, Grooming, Snowmaking, Terrain Park, and Ski Patrol. This position is responsible for ensuring the overall success of mountain operations by focusing on safety performance, staff development, daily operations, project management, and future planning and strategies to enhance the guest and employee experience.
Job Specifications:
- Starting Wage: $68,545.70 - $90,333.07 + annual bonus
- Employment Type: Year Round
- Shift Type: Full Time hours available
- Housing Availability: No
Job Responsibilities:
- Oversee the management and administration of operations to produce an exceptional guest and employee experience.
- Strong collaboration between mountain operations peers within Vail Resorts.
- Successfully recruit, hire, coach, motivate, and develop a high-performing management team. Ensure the management team and subordinates are aligned with Vail Resorts' goals, values, and core competencies. Develop leaders within the scope of this position’s responsibility to improve leadership within current roles and prepare them for increased responsibility/accountability.
- Be a leader in improving safety within mountain operations to reduce/eliminate worker and guest injury. Coordinate closely with Health & Safety regarding this.
- Accountable for mountain operations goals while contributing to overall resort, corporate objectives, and initiatives.
- Create and oversee departmental budgets while tracking performance against expectations.
- Create a positive work culture that is unwaveringly committed to providing an Experience of a Lifetime for each guest, driving constant improvement.
- Build strong, positive relationships with key managers outside the scope of direct reports.
- Maintain an “expert level” status of mountain operations functions, being proactive with industry trends within Vail Resorts and the industry, and bringing those trends forward for a possible fit for the mountain.
- Actively participate in assigned best practice groups.
- Lead departments with capital planning, implementation, and project management.
- Prioritize and adapt in a constantly changing business and environmental setting.
- Increase operational efficiency and effectiveness through ongoing communication and cooperation with mountain operations departments.
- Ensure company and employee communications are provided regularly
Job Requirements:
- Minimum 5 years of experience in mountain operations or senior leadership team experience
- 3 years or more of experience in a leadership role managing multiple departments
- Valid driver’s license
- Strong knowledge of desktop computers and applications – Microsoft Office applications
- Strong communication skills, including verbal & written
- Strong financial management, strong communication, leadership, and team-building skills, advanced
skiing/riding ability, must be able to work in extreme weather conditions (winter/summer)
- Positive, solutions-oriented leadership
- High school education or equivalent, some college preferred
The expected pay range is $68,545.70 - $90,333.07 + annual bonus. This is the pay range we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Individual compensation decisions are based on a variety of factors.
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.
We follow all federal, state, and local laws including restrictions on child/minor labor. Minors hired into this position will not be asked or permitted to engage in any activities restricted to adult workers.
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 509372
Reference Date: 07/04/2025
Job Code Function: Mountain Operations
