Winter Lift Operations Lead

POSITION SUMMARY

The Winter Lift Operations Lead is an on-mountain leadership position responsible for overseeing a rotating zone of lift operations. Leads support multiple lifts and crews within their assigned zone, ensuring employees, operational areas, and procedures consistently meet department and resort expectations.

This position requires a high level of independence, initiative, and trust. Leads are expected to recognize operational needs, solve problems, develop employees, maintain their Area of Responsibility (AOR), and provide consistent leadership without requiring continuous direction from a Supervisor.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Zone & Operational Oversight
• Maintain Lift Operations AORs throughout the assigned zone, including lift stations, ramps, mazes, gantries, fencing, signage, barriers, shacks, and snow surfaces.
• Regularly inspect lifts and operational areas and independently identify and address needs.
• Maintain awareness of lift operations, conditions, documentation, and crew performance throughout the zone.
• Review lift logs and ensure required operational documentation is accurate and complete.
• Adjust staffing and rotations based on operational needs.
• Maintain station inventories, tools, supplies, and equipment.

Crew Leadership & Accountability
• Maintain an active and professional leadership presence throughout the zone.
• Ensure employees consistently meet department expectations for safety, uniforms, punctuality, guest service, conduct, breaks, rotations, and job performance.
• Provide timely coaching, direction, corrective feedback, and verbal warnings when appropriate.
• Communicate performance concerns requiring further corrective action to Supervisors and management.
• Enforce department policies consistently and fairly.
• Promote a professional, respectful, and productive team environment.

Training & Employee Development
• Provide hands-on training in lift operations, emergency procedures, opening and closing procedures, guest service, ramp maintenance, and department standards.
• Identify training needs and create opportunities for continued employee development.
• Assist with training documentation and logs.
• Maintain strong knowledge of resort operations and commonly asked guest questions.

Lift & Emergency Operations
• Develop a strong working knowledge of lifts throughout the mountain, including normal operation, emergency procedures, and common operational concerns.
• Maintain proficiency in Lift Operations emergency procedures.
• Recognize and promptly communicate mechanical or operational concerns to Lift Maintenance and Supervisors.
• Coordinate with Lift Maintenance and assist with approved lift-related tasks when properly trained.

Mountain & Employee Support
• Provide lift coverage and facilitate employee free runs when operational priorities allow.
• Ensure employees follow clock-out and department free-skiing procedures.
• Respond to guest and employee concerns escalated beyond the Level 2 operator.
• Support setup, tear-down, special projects, events, and changing mountain needs.

Interdepartmental Coordination
• Work effectively with Lift Maintenance, Ski Patrol, Ski School, Arrowhead Ski Team, Ticket Office, Mountain Operations, and other resort departments.
• Assist with shared operational needs and identify opportunities to improve communication and efficiency.
• Represent Lift Operations professionally with guests, employees, resort leadership, and other departments.

LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

Lift Operations Leads are expected to model the standards they enforce through consistent punctuality, professionalism, work ethic, judgment, safe riding, emotional consistency, communication, and adherence to department policies.

Leads must be comfortable working independently and taking initiative. When immediate priorities are complete, they are expected to identify productive ways to support their zone, crews, training, and department operations without relying on continuous direction.

Leads are expected to understand and actively support departmental goals and direction established by Lift Operations Supervisors, management, and resort leadership.

Because Leads work independently throughout the mountain, reliability, sound judgment, emotional consistency, and trust are essential to the position.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum two years of demonstrated leadership experience.

• Advanced ski/snowboarding ability
• Ability to work independently and recognize operational priorities.
• Ability to coach employees, provide direct feedback, and hold others accountable professionally and fairly.
• Strong understanding of lift operations or ability to quickly develop operational proficiency.
• Experienced skier or snowboarder capable of confidently navigating required mountain terrain while transporting work materials.
• Snowmobile experience and ability to complete Sundance snowmobile training.
• Proficiency with two-way radio communication.
• Ability to complete required Lift Operations emergency-procedure training.
• Ability to work effectively with Lift Maintenance and other resort departments.
• Consistent reliability, punctuality, professionalism, and sound judgment.
• Ability to work outdoors in changing and adverse winter conditions.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT

Sundance Mountain Resort reserves the right to modify, expand, or assign additional duties and responsibilities as necessary to support the evolving needs of Mountain Operations and overall resort operations. Employees may be required to assist other departments, projects, or operational initiatives as directed by management, provided assignments are consistent with applicable laws, safety standards, employee qualifications, and company policies.