Assistant Manager: Ski & Ride School - Salary

Crested Butte Mountain Resort; Crested Butte (CO); On-site; USD 58,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ski passes

Employee discounts

401(k) Retirement Plan

Assistance program

Training & development

Referral program

Job summary

Vail Resorts is seeking an Assistant Manager of Ski & Ride School for Winter Seasonal 2026/2027. Lead daily operations, ensure high-quality lessons, manage staffing, and drive guest satisfaction across programs.

Position requires strong leadership, scheduling expertise, and a commitment to guest service excellence. The role involves coaching staff, coordinating with departments, and maintaining safety and facilities.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead teams and develop staff.
• Strong guest service principles and operational excellence.
• Experience managing staffing levels and labor utilization.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of Ski & Ride School programs and ensure lesson quality.
• Manage scheduling, staffing, and labor to meet guest demand and budget.
• Coach instructors and staff; provide ongoing performance feedback.
• Collaborate with departments to ensure smooth guest experiences.
• Maintain site facilities and safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Conflict resolution

Guest service

Staffing and scheduling

Problem solving

Education

PSIA-AASI Level I or higher

College degree (education, recreation, hospitality)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

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.

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

Job Summary

The Assistant Manager of Ski & Ride School is a key operational leader responsible for supporting the daily execution, quality, and success of ski and snowboard programming. This role focuses on operational excellence, quality control, guest and employee experiences, staffing, scheduling, labor management, and staff development. The Assistant Manager works closely with the Senior Manager, Managers, Supervisors, Administrative Assistants, and other resort departments to ensure seamless operations, exceptional guest service, and high-quality lesson delivery across all Ski & Ride School programs.

Job Specifications

• Starting Wage: $57,784.00 - $67,267.00
• Employment Type: Winter Seasonal 2026/2027
• Shift Type: Full Time hours available
• Minimum Age: At least 18 years of age
• Housing Availability: No

Job Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of Ski & Ride School programs, ensuring lesson quality, guest satisfaction, and operational excellence.
• Build positive, age-appropriate learning experiences and oversee program quality for guests of all ability levels, from children as young as 3 years old through adults.
• Manage daily scheduling, staffing levels, lesson assignments, and labor management to align with guest demand and financial objectives.
• Supervise Leads, Support Staff, and instructors, ensuring efficient lesson support, check-in, and check-out processes.
• Monitor and maintain the quality and consistency of instructional standards through coaching, feedback, and performance evaluation.
• Collaborate with Product Sales & Services and other resort departments to ensure appropriate instructor assignments and seamless guest experiences.
• Support and achieve guest experience goals through proactive leadership and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Resolve guest concerns and special requests utilizing company guest service standards.
• Maintain and improve indoor and outdoor Ski & Ride School facilities, including base areas, teaching terrain, and learning zones.
• Establish and review performance objectives with instructors and staff, providing regular coaching and professional development opportunities.
• Ensure instructors and staff remain knowledgeable regarding products, policies, procedures, schedules, and operational expectations.
• Model and uphold resort safety standards, mission, vision, values, and company policies.
• Communicate effectively with leadership, peers, and other departments to foster collaboration, trust, and operational success.
• Stay current with industry trends and actively participate in PSIA-AASI or equivalent professional development opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required

Job Requirements

• Strong leadership, communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Minimum of two years of full-time experience working at a ski resort or within a Ski & Ride School operation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, develop staff, and foster collaboration.
• Strong understanding of guest service principles and operational excellence.
• Experience managing staffing levels and labor utilization.
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic environment and make sound operational decisions.
• Ability to work outdoors in varied weather conditions.
• Flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays.
• Fluent verbal and written communication in English.

Preferred

• PSIA-AASI Level I certification or higher.
• Children's Specialist, Adaptive, Freestyle, or other specialty certifications.
• College degree in education, recreation, business, hospitality, or a related field.
• Experience supervising within a Ski & Ride School environment.
• Experience conducting employee coaching, evaluations, and performance management.
• Experience with scheduling, labor management, inventory management, or resort operational systems such as RTP/RPOS.
• Experience working with children's programming and family-focused products.

The expected pay range is $57,784.00 - $67,267.00. 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 518719

Reference Date: 11/05/2026

Job Code Function: Ski & Ride School