Area Operations Manager Jobs in Cook, MN (NOW HIRING)

Compensation Amount:

75,000.00 USD Annual

Job Summary:

The Director of Skier Services is a senior leadership role responsible for managing the operations, financial results, guest services, and safety of Giants Ridge's year-round recreational and ski services.
This role manages one of the resort's largest revenue and labor centers and plays a key role in ensuring that what we sell is delivered efficiently and consistently to a high standard that encourages and promotes repeat visitation.
While the primary focus of this role is operational discipline and financial performance, it also carries a secondary but essential responsibility for guest experience across both winter and summer operations.
This role has a strategic focus on one of the most important areas of the resort's success, as it plays a central role in:
Protecting and growing revenue
Managing labor responsibly to set KPI's
Delivering safe, high-quality guest experiences
Supporting staff with clear leadership and expectations
Ensuring consistency across winter and summer operations
The primary priority of this role is Operational Accountability & Financial Performance. The Director of Skier Services is responsible for:
Revenue realization from skier services and recreation operations
Labor planning, staffing efficiency, and cost management
Department budget planning, forecasting, and variance analysis
Maintaining service quality and safety while protecting margins
Using data, metrics, and guest feedback to drive operational decisions.
Provide guidance of system operations planning and coordination across all departments to ensure safe, efficient, and financially responsible resort operations.
This role ensures that all guest-facing products are managed according to business needs, staffing capacity, safety standards, and financial targets.

Job Description:

Departmental Oversight

This role provides direct leadership and operational oversight to the following departments:

• Mountain Sports School (lessons, youth and seasonal camps)
• Equipment Rental & Repair Operations
• Guest Services (ticketing)
• Group Sales
• Mountain Sports Shop (retail)
• Pool & Sauna Haus
• Climbing Wall Operations (including compliance and programming)
• Year-Round Recreational Offerings including but not limited to:

• Alpine & Nordic Skiing, Snowboarding
• Snowshoeing
• Mountain Biking
• Hiking & Trail Based Activities
• Disc Golf

Essential Functions

• Recruit, train, and develop team members across skier services and recreation operations.
• Foster a culture of safety, professionalism, accountability, and guest-first service.
• Lead staff development initiatives across Guest Experience and Skier Services, including managers, supervisors, and frontline employees; establish training standards, and support leadership development.
• Ensure all safety, compliance, and risk management practices meet or exceed industry standards.
• Is scheduled during the month as a Manager on Duty.
• Collaborates with Mountain Operations and Facilities to align terrain, trail, and lift readiness with program and guest needs.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with schools, local organizations, and community groups to support programming and participation.
• Recruit, train, schedule and direct Volunteer Mountain Hosts to support guest experience initiatives.

Revenue Growth & Program Development

• Collaborate with the General Manager in developing and implementing engaging recreational and instructional programs that enhance guest satisfaction and drive revenue growth.
• Ensure programming is feasible, financially viable, and aligned with market needs.

Financial Management

• Collaborate with the General Manager on financial strategic planning and tactics to achieve financial results.
• Develop and oversee departmental operating budgets, forecasts, and capital improvement projects.
• Monitor and evaluate usage data, guest feedback, and financial results.
• Identify opportunities for efficiency, growth, and reinvestment.

Guest Experience

• Serve as a senior steward of the guest experience across all seasons.
• Maintain uniform service standards across all business lines by emphasizing communication and professionalism.
• Serve as a senior escalation point for guest experience and service recovery issues.
• Monitor guest feedback and satisfaction trends to guide ongoing improvements.
• Collaborate with department leaders to ensure smooth guest flow and effective communication throughout the resort operations.

Skill and Knowledge Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in recreation management, outdoor education, or related field preferred; or 5-10 years of progressive experience in ski resort or recreational leadership.
• Extensive knowledge of ski area operations, including instruction, mountain safety, and summer programming.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budget planning, forecasting, and capital project oversight.
• Effective leadership and team-building skills with a collaborative, hands-on management style.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills; strong public speaker.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; ability to learn new systems including POS and scheduling software.
• Ability to read and interpret technical manuals, policies, and procedures.
• Valid Class D Driver's License with an insurable driving record.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform work in both office settings and operations environments throughout the resort.
• Ability to ski/snowboard and mountain bike at an intermediate level in all snow and weather conditions.
• Must be comfortable navigating indoor and outdoor workspaces in all weather conditions.
• Requires regular walking, standing, and the ability to respond quickly to operational needs during active business hours.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time, including across uneven outdoor terrain in varying weather conditions.
• Lifting, carrying, and pushing up to 25 lbs. regularly, 30-35 lbs. frequently, and up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
• Manual dexterity required for using computers, mobile devices and radios.
• Requires the ability to communicate clearly and professionally in person, over the phone, and via email.
• Ability to analyze complex situations, make sound decisions quickly, and handle conflict constructively.
• Mental stamina to remain focused and professional for extended shifts or peak operational periods.
• Physical presence at the job site is essential to perform job duties.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and holidays, according to resort needs.

Equipment Used

• Typical office equipment (computers, phone system, fax, copiers, scanners, among others)
• Two-way radio
• Ski, Snowboard and Mountain Bike equipment
• Golf Cart, snowmobile and ATV equipment
• Specialized electronics and related software

Giants Ridge, managed by Guest Services, is seeking an experienced, results-driven Director of Skier Services to lead one of the resort's largest revenue-generating departments. This leadership role is responsible for the operational performance, financial results, guest service delivery, and safety standards across Giants Ridge's year-round recreational and skier services operations.

The Director of Skier Services plays a critical role in ensuring that the products and experiences we sell are delivered efficiently, safely, and consistently to a high standard that drives guest satisfaction and repeat visitation.

This position serves as a key driver of the guest experience across both winter and summer operations. Success in this role requires a strategic leader who can balance revenue growth, labor management, service excellence, and team development while maintaining a culture of safety and accountability.

This is a $70,000 - $80,000 salaried position commensurate with experience.

What You'll Do:

• Lead all skier services and recreation operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality guest experiences year-round.
• Drive revenue growth and operational performance while managing one of the resort's largest revenue and labor centers.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, forecasts, staffing plans, and labor costs to achieve financial and operational goals.
• Use business metrics, operational data, and guest feedback to identify opportunities, improve performance, and inform decision-making.
• Provide clear leadership, coaching, and accountability for managers and staff, fostering a culture of service, safety, and excellence.

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Recreation Management, Outdoor Education, Business, Hospitality, or a related field preferred; or 5-10 years of progressive leadership experience in ski resort, recreation, or hospitality operations.
• Extensive knowledge of ski area operations, including ski school, guest services, mountain safety, recreation programming, and year-round resort activities.
• Strong financial and business acumen, with experience managing budgets, forecasting, labor planning, cost controls, and capital improvement projects.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to effectively engage employees, guests, community partners, and leadership teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and utilize resort operating systems, point-of-sale (POS), scheduling, and reporting software; valid Class D Driver's License with an insurable driving record required.

Why Work at Giants Ridge?

• Comprehensive Health Coverage - Stay covered with medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, plus access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for additional support. We also offer HSAs, FSAs and more to help you manage healthcare costs.
• Retirement Savings - Play for your future with our 401(k)-retirement plan, featuring a company match to help you build financial security.
• Paid Time Off - Take time to rest, relax and recharge with generous PTO.
• Mountain Perks - Enjoy free employee passes and discounts for your family so you can hit the slopes and trails all season long!
• Exclusive Golf Privileges - Hit the greens with complimentary golfing at our two championship golf courses.
• Exclusive Discounts - Save on delicious food, stylish apparel and must-have accessories while working at Giants Ridge.
• Work with Friends - Join a fun, supportive team where every day feels like an adventure.
• Flexible Scheduling - We offer flexible schedules to fit your lifestyle, but some evening, weekend and holiday shifts are required to keep up with the excitement at Giants Ridge.
• And More! - Additional perks and surprises that make Giants Ridge a great place to work!

Giants Ridge is a 1-rated family vacation destination in Minnesota. Located just north of Duluth in the heart of Minnesota's Superior National Forest, Giants Ridge is a four-season family-oriented resort offering fun and adventure for every level of outdoor enthusiast. Summer is filled with world-class golf, plus mountain biking, water recreation and more. Winter brings incredible skiing, snowboarding, fat tire biking and endless miles of snowmobile trails to explore, plus dining, shopping and much more. Spring and fall seasons are the perfect transitions to the next season of outdoor adventure.

Founded in 1917, Guest Services has worked tirelessly to earn the reputation as the premier hospitality management company and National Park Service concessionaire in the United States. Guest Services takes great care and pride in providing best-in-class services across a wide variety of client sites including luxury communities, hotels, resorts, government and business dining facilities, full-service restaurants, state and national parks, outdoor recreation, boathouses, marinas, museums, conference centers, senior living communities, health care systems, school and university dining facilities, and specialty retail stores.

Guest Services, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and promotion without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION: We embrace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and the richness it brings to our company. Our commitment is to provide an inclusive workplace where individuals can bring their whole selves to work, enabling them to provide the best level of service to our diverse customer base.