Mountain Operations Director

Mountain Capital Partners; Sandia Park (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Mountain Capital Partners seeks a Director of Mountain Operations to run Sandia Peak Ski Area on Sandia Park, NM, and lead capital projects shaping the resort over the next decade.

You'll own both the day-to-day mountain operations and the multi-year capital program, collaborating with the General Manager and MCP leadership to deliver safe, reliable, and scalable infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Hands-on management experience in mountain operations: lift maintenance, grooming, snowmaking, or vehicle maintenance.
• Lift maintenance experience to at least apprentice level or electrician.
• Snowmaking experience.
• Demonstrated project management: planning, budgeting, delivering projects on time and on budget.
• Ability to work effectively with U.S. Forest Service or similar regulatory partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead all mountain operations departments with hands-on expertise and accountability.
• Own capital improvements from planning through execution to ensure safety and reliability.
• Coordinate with Mountain Capital Partners leadership to align long-term vision with a sequenced plan.
• Partner with MCP and Forest Service to manage permitting, compliance, and development.

Skills

Hands-on leadership

Project management

Regulatory coordination

Strategic thinking

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Sandia Peak Ski Area - Sandia Park, NM 87047

Position Type: Full Time

Job Shift: Any

The Role

Sandia Peak Ski Area sits in the Sandia Mountains just east of Albuquerque — close enough to a real city to make life easy, high enough to feel like its own world. It's a resort with deep roots in New Mexico and a lot of runway ahead of it. We're looking for a Director of Mountain Operations to run the mountain day to day and to lead the capital work that will shape what Sandia Peak becomes over the next decade.

This is a builder's job as much as an operator's. On any given week you might be troubleshooting a lift with your maintenance team, dialing in the snowmaking plan for a cold snap, sitting down with the U.S. Forest Service on a permit, and keeping a lift upgrade on schedule and on budget. If you're a mountain-ops professional who likes owning both the wrench and the project plan, this is a chance to put a lasting stamp on a storied resort.

As part of Mountain Capital Partners, you'll have the backing and the mandate to think long‑term — and the autonomy to lead.

About Sandia Peak — Where New Mexico Learned to Ski

Sandia Peak sits in the Sandia Mountains about 35 miles northeast of Albuquerque, on Cibola National Forest land, with Southwestern skies and long views over the high desert. It's a community institution — the ski area that first brought the sport to New Mexico — with 35 trails, 300 skiable acres, and 1,700 feet of vertical served by three double chairlifts and a surface lift.

Backed by MCP — which has invested more than $75 million across its resorts since 2015 in lifts, snowmaking, and other improvements — Sandia Peak's next chapter is yours to lead.

The Opportunity

As Director of Mountain Operations, you'll partner with the General Manager and Mountain Capital Partners leadership to run the mountain at a high standard and deliver the capital projects that move Sandia Peak forward.

You'll build and lead the mountain operations team — lift maintenance, snowmaking, grooming, and the departments around them — while owning capital improvements from planning through execution, so the resort runs safely and reliably today and is positioned to grow tomorrow.

What You'll Own

Mountain Operations

• Live and lead MCP's mission and culture — growing the sport of skiing and giving people the freedom to ski.
• Lead all mountain operations departments — lift maintenance, snowmaking, grooming, lift operations, ski patrol, and vehicle maintenance — with hands‑on expertise, not just oversight.
• Build, mentor, and develop a strong operations team; coach people into bigger roles and run a tight, safe, accountable crew.
• Set department budgets, operating plans, and KPIs that ladder up to resort goals, and own the results.
• Keep the mountain safe and compliant, including OSHA and ANSI B77 standards.

Capital Projects & Planning

• Lead the planning and execution of capital improvement projects end to end — lift replacements and upgrades, snowmaking expansion, terrain and infrastructure work.
• Own scope, budget, schedule, and delivery; manage contractors, vendors, and outside engineers, and keep projects moving without dropping the ball on operations.
• Partner with MCP leadership to turn the long‑term growth vision into a sequenced, fundable, buildable plan.

Forest Service & Regulatory Partnership

• Serve as the day‑to‑day operational liaison with the U.S. Forest Service — Sandia Peak operates on Cibola National Forest land — coordinating permitting, master development plan implementation, environmental compliance, and on‑the‑ground project execution.
• Develop policies and procedures that reduce liability and create efficiencies across the operation.

What This Role Demands

• An ownership mindset — act like it's yours.
• High agency — you make things happen.
• Hands‑on technical credibility paired with the ability to plan and lead.
• Exceptional leadership and communication.
• Comfort navigating complexity: USFS coordination, capital projects, safety and compliance (OSHA / ANSI B77), and seasonal labor dynamics.

Qualifications

Required

• Hands‑on management experience in at least one of the following areas of ski area mountain operations: Lift maintenance, grooming, snowmaking, or vehicle maintenance
• Lift maintenance experience to at least the level of an apprentice lift maintenance mechanic or electrician.
• Experience with snowmaking.
• Demonstrated project management ability — planning, budgeting, and delivering projects on time and on budget.
• Ability to work effectively with the U.S. Forest Service (or comparable land‑management / regulatory partners).

Strongly Preferred

• Experience leading large capital projects in a ski resort setting.
• Lift maintenance experience to at least the Journeyman mechanic or electrician level.
• Snowmaking experience to at least the Snowmaking Manager level.
• Grooming experience.
• Hands‑on management experience across two or more mountain operations areas.
• P&L / budget ownership experience.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in business, management, engineering, or a related field.

Why Sandia Peak

• Build something that lasts. You'll lead the projects that define the resort's next chapter, not just keep the lights on.
• Real scope, real authority. Director‑level ownership of operations and capital work, with MCP's backing behind you.
• A place worth showing up for. 35 trails, big views, a strong community, and a city at the bottom of the hill.

Working Environment / Physical Activities

An average of 40% of the workday is spent indoors in an office environment and 60% is spent outdoors in constantly changing weather conditions. These percentages are an average. They will fluctuate depending on the time of year. 50% of the workday is spent sitting, 25% is spent standing and 25% is spent walking. These percentages are an average. They will fluctuate depending on the time of year. Lifting, pushing and pulling objects weighing up to 100 pounds. Occasionally carrying objects up to 50 pounds. Constantly using hearing, near and far acuity, depth perception, color and field of vision. Occasional stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, handling, and feeling. Occasional exposure to fumes, odors and gasses. Occasional exposure to mechanical hazards. Occasional exposure to electrical, high exposed worksite and burns.

If you know mountain operations from the ground up and you're ready to lead both the crew and the projects, we'd like to hear from you.