Assistant Manager: Patrol, Center of Excellence (COE)

Job Description

Job Description

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).

Job Summary:

We’re building a center of excellence to support the world’s largest and best professional ski patrol. The Asst Mgr: Patrol, Center of Excellence (COE) provides field-level expertise, instructional support, and technical guidance to resort patrol teams across a range of disciplines. Assistant Managers serve as trusted technical practitioners who connect operations to the COE. They strengthen operational consistency, safety, and culture across resorts, by contributing on-the-ground perspectives that strengthen COE decision-making. This role partners with resorts to deliver hands-on skills training, support on-mountain program execution, and advise on questions related to technical rescue, or snow safety operations. 

This posting covers Assistant Manager under the Technical Rescue Programs, as well as Assistant Manager under the Avalanche Programs. These jobs are detailed below. Please specify in your application if you are interested in one or both positions. Hiring will be on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

Job Specifications:

• Starting Wage: $67,688.00 - $96,697.00
• Employment Type: Year Round 
• Shift Type: Full Time hours available
• Minimum Age: At least 18 years of age 
• Housing Availability: No  

Job Responsibilities:

Technical Rescue Programs

• Support Regional Technical Rescue Programs: Contributes to the execution of enterprise technical rescue standards by providing hands-on coaching, field demonstrations, and technical guidance to resort patrol teams.
• Assist with Avalanche Program Integration: Supports joint training, shared operational understanding, and cross-discipline alignment by collaborating with the other COE team members.
• Deliver Training on Management Standards: Facilitates training modules for patrol supervisors and leads, helping them understand and apply COE-defined operational and leadership standards in their daily work.
• Provide Regional and Field-Level Insight: Identifies opportunities, challenges, and trends across resorts and communicates operational perspectives that help inform broader COE strategy and program evolution.
• Support Culture Change Strategy: Leads culture change efforts using emotional intelligence and expert facilitation to build trust, strengthen collaboration, and advance a professional ski patrol culture.

Avalanche Programs

• Support Regional Avalanche Operations: Provides field support to resorts by helping to implement avalanche best practices and maintain enterprise avalanche standards in day-to-day operations.
• Deliver Training: Help develop, facilitate and mentor training or apprenticeship programs for avalanche operations, ensuring patrol teams gain strong and consistent technical skills and apply this understanding.
• Assist Local Avalanche Program Assessments: Support the COE with assessments of avalanche operations, forecasting, explosives handling, and operational protocols.
• Reinforce Local Compliance: Help resort teams follow enterprise and regulatory expectations for avalanche operations through coaching and on-site guidance.
• Support RACS Readiness & Basic Maintenance: Assists with Remote Avalanche Control System (RACS) planning, construction, and maintenance.
• Assist with Technical Rescue Integration: Collaborate with the other COE team members to ensure aligned training, technical development, and foster a shared understanding between avalanche and rescue disciplines.
• Support or Lead Avalanche Reporting: Work with resort teams to support or lead reporting avalanche incidents and After-Action Reviews.
• Contribute to collaborative information and best practice sharing: Leads growth efforts using emotional intelligence and facilitation to build trust, strengthen collaboration, and advance a professional ski patrol culture.

Job Requirements: 

Knowledge & Skills 

• Experience and appreciation of patrolling, the ski industry, and mountain culture. 
• Enthusiasm and passion for driving culture and innovative capabilities.  
• Strong communicator, able to connect with everyone from frontline team members to senior leaders both in the field and at the enterprise level. 
• Proven ability to lead, align teams, and build energy and trust across a large network of operations. 
• Deep understanding of how resorts operate and how to work within and implement programs across multiple locations. 
• A leader who can both drive results and inspire people. 
• Strong business storytelling skills and complex stakeholder management capabilities. 

Required 

Technical Rescue Programs 

• 5+ years of ski patrol or technical rescue experience 
• AAA Pro 1/CAA Ops Level 1 or higher 
• Wilderness First Responder or higher 
• Minimum SPRAT Level 1  
• 3+ years of rope access and/or technical rope rescue. 
• 3+ years of professional avalanche operations and patrol experience. 
• Strong communication skills with the ability to build trust across diverse patrol cultures. 
• Ability to travel regionally and work in severe alpine environments. 

Avalanche Programs 

• 5+ years of ski patrol or other relevant avalanche operations experience 
• AAA Pro 1/CAA Ops Level 1 or higher. 
• Wilderness First Responder or higher 
• 3+ years of ski patrol avalanche operations experience. 
• Strong communication skills with the ability to build trust across diverse patrol cultures. 
• Ability to travel regionally and work in austere alpine environments. 

Preferred 

• Instructor-level certifications or training experience. 
• Familiarity with enterprise standards and expectations. 
• Strong technical background: computer, IT, and/or communications.  

The expected Total Compensation for this role is $67,688.00 - $96,697.00. 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 where employees living within 50 miles of the Broomfield office work on-site Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and have flexibility to work off-site on Mondays and Fridays.  Employees living outside of a commutable distance can work remotely from British Columbia, Washington D.C., and the 16 U.S. states* in which we currently operate. This includes: California, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington State, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

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. 

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  517898
Reference Date: 09/25/2026 
Job Code Function: Mountain Operations COE