Snow Safety Manager

Eleven HR; Crested Butte (CO); On-site; USD 683,000 - 924,000; Full time

Job summary

Irwin Backcountry Guides in Crested Butte, CO seeks an experienced Snow Safety Manager to lead avalanche mitigation and snow safety operations. You will develop and execute safety programs, monitor conditions, and manage hazard mitigation to protect guests and staff in mountain environments.

The role is full-time, seasonally based from mid-November to mid-April, with a monthly salary of $6,000. Strong leadership, judgment, and communication are essential for success in dynamic winter conditions.

Qualifications

• Pro 2 Avalanche Certification or equivalent.
• Minimum Wilderness First Responder & CPR Certification.
• Colorado Type 1 Explosives Permit or the ability to obtain one
• Minimum of 5 years ski industry supervisory experience
• Minimum of 10 years professional snow safety experience
• High level operational weather and avalanche forecasting skills
• Strong organization and communication skills
• Strong work ethic, teamwork, and dynamic decision making skills.
• High level self and social awareness
• Experience with professional mentoring and training

Responsibilities

• Lead avalanche forecasting, assessment, and hazard mitigation efforts.
• Manage the snow safety portion of AM & PM guide meetings.
• Manage all run openings and closings.
• Work as a certified Blaster-in-Charge during avalanche mitigation.
• Perform operations manager and/or guiding duties as required.
• Oversee weather, snowpack, and avalanche database entry.
• Oversee daily observations submission.
• Collaborate on snow safety scheduling.
• Purchase, store, and document explosive usage per Colorado and ATF requirements.
• Maintain current State and Federal explosives permits and licenses.
• Serve as an ATF Responsible Person.
• Develop and manage the explosives training program.
• Develop and manage snow safety mentorship and training programs.
• Manage the boot packing program.
• Create the snow safety portion of the End of Season Report.
• Oversee revisions of Avalanche Rescue and Snow Safety Operating Plans.

Skills

Avalanche certification

Wilderness First Responder

CPR certification

Explosives permit

Supervisory experience

Snow safety experience

Weather forecasting

Organization skills

Communication skills

Mentoring and training

Teamwork

Decision making

Job description

Eleven is like no other place. We’re an adventure travel company with a diverse portfolio of intimate, extraordinary adventure lodges in remote locations around the world. We strive to give every one of our guests the best day of their life everyday, whether heli-skiing near the Arctic Circle in Iceland or casting for bonefish on a remote island in the Bahamas. At each destination our guided backcountry adventures await guests of all ages and skill levels. Our lodges, chalets, and beach houses combine five-star accommodations with incredible cuisine. To our guests we are trusted, down to Earth, smart, innovative, discrete and fun. To our international team, we are a community with genuine camaraderie, and we value creativity, work ethic, kindness, and strong communication. Our success is dependent on our employees’ well being, and we continue to evolve more programs and benefits to support work life balance, and remain open to ideas, feedback, and new sustainable approaches. We take pride in promoting employees from within who prove to be committed, valuable, and have a genuine desire to grow.

Position Summary

Irwin Backcountry Guides is seeking an experienced Snow Safety Manager to lead avalanche mitigation and snow safety operations in Crested Butte, Colorado. This role is responsible for developing and executing snow safety programs, monitoring weather and snowpack conditions, managing hazard mitigation activities, and helping ensure the safety of guests, staff, and operations in mountain environments. The ideal candidate has strong avalanche knowledge, leadership experience, sound judgment, and the ability to perform in dynamic winter conditions. This is a full-time, season position offering a salary of $6,000 per month. The Winter season runs mid-November through mid-April.

Position Purpose

The Snow Safety Manager is a member of the Irwin Guides leadership team with primary responsibilities focused on avalanche forecasting, assessment, mitigation, training, and documentation. The Snow Safety manager supports the Mountain Manager and Guide Manager with operations supervisor and guiding duties as needed.

Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks

Daily

• Lead avalanche forecasting, assessment, and hazard mitigation efforts
  • Manage the snow safety portion of AM & PM guide meetings.
  • Manage all run openings and closings
• Work as a certified Blaster-in-Charge during avalanche mitigation
• Perform operations manager and/or guiding duties as required

Ongoing

• Oversee weather, snowpack, and avalanche database entry
• Oversee daily observations submission
• Collaborate on snow safety scheduling
• Purchase, store, and document explosive usage per Colorado and ATF requirements
  • Maintain current State and Federal explosives permits and licenses.
  • Serve as an ATF Responsible Person

Seasonal

• Develop and manage the explosives training program
• Develop and manage snow safety mentorship and training programs
• Manage the boot packing program
• Create the snow safety portion of the End of Season Report
• Oversee revisions of Avalanche Rescue and Snow Safety Operating Plans

Preferred Qualifications

• Pro 2 Avalanche Certification or equivalent.
• Minimum Wilderness First Responder & CPR Certification.
• Colorado Type 1 Explosives Permit or the ability to obtain one
• Minimum of 5 years ski industry supervisory experience
• Minimum of 10 years professional snow safety experience
• High level operational weather and avalanche forecasting skills
• Strong organization and communication skills
• Strong work ethic, teamwork, and dynamic decision making skills.
• High level self and social awareness
• Experience with professional mentoring and training

Special Position Requirements

• Must be comfortable traveling in complex avalanche terrain
• Must be comfortable transporting, storing, assembling, and detonating explosives

Work Requirements

• Must be able to snowmobile to/from Irwin in all conditions
• Must be able to work all day in a high elevation extreme winter weather environment
• Must be able to lift 50+ pounds repeatedly.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.