Avalanche Jobs (NOW HIRING)

About the Job

Year Round

The Patrol Manager is a senior leadership position within Solitude Ski Patrol and Mountain Operations. Reporting directly to the Director of Patrol, this position oversees daily patrol operations, staffing, training coordination, operational readiness, emergency response, and strategic departmental support for both winter ski patrol and summer bike patrol operations.

The Patrol Manager helps lead up to 45 winter patrollers and approximately 20 summer bike patrol employees, including supervisory staff, while fostering a professional, accountable, safety-focused, and guest-service-oriented culture across year-round mountain operations.

This role combines field leadership with administrative oversight and requires strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, expert skiing ability, strong downhill mountain biking ability, and the ability to lead effectively within a unionized work environment. The Patrol Manager works closely with the Avalanche Mitigation Department (AMD) Manager and Director of Patrol to coordinate staffing, training, avalanche mitigation support, operational priorities, and emergency response readiness across the mountain.

SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 8 years of ski patrol experience preferred, with 3-5 years of patrol supervisory or leadership experience preferred.

• Avalanche Pro 1 certificationrequired; Avalanche Pro 2 preferred.

• Avalanche mitigation experience at a Class "A" resort preferred, including route leader-level responsibilities.

• Current Utah EMT, National EMT, or OEC certificationrequired. Utah EMT licensurerequiredfor EMTs.

• Current BLS CPR certificationrequired.

• Ability to obtain andmaintainan ATF possessor clearance.

• Valid driver's licenserequiredand must pass an insurance driving history inquiry.

• Expert skiing abilityrequired, including the ability to safelyoperatea loaded toboggan in steep and variable terrain.

• Strong downhill mountain biking ability and proficiency operating in lift-served bike park terrain preferred.

• Exceptionalleadership, communication, coaching, conflict-resolution,guest service,organizational, and decision-making skills.

• Understanding ofski resort operations, avalanche mitigation, mountain safety, emergency response, risk management, and guest service standards.

• Proficiencywith scheduling, payroll, HR systems, incident documentation, Microsoft Office, budgeting, and operational reporting tools.

• Ability to prioritize workload effectively and adapt to changing operational demands.

• Ability to work weekends, holidays, storm cycles, on-call periods, and extended operational hours asrequired.

• Must pass criminal history and background checks.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides daily management, leadership, and operational support for ski patrol and bike patrol staff in alignment with resort values and leadership expectations.

• In coordination with the Director of Patrol and AMD Manager,assistswith hiring, onboarding, scheduling, payroll review, training, evaluations, coaching, retention, accountability conversations, and disciplinary processes.

• Supports strategic planning, patrol procedures, emergency response planning, training standards, and risk management initiatives.

• Oversees daily patrol operations including staffing assignments, terrain status, openings and closures, sweeps, operational follow-up, hazard mitigation, and enforcement of resort policies and the skier responsibility code.

• Coordinates with the AMD Manager and Director of Patrolregardingavalanche mitigation operations, staffing, snow safety, terrain management, rescue readiness, and route leadership responsibilities.

• Overseessummer bike patrol operations and coordinates with internal departments, public safety partners, and outside agencies to support safe and efficient year-round mountain operations.

• Leads year-round mountain safety initiatives including speed control, guest education, hazard mitigation, signage, closures, rope lines, fencing, padding, and boundary management.

• Oversees patrol training, continuing education, scenario-based exercises, CPR instruction, avalanche rescue, bike patrol training, and competency documentation.

• Performs ski patrol duties at both managerial and functional levels, including emergency medical care, patient transport, guestassistance, mountain safety, incident documentation, and field leadership during routine and complex operations in varied terrain and weather conditions.

• Coordinates andparticipatesin lift evacuations, avalanche response, search and rescue operations, high-angle rescue, cliff rescue, missing person incidents, night operations, and complex rescue efforts involving Wasatch Backcountry Rescue and other partner agencies as assigned.

• Participates in incident investigations, documentation review, legal follow-up, and risk management processesin accordance withresort guidelines.

• Oversees patrol equipment, rescue gear, medical supplies, operational inventories, patrol facilities, and shared workspaces to ensure operational readiness and professionalism.

• Maintains professional working relationships with employees, union representatives, resort leadership, EMS partners, and outside agencies.

• RepresentsPatrol in cross-departmental planning and fills in for the Director of Patrol as assigned.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

• Ability to mentor employees and support leadership development within the patrol team.

• Ability tomaintainprofessionalism and composure during stressful situations.

• Proficient understanding of Solitude Mountain Resort terrain, patrol operations, and communication systems preferred.

• Ability tomaintainconfidentialityregardingpersonnel, operational, medical, and legal matters.

• Must be available for year-round operations, preseason training, andrequiredrefresher days.

PHYSICAL AND OPERATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to work in severe winter weather and high alpine environments.

• Ability to reason and respond effectively in emergency situations under high stress.

• Ability to lift, maneuver, and carry at least 50 pounds while skiing, hiking, or biking invariable terrainand conditions.

• Ability to hike and travel in steep, exposed terrain with packs weighingapproximately 30-50 pounds.

• Proficient and safe skiing ability tooperatea loaded rescue toboggan in varying snow conditions and terrain.

• Adequate sight, speech, hearing, and manual dexterity to safely perform duties and communicate via radio.

• Ability to work extended hours until all guests, staff, and patrollers are safely off the mountain.

Job description is not inclusive of all responsibilities and may bemodifiedas deemed necessary by operational needs.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT

Solitude Mountain Resort is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Company to recruit, hire, train, assign, promote, and transfer the best qualified individual for each job opening and provide such employment opportunities without regard to sex, race, religious creed, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, nationality, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, pregnancy, sexual preference, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law.

The Company makes all employment decisions, includingselection, training, job assignment, compensation, promotion, transfer, discipline, termination, and access to benefits without regard to these protected statuses. Solitude Mountain Resort also provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. If you requirean accommodationduring the selection process, please contact Human Resources at HR@solitudemountain.com.