Ski Patrol Director (Full-Time/Year Round)

Position Summary 

The Ski Patrol Director leads all operations of the Ski and Bike Patrol at Hilltop Ski Area, including staffing, training, scheduling, team culture and guest experience. They ensure the safety of guests and employees, oversee medical response, and lead rope rescue and lift evacuation. The role requires strong leadership, problem‑solving, creativity, and the ability to build a high‑performing and positive team culture.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

 Leadership

• Hires, manages staffing and scheduling, and coaches/mentors ski patrol staff.
• Leads all aspects of the Patrol training program to include designing and facilitating training topics, scheduling sessions, documenting training plans and logs, and ensuring safety during training.
• Provides direct oversight of the Accident Investigation Team, including training of the team and coordinating communication with senior leadership. 
• Maintains interdepartmental relations to promote team cohesion. 
• Promotes and exemplifies a culture of exceptional guest service, teamwork, innovation, and fun.
• Works well independently, and with others, and provides resources wherever assistance is needed.
• Conducts and demonstrates a high level of professionalism.
• Works closely with external organizations to develop policies and procedures.
• Partners with leadership and departments to create innovative programs to improve and grow patrol.
• Asks questions, shares concerns, or gives ideas on innovation and efficiencies that improve both the guests’ and employees’ experience.
• During seasonal closures, the Patrol Director leads departmental advancement by actively developing and delivering targeted improvement initiatives to leadership.
• Takes on additional duties to support other departments during the shoulder season as directed by management.
• Other duties as assigned. 

 Safety & Operations

• Leads winter mountain setup and maintenance, including trail openings and closures, signage, ropes, and pads.
• Ensure that the hill is clear, safe, properly staffed by patrol, and ready to open prior to the public being at Hilltop Ski Area.
• Leads the rescue of injured skiers/bikers and renders first aid or transfers them to the Aid Shack and/or Emergency Medical Services (EMS). 
• Notify EMS in cases of serious injury where additional treatment is needed.
• Assures that no skiers/bikers remain on slopes or trails at the end of the day or during inclement weather via patrol sweep. 
• Observes ski lifts to report safety hazards and evidence of damage or wear.
• Enforces the Skier/Mountain Bike Responsibility Code.
• Maintains records of any incidents on the hill using an incident management system.
• Issues warnings and initiates the removal of guests in violation of rules and/or without proper lift tickets.
• Makes follow‑up calls to customers who have had serious incidents or accidents at the facility.
• Ensures all records and reports are completed, organized, and current, and provides required documentation to the insurance company as needed.
• Build safety programs, develop and revise policy in collaboration with the Director of Mountain Operations. 
• Adheres to and maintains, reviews, and provides updates to the Mountain Operations Plan. 
• Ensures that all department and company safety policies are being followed.
• Works in collaboration with HR and Admin Manager to create a safety focused culture, helping to submit first report of injury for workers compensation, conduct employee accident investigations, and to actively evaluate and mitigate risk on the mountain. 
• Ensures that guests and employees have a fun, safe, and memorable experience.

 Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Minimum of one-year college education or technical school; and/or 3+ years related experience and/or training.
• Must have current OEC, WFR, EMT 1 or greater certifications.
• Must be at least 18 years of age to work and submit to a background check.
• Must work well with adults and children.
• High level of energy and enthusiasm for skiing, biking, and patrolling.
• Must be able to ski/snowboard at a level to safely complete job requirements.
• Previous experience in a leadership capacity, ski patrol experience preferred.
• Ability to coordinate and advise lift evacuations and coordinate mass casualty incidents.
• Strong guest service attitude, good verbal, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.
• Competence in operating snowmachines, ATVs, and patient toboggans.
• Experience working with, and communicating with, a wide range of people.

 Physical Demands and Work Environment 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. This position splits time evenly between being outside on the mountain using ski equipment and around the base area, and inside within the Ski Patrol facilities and offices. Requires the ability to ski/ride for extended periods. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, and handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk, sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must lift and/or move up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. 

 Note

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.