Patagonia Retail Lead 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 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 is first).

Employee 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

To Learn More, please review the Benefits Eligibility Summary

Job Summary:

All teams need a strong leader! As a Retail Lead, you maintain an environment that promotes employee learning and customer service through encouragement and coaching. You help to identify the priorities of each day, delegate necessary tasks and train Customer Experience Guides.

You partner with store leadership to ensure operational and brand objectives

are met even in their absence. Assist customers with selection and purchase of merchandise by providing great product knowledge. Maintain well stocked stores with a variety of product for the guest needs and wants. Organizes stores and keeps clean and neat. Manage proper use of the POS system and other tools to perform the job correctly. Performs daily opening and closing procedures and is responsible for correct accounting procedures, including maintaining a balanced cash drawer and bank.

Retail Leads will be required to provide problem-solving assistance, work direction and training to less experienced employees. The Lead will be required to have a merchandising plan for their location to enhance sales of certain product.

As a Retail Lead, you engage by determining and meeting the specific needs of each customer with kindness and creativity. While modeling that behavior, you ensure Customer Experience guides have access to all tools and resources to provide that same level of service. You handle product returns in the spirit of our Ironclad Guarantee, while ensuring the team does returns accurately for inventory purposes.

You merchandise the store during downtimes: folding, hanging, steaming and stocking. You assist in the training of fellow employees. You lead by example and inspire your team to live Patagonia’s mission, both in the store and in the community.

Job Specifications:

• Starting Wage: $23.00/hr
• Employment Type: Winter Seasonal 2026/2027 
• Shift Type: Full Time and Part Time hours available
• Minimum Age: At least 18 years of age 
• Housing Availability: No
• Job Type: Patagonia at Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe 

Job Responsibilities:

CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT IS NOT BOUND BY CONVENTION

• You empower the staff to offer outstanding service through consistent personal examples and encouragement.
• You offer proactive coaching (both constructive and complimentary) to continually elevate customer service.

BEING ACTION-ORIENTED, TAKING INITIATIVE AND DELEGATING

• You partner with the In-Store Visual Merchandiser or Visual Team Leader to identify and execute regular priorities.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE AND ACTIVELY COACHING

• You lead by example and inspire your team to live Patagonia’s mission, both in the store and in the community.
• You serve as a role model and coach for the team by identifying and delegating daily priorities of your store's Retail

Environmental Activism Program.

• You value and enjoy team-based ideation and problem solving.
• You maintain positive relationships with management, team members and store partners.
• You keep lines of communication open among management and team members by ensuring that expectations are upheld

and objectives are met.

• You identify growth opportunities for team members within the Retail Environmental Activism Program and partner with
• management to address them.
• You ensure optimal inventory levels on the sales floor.

VALUING AND DEMONSTRATING QUALITY IN ALL THAT YOU DO

• You ensure the safety and well-being of all customers and employees.
• You assist management in the hiring of people who pursue passions that are related to our products and philosophy.

BEING A LIFE-LONG LEARNER.

• You demonstrate initiative and seek opportunities to grow your own skills.
• You welcome feedback and you grow from it.
• You assist in training and development of all team members and foster an environment of continued learning.

CREATING A SAFE STORE ENVIRONMENT

• You maintain a safe and secure environment for your team and customers and resolve any concerns quickly.
• You are deeply committed to creating a working environment that is supportive, positive, respectful and free from harassment.

Job Requirements:

• Two or more seasons of relevant professional experience.
• Proven service experience and thriving in a team-based atmosphere
• Passionate about communities, the environment, and caring for others
• Experience successfully working in an atmosphere with ambiguity, learning on the fly, demonstrating sound judgment, and solving problems creatively
• History of building and maintaining relationships with ease and desires to put the customer at the center of everything they do
• Demonstrates highly developed emotional intelligence.
• Ability to make sound judgment calls
• Flexible amidst competing priorities and adaptable to the fast-paced environment of a retail store while rallying the team with positivity.
• Interest and aptitude for strategic business planning that responds to a specific community.
• High School Diploma or GED Equivalent; Business area training or education preferred
• 1-3 years of retail supervisor experience; ski industry preferred.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced retail environment, multitask and manage multiple customers
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights, holidays, and weekends
• Must be able to communicate fluently in English

The expected pay range is $23.00/hr. 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  516482
Reference Date: 08/04/2026 
Job Code Function: Retail Ops