Lift / Tubing Operator

City of Steamboat Springs; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 62,954,000 - 76,506,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

End-of-season bonus

Steamboat Resort Merchant Pass

Real Deal ski access

Job summary

The City of Steamboat Springs is seeking a Howelsen Hill Mountain Operator for the winter season. This role covers tubing hill operations, lift operations, guest services, snow maintenance, and safety coordination to ensure a safe, welcoming experience for guests.

Seasonal position from December through March, approximately 36–40 hours per week with weekend availability; includes training, safety briefings, and opportunities such as end-of-season bonus and Real Deal ski access.

Qualifications

• Experience in ski area or ski lift operations preferred.
• Experience in amusement operations preferred.
• Customer-service experience acceptable and valuable.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Serve as ambassador for the City, promoting safety and values.
• Manage tubing hill operations: setup, ticket validation, safety briefings, logs.
• Provide hourly safety orientations for tubing hill guests.
• Operate tubing hill lift with safety checks and guest interaction.
• Perform snow maintenance on tubing hill and surrounding areas.
• Deliver excellent guest service from arrival to departure.
• Maintain tools and work areas in a neat, safe condition.
• Work outdoors in winter and be part of a safe, friendly environment.

Skills

Customer service

Safety awareness

Teamwork

Guest relations

Job description

This is a seasonal position. Hours are variable up to 40 per week depending on department need. Final Day To Apply: 10/09/2026 It's fun and rewarding to work for the City of Steamboat Springs! Our employees are passionate and proud to serve our community with excellence and distinction. Our teams are awesome, and we are committed to our community and the very special place that is Steamboat Springs, Colorado!

Job Description

HOWELSEN HILL MOUNTAIN OPERATOR GENERAL PURPOSE

Performs daily operational duties at Howelsen Hill including tubing hill operations, lift operations, guest services, snow maintenance, and safety coordination. Ensures a safe, welcoming, and efficient environment for all guests while supporting winter operations across the mountain.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the Supervisor, Foreman, and Lift Maintenance staff.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as an ambassador of the City of Steamboat Springs, upholding City values of Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Well-being, Respect, and Compassion while promoting safety at all times.
• Conducts daily tubing hill operations including morning setup, ticket validation, safety briefings, traffic flow management, speed control, snow maintenance, and completion of daily logs.
• Provides hourly safety orientations and participant introductions to tubing hill operations to ensure rules, procedures, and systems are followed.
• Operates the tubing hill lift including guest safety and interaction, ticket checking, safety checks, daily logs, maintaining loading/unloading zones, and supporting special events.
• Performs snow maintenance on the tubing hill and associated areas.
• Offers top-notch customer service from guest arrival through departure.
• Adheres to all City safety policies and procedures.
• Maintains tools, supplies, and work areas in a neat, organized, and clean manner.
• Works to maintain a safe, fun, and welcoming environment for guests and coworkers.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Must be able to work extended periods outside in winter conditions.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES

• May assist with general winter operations, events support, or mountain maintenance tasks as assigned.

WORK TYPE AND SCHEDULE

Seasonal position scheduled December through March, averaging 36–40 hours per week. Weekend availability required.

PERKS

• A $1.50/hour end-of-season bonus based on total hours worked;
• A Steamboat Resort Merchant Pass for employees working 20+ hours weekly, paid for by the City.
• All Howelsen Hill employees are eligible to participate in the Real Deal, granting access to ski at most ski areas in Colorado.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in ski area or ski lift operations preferred.
• Experience in amusement operations preferred.
• Customer-service experience acceptable and valuable.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of practices related to customer service and safety in recreational environments.
• Skill in operation of listed tools and equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, participants, guests, and the public.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

• Tubing hill lift equipment, ticket validation systems, snow maintenance tools, hand tools, radios, and safety equipment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must be able to work for extended periods outdoors in winter conditions including cold, snow, ice, and wind. Regularly required to stand, walk, interact with guests, and perform light to moderate physical labor.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed outdoors in variable winter weather conditions and around operational equipment. Requires maintaining safety awareness in guest areas, lift zones, tubing lanes, and snowy/icy terrain. Weekends required.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview, reference check. Additional job-related testing may be required. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of typical responsibilities. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them if they are similar or logically related. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change as operational needs evolve.

Pay Range

$21.97 - $26.70 Offers will be negotiated based on each candidate's qualifications.

Additional information

If you like serving in a role that will directly and positively impact our great community, you'll enjoy your career with us! As a municipal government organization in a picturesque and vibrant mountain town, we strive to be an innovative and inclusive organization strategically providing outstanding municipal services. We proudly serve our community with excellence and distinction, and as ambassadors to our beloved city, we champion and live our values of Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Well-being, Respect and Compassion every day while espousing safety at all times. Our dedicated employees are passionate about working hard to provide a great community environment and experiences for both locals and those that visit from all over the world.