Manager: Mountain Operations

Job Description

Job Description

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 Manager of Mountain Operations is responsible for leading all core mountain operations functions at Wildcat and Attitash, including Snow Surfaces (Snowmaking, Grooming, Terrain Parks), Lift Experience (LiftOperations & Scanning), Fleet Maintenance, Lift Maintenance, and Ski Patrol. This role ensures safe, dependable, and exceptional experience for both employees & guests. The Manager of Mountain Operations owns full accountability for daily operations, ensuring performance, outcomes, and regulatory compliance across Attitash and Wildcat Mountain. This role provides technical oversight and people leadership, while driving operational excellence, safety, engagement, and long-term department growth.

Job Specifications:

• Starting Wage: $61,122.00 - $87,317.00 +annual bonus  
• Employment Type:  Year Round   
• Shift Type:  Full Time  hours available 
• Minimum Age:  At least 18 years of age   
• Housing Availability:  No   

Job Responsibilities: 

Core Leadership & Accountability 

• Own accountability for daily operations, ensuring performance, outcomes, and compliance with regulatory, safety, and company standards. 
• Coach and manage team performance, fostering employee development, engagement, and accountability. 
• Lead enterprise and resort values, competencies, and priorities, modeling expected leadership behaviors. 
• Perform supervisor responsibilities as needed, including direct oversight of shop and field operations during critical operational periods.  

Talent, Staffing & Workforce Management 

• Manage schedules and resource allocation, ensuring labor compliance and operational coverage. 
• Create labor and staffing guidelines to support year-round and seasonal operational demands. 
• Own advanced staffing concerns, including coverage gaps, emergency staffing needs, and succession risks. 
• Develop and execute staff retention strategies, monitoring engagement and turnover trends. 
• Set goals and Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for all direct reports.  

Technical Oversight & Operational Excellence 

• Obtain functional expertise and knowledge, through learning and development. 
• Ensure tools, resources, and technical knowledge meet operational needs and standards across both resorts. 
• Oversee preventive, annual, and unscheduled maintenance programs to ensure system reliability and readiness. 
• Line of business ownership and accountability for implementation and effective usage of Enterprise Asset Management through Maintain X. 

Training, Policies & Continuous Improvement 

• Ensure required certifications, inspections, and documentation are completed, accurate, and audit-ready. 
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives related to safety, workflow efficiency, documentation, and technical capability. 

Financial & Strategic Responsibility 

• Oversee P&L accountability for the departments, including operating and capital budgets. 
• Develop and execute department growth strategies aligned with mountain business objectives. 
• Forecast labor, parts, tooling, and capital needs; prepare and manage capital requests. 
• Ensure disciplined cost control while maintaining operational readiness and safety standards. 

Compliance, Safety & Risk Management 

• Ensure full compliance with ANSI B77.1, OSHA, EPA, state lift codes, Hazmat/SDS requirements, fuel storage standards, and company policies. 
• Promote a safety-first culture and lead audits, inspections, incident investigations, and corrective actions. 
• Maintain all required maintenance, inspection, and regulatory documentation. 

Job Requirements: 

• Mountain outdoor environment with variable weather and terrain. 
• Ability to lift/carry 50+ pounds. 
• Availability for nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during peak operations. 
• Operation of snowmobiles, UTVs, and other mountain vehicles as required. 

The expected pay range is $61,122.00 - $87,317.00 +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  516236
Reference Date: 07/29/2026 
Job Code Function: Leadership - Mtn Ops