Vail Resorts - Director, Mountain Dining - Northstar California Resort

Prodigy Search; Truckee (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ski passes for employees

Free ski lessons

Employee discounts on lodging, food, &

Gear and transportation perks

Job summary

Vail Resorts is seeking a Director of Mountain Dining for Northstar California Resort in Truckee, CA. This senior role leads all dining operations across 12 outlets, aligning service excellence with financial discipline and a guest-centric culture.

The Director sets strategy, partners with enterprise teams, and champions talent development to deliver unforgettable mountain experiences while driving sustainable business results.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in complex service environments.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Ability to translate vision into actionable dining strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead integrated, high-quality Mountain Dining operations.
• Drive revenue growth while managing COGS, labor, and expenses.
• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership team.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Financial discipline

Guest experience

Team development

Tools

Workday

Infogenesis

Job description

Vail Resorts - Director, Mountain Dining - Northstar California Resort

Position Title: Director, Mountain Dining - Northstar California Resort

Reports to : General Manager

Location: Truckee, CA

Search Contact: Prodigy Search

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BACKGROUND

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 Epic 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.

SUMMARY

The Director of Mountain Dining leads the vision, strategy, and performance of Food & Beverage at Northstar California Resort, shaping a dining experience that elevates the quality and hospitality for the guests we serve. This role is accountable for overall F&B business results and the end-to-end guest experience across 12 diverse outlets, including high-volume quick service, full service restaurants, coffee shops, bars, weddings and special events, banquets, and Northstar’s signature traditions.

As a senior leader at Northstar and within the Vail Resorts Mountain Dining Leadership Team, this role sets the strategic direction for dining for Northstar, balancing innovation, operational excellence, and financial discipline, while building a strong, inclusive, and hospitality driven culture. The Director inspires and develops high-performing teams, fosters pride of ownership, and creates an environment where safety, quality, service, and belonging are non-negotiable. The Director holds a high bar for consistency and quality in every guest and employee experience, and pairs that standard with the business discipline to deliver strong, sustainable results.

This leader partners closely with the F&B Center of Excellence and cross-functional resort and enterprise teams to translate company vision into local execution, advance best practices, and continuously elevate the dining experience at Northstar. With a focus on talent development, guest service, and sustainable growth, the Director of Mountain Dining plays a critical role in delivering unforgettable mountain moments for guests and meaningful career experiences for employees.

We welcome candidates from outside traditional Food and Beverage who bring proven leadership of complex, service-driven, or multi-unit operations.

THE RIGHT CANDIDATE WILL DEMONSTRATE

• Strong learning agility and strategic curiosity, thriving in complex, evolving business environments and translating fresh ideas and emerging trends into a distinctive vision for quality and guest experience.
• An ambitious, purpose-driven leadership style, grounded in high emotional intelligence and self-awareness, with a track record of building and inspiring teams that deliver exceptional experiences for guests and employees alike.
• Proven business acumen and a consistent record of ownership and accountability, balancing creativity and innovation with financial discipline to drive strong, sustainable business results.
• A deep commitment to consistent, high-quality experiences, holding a high bar for guests and employees every day.
• Leadership credibility built in a complex, service-driven, or multi-unit operation environment. Deep Food and Beverage experience is a plus, not a prerequisite, for a leader with the business and hospitality instincts to learn the domain quickly.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a key member of the resort senior leadership team, leading an integrated, high quality resort operation and building a strong connection to the surrounding community.
• Lead the overall financial performance of Mountain Dining, driving revenue growth while effectively managing cost of goods sold, labor, and operating expenses to achieve contribution targets. Set and execute a clear Food and Beverage strategy that elevates Northstar’s dining experience.
• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership team, fostering accountability, ownership, and continuous development while aligning to Northstar and Vail Resorts values and culture.
• Drive operational excellence and scalability by partnering with the Food and Beverage Center of Excellence to implement best practices, growth initiatives, and exceptional execution across all outlets.
• Establish, model, and uphold high service standards, ensuring exceptional guest experiences across all dining locations.
• Establish a strong culture of safety and compliance, ensuring all Mountain Dining operations meet or exceed health, safety, sanitation, liquor, labor, and company policy requirements.
• Monitor and continuously improve compliance and execution, including standard operating procedures, inventory controls, waste management, and overall operational effectiveness across the Mountain Dining business.
• Lead capital planning for Mountain Dining, including identifying capital project needs, forecasting capital expenditures, and overseeing project execution to support long term business and guest experience goals.
• Oversee day-to-day maintenance and presentation of Mountain Dining facilities, ensuring standards for safety, cleanliness, and visual appeal are met across interior and exterior spaces, including restrooms, snow removal, and signage.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of resort and company priorities.

Preferred:

• Extensive Food and Beverage operational experience across front- and back-of-house environments, including multi-unit, high-volume full service, fast casual, and quick service, as well as weddings and banquets.
• Five or more years of senior leadership experience within Food and Beverage, hospitality, or a related service-driven industry.
• Current ServSafe Manager and Responsible Beverage Service Alcohol Server certifications, or the ability to obtain promptly.
• Experience working with Workday and Infogenesis or comparable enterprise systems.
• Demonstrated restaurant and resort experience within complex, high‑volume hospitality environments.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• $100,000 - $125,000 + annual bonus + equity
• 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
• Health Insurance; Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, and Vision Insurance plans (for eligible seasonal employees after working 500 hours)
• Critical Illness and Accident plans

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Founded in 2007, Prodigy Search, located in the New York City suburb of Freehold, NJ, boasts over 80 years of experience in the sports and entertainment business. As a renowned nationwide leader in senior-level executive search, Prodigy Search has honed its business principles and expertise, establishing itself as the largest boutique recruiting agency in North America. We recruit with integrity, purpose, and passion.