Manager: Ski Patrol

Apply for the Manager:
Ski Patrol position at Vail Resorts and be among the first 25 applicants.

Come work and play in the mountains! Whether it’s your firsttime 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 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.

Hiring for our seasonal positions occurs on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted until December 15th or until the positions are filled (whichever comes first).

• 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

• Starting Wage: $85,000.00 - $92,000.00
• Employment Type:
  
  Winter Seasonal 2025/2026
• Shift Type:
  Full Time
• Minimum Age:
  At least 18 years of age
• Housing Availability:
  No

At Vail Resorts, 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. As a Ski Patrol Manager, you will work in coordination with the Patrol Senior Manager to lead a team of Ski Patrol Supervisors and oversee all departmental functions—including staffing, training, budgeting, snow safety, medical preparedness and response, lift evacuation, and interdepartmental and interagency collaboration.

This position requires both strategic and tactical thinking, an enterprise mindset, and a deep commitment to fostering a culture of excellence. The ideal candidate will exhibit strong leadership abilities and experience in professional avalanche mitigation at a leadership level. Success in this role is measured by your ability to lead effectively in a dynamic physical and mental environment. This includes emotional awareness, a high level of physical fitness, adaptability, accountability, and a continuous focus on customer service and the safety of our employees and guests.

• Staff Management
  • Evaluate and facilitate employee development
  • Develop leaders within the patrol to improve leadership within current roles and prepare them for growth
  • Manage employee performance in conjunction with providing employee guidance and support
  • Conduct mid‑season and end‑of‑season reviews with comprehensive documentation
  • Oversee recruitment, hiring, training and subsequent qualification of ski patrol candidates
  • Oversee and ensure that all patrollers maintain skills commensurate with their designation (Entry, Intermediate, Advanced, Specialist)
  • Understand and manage within the framework of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
  • Hold Supervisors accountable for managing to expectations set forth in the Employee Manual, Patrol Programs, and CBA
  • Conduct routine inspections to ensure compliance with internal and external standards and protocols
  • Oversee proper scheduling for the patrol
  • Manage overtime appropriately to the needs of the business
• Operational Oversight
  • Oversee daily operations, ensure tasks are completed efficiently, and implement strategies to achieve departmental goals
  • Oversee avalanche mitigation efforts, rescue operations, and related training
  • Oversee terrain opening and closing with a focus on safety and operational efficiency
  • Oversee daily weather and avalanche hazard reporting and documentation program
  • Monitor all aspects of departmental training
  • Ensure adequate staffing, training and employment of Specialized Teams
    • Accident Investigation
    • Lift Evacuation
    • Snow Safety
  • Ensure planning, preparedness and oversight of low frequency, high consequence operations such as lift evacuation, out‑of‑bounds…