Manager: Ski Patrol

Vail Resorts; Crested Butte (CO); On-site; USD 59,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ski passes for employees and discounts

Excellent training and development

Job summary

Vail Resorts in Crested Butte seeks a Ski Patrol Manager for the Winter Seasonal 2026/2027. You will lead all ski patrol operations, ensure safety, manage budgeting, staffing, and training, and collaborate with Mountain Operations and external agencies to deliver outstanding guest service.

You'll foster accountability, continuous improvement, and leadership development within a professional team, while delivering on safety performance, employee engagement, and regulatory compliance during a

Qualifications

• Strong leadership qualities and creative problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall financial management of the Ski Patrol department.
• Oversee day-to-day Ski Patrol operations in partnership with Patrol leadership to ensure safe, efficient, and consistent mountain operations.
• Actively manage and shape the culture of the Ski Patrol team, reinforcing accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and alignment with company values.
• Champion a strong culture of guest service, safety, and professionalism across the department.
• Ensure effective daily staff meetings, reinforce safety standards, and participate in Vail wide Ski Patrol COE initiatives.
• Strengthen intra and interdepartmental collaboration; support relationships with external agencies, including the DEC and/or applicable State entities.
• Manage winter mountain setup and spring teardown; oversee daily condition monitoring, trail openings/closures, signage, ropes, and padding.
• Oversee departmental training programs, including schedules, content, and training safety standards.
• Lead the candidate/apprentice program, including staffing levels, budgets, testing, and forecasting future patrol staffing needs.
• Collaborate with Snow Surfaces and Grooming leadership to establish daily grooming prioritiesjson<|message|>{

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Safety leadership

Guest service

Job description

Now hiring for winter 2026/27 - Cooks, Drivers, Instructors & more. Apply today!

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert: Create Alert

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

At Vail Resorts, our mission is to create an Experience of a Lifetime for our employees so they can, in turn, provide an Experience of a Lifetime for our guests.

As the Ski Patrol Manager at Crested Butte, you will provide strategic leadership for all ski patrol operations, ensuring top-tier safety for both guests and employees. This dynamic role oversees all aspects of the Professional and Volunteer Ski Patrol. This includes staffing, training, budgeting, scheduling, interdepartmental relations, guest service, emergency medical response, incident management, risk mitigation, rope rescue, lift evacuation, and mountain rescue. In addition, the job requires overseeing summertime first aid operations, capital projects, and a variety of summer maintenance projects. You will lead and inspire a professional team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and leadership development. The job requires strong leadership qualities, and creative problem-solving.

In this position, you will collaborate closely with Mountain Operations, risk management, Environmental Health & Safety, and external emergency agencies to maintain operational excellence. Your success will be measured by strong safety performance, high employee engagement, regulatory compliance, and exceptional guest service.

Job Specifications:

• Starting Wage: $59,330.00 - $84,757.00
• 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:

• Lead overall financial management of the Ski Patrol department, including labor and operating budgets
• Oversee day to day Ski Patrol operations in partnership with Patrol leadership to ensure safe, efficient, and consistent mountain operations
• Actively manage and shape the culture of the Ski Patrol team, reinforcing accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and alignment with company values
• Champion a strong culture of guest service, safety, and professionalism across the department
• Ensure effective daily staff meetings, reinforce safety standards, and participate in Vail wide Ski Patrol COE initiatives
• Strengthen intra and interdepartmental collaboration; support relationships with external agencies, including the DEC and/or applicable State entities.
• Manage winter mountain setup and spring teardown; oversee daily condition monitoring, trail openings/closures, signage, ropes, and padding
• Oversee departmental training programs, including schedules, content, and training safety standards
• Lead the candidate/apprentice program, including staffing levels, budgets, testing, and forecasting future patrol staffing needs
• Collaborate with Snow Surfaces and Grooming leadership to establish daily grooming prioritiesjson<|message|>{