Seasonal Snow Safety and Training Supervisor
General Purpose
The Seasonal Snow Safety and Training Supervisor coordinates with the Snow Safety Director to manage daily snow safety operations, avalanche mitigation, and Ski Patrol personnel, while also serving as the department's Training Supervisor. This role is essential to keeping guests and staff safe in avalanche terrain and to ensuring the patrol team is well-trained, current on certifications, and consistently evaluated.
This is a seasonal position from mid-October 2026 to mid-April 2027 (approximately 6 months). Dates are subject to change based on the availability of the applicant and needs of the business. This role comes with a free season pass for you and your dependents. For a full list of benefits visit https://www.purgatory.ski/employee-benefits/. Hiring for our seasonal positions occurs on a rolling basis. This position will remain open until filled.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities
- Supervise and coordinate the daily avalanche mitigation program, including control route assignments, explosives control procedures, and hazard assessment.
- Assign, brief, and support route leaders and route partners while leading or participating in mitigation routes, ski cutting, and other approved control methods.
- Maintain accurate snow safety records, including weather observations, snowpack data, control route documentation, and explosives inventory/use logs.
- Ensure explosives magazine storage, transport, and use comply with federal, state, and resort safety regulations; support inspections.
- Coordinate with regional avalanche and weather information sources (e.g., CAIC) and share information with patrol staff and resort operations.
- Lead or assist with avalanche control route work, boundary/closure management, and hazard mitigation planning; maintain mitigation infrastructure.
- Participate in avalanche rescue response, search and rescue operations, and interagency emergency response as needed.
- Develop, maintain, and oversee implementation of the department's training curriculum; coordinate and lead Rookie Training Week.
- Establish and maintain training standards, procedures, and performance expectations; monitor trainee progress and provide feedback.
- Maintain accurate training records, evaluations, and certifications; assist with QA review of incident reports.
- Identify training deficiencies and recommend curriculum or procedural changes; assist developing training materials and lesson plans.
- Assist with training, coaching, and evaluating patrollers in avalanche mitigation, rescue systems, and snow science.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong working knowledge of avalanche mitigation techniques, snow science, and explosives control procedures.
- Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills, including staff training and development.
- Strong organizational and communication skills; ability to coordinate across multiple departments.
- Ability to make sound decisions quickly in a fast-paced, high-stress, safety-critical environment.
- Expert skiing ability, including safe operation of a loaded rescue toboggan in steep and variable terrain.
- Proficiency with computers and record-keeping systems.
Education and Experience
- High school diploma or equivalent required; relevant technical or safety certifications preferred.
- Minimum 5 years of professional ski patrol experience required, including 1-2 years in a supervisory or lead role preferred.
- Current Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) certification or equivalent EMT credential required; CPR certification required.
- Avalanche certification required (Pro 1 required; Pro 2 preferred).
- Must obtain or currently hold a Colorado Type 1 Explosives Permit and meet all federal/state requirements for explosives handling.
Working Environment/Physical Activities
This position works primarily outdoors at high altitude and in all winter weather conditions, including extreme cold, wind, and heavy snowfall. The employee must be able to ski advanced/expert terrain in all conditions, including safe operation of a loaded rescue toboggan, and must be able to stand, walk, climb, balance, kneel, crouch, and crawl for extended periods. The role requires the ability to safely lift and/or move up to 50 lbs regularly and up to 100 lbs occasionally, including shoveling heavy, wet snow. Some portion of the work day is spent indoors preparing training materials, maintaining records, and completing administrative tasks. The employee must be available for preseason training, refresher days, weekends, holidays, storm cycles, on-call periods, and extended hours as operational needs require.