Manager, Planning & Projects

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:

The Planning and Project Management group at Vail Resorts is responsible for the planning and construction of strategic, high-visibility capital projects across our portfolio of global resorts, including but not limited to: new restaurants, new lifts, snowmaking expansions, employee housing, and base area and on-mountain improvements. This Manager will own project budget tracking and drive process controls and financial rigor across the team. This role reports to the Senior Manager and serves as a thought partner to the Planning and Project Management team and a key business partner cross-functionally, ensuring data integrity while translating complex project financials into clear, decision-ready insight for leadership.

Job Specifications: 

• Starting Wage: $73,841.00 - $105,487.00 + 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:   

• Own project budget tracking, updates, and reporting across a portfolio of both high-priority and smaller capital projects — leading budget meetings and meeting notes, maintaining strong prioritization and visibility across the full portfolio, and reviewing budget activity for accuracy and integrity, including submitting correction entries to the general ledger as needed
• Be a thought partner – guide project teams on best practices and serve as a thought partner in addressing risk and identifying opportunities, including individual and cross-functional research
• Partner with Fixed Assets and Technical Accounting — submit timely monthly capital forecasting, place assets into service as needed, submit ad hoc support requests, and escalate items for review, fielding follow-up questions as needed
• Support the Planning & Project team with project execution and tracking — reconcile vendor contracts against invoiced activity to track progress and flag discrepancies, coordinate with Treasury to execute permitting bonds, track bond status and request releases, and prepare documentation packages for external parties
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to own ongoing responsibilities and resolve ad hoc items — provide quarterly confirmations to GL, request and coordinate special billings with Accounting, and collaborate with Procurement, Legal, IT, and Finance as needed
• Synthesize and simplify complex financial data — pull together information from multiple systems and inconsistent formats into clear, decision-ready insight, delivering polished, presentation-ready budget reporting to leadership through Excel and Power BI dashboards
• Drive continuous improvement — proactively identify and lead improvements in financial controls, processes, and reporting, and own stretch or innovation projects beyond core scope
• Own and track the department's operating expense budget — monitor spend against budget and flag variances as needed

Job Requirements: 

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, data analytics, or related field is preferred
• 3+ years of experience in accounting, finance, project management, project controls, data management, business systems and analysis, or related field is preferred
• Prior experience presenting financial information to leadership or cross-functional audiences preferred
• Strong ability to learn and navigate new systems required
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required
• Strong working knowledge of Power BI required
• Experience with Smartsheet required
• Business/advanced proficiency in written and spoken English required
• Takes full ownership of responsibilities with minimal oversight — reliably completes and checks own work, and proactively keeps leadership informed of status, risks, and roadblocks rather than needing to be asked
• Proven self-starter who takes initiative and exercises sound judgment on where to focus effort — prioritizing high-value work over low-impact rabbit holes, and knowing when to escalate versus resolve independently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly and confidently to leadership and cross-functional partners
• Exceptional attention to detail and a strong eye for polished, accurate, presentation-ready work product
• Comfortable managing competing priorities across a large portfolio of projects and shifting deadlines without losing accuracy or pace
• Approaches complex or ambiguous problems with clarity — simplifies rather than over-engineers, and moves decisively to a solution rather than stalling under complexity

The expected Total Compensation for this role is $73,841.00 - $105,487.00 + Annual Bonus. 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  517191
Reference Date: 09/04/2026 
Job Code Function: Development