Grounds Manager

Vail Resorts • Mount Crested Butte, CO

9d • $63,000 - $66,950 • Onsite

About The Position

The Grounds Manager provides year-round leadership for the appearance, safety, functionality, and ongoing improvement of the resort base area and Town Center Community Association areas. This role serves as an operational bridge between resort departments, property stakeholders, vendors, and the Town Center Community Association Board, ensuring that shared spaces are cared for through clear ownership, consistent standards, and coordinated execution. The manager leads seasonal grounds, landscaping, snow removal, and related exterior maintenance operations while developing practical recommendations that improve the base area over time. The successful candidate will not only respond to daily needs, but will also identify recurring or historical concerns, determine root causes, recommend immediate and long-term solutions, and follow projects through completion. Every decision should support a welcoming, well-maintained, and intuitive experience for guests, owners, employees, and community partners.

Requirements

• Demonstrated leadership experience in grounds, landscaping, facilities, public works, resort operations, property management, or related fields.
• Proven ability to coordinate work across departments, associations, property stakeholders, vendors, and shared operational boundaries.
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills, including the ability to distinguish urgent corrective action from longer-term capital or process solutions.
• Working knowledge of snow and ice management, landscaping, irrigation, exterior maintenance, equipment operation, and workplace safety practices preferred.
• Comfort using common business systems for scheduling, budgeting, work tracking, documentation, and stakeholder communication.
• Valid United States driver's license and ability to meet company driving requirements.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; relevant technical training, certifications, or college coursework preferred.
• Ability to work primarily on site and outdoors in changing mountain weather, including snow, ice, rain, heat, and cold.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods; regularly bend, squat, climb, and use ladders; and lift or carry materials and equipment consistent with operational requirements.
• Ability to work safely around vehicles, motors, pumps, tools, and moving machinery while using required protective equipment and precautions.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable OSHA requirements, local and state regulations, environmental standards, and resort policies.
• Availability for early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, emergency response, and extended hours during significant weather events or critical operating periods.

Nice To Haves

• relevant technical training, certifications, or college coursework preferred

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary day-to-day operational connection between the resort and TCCA for grounds, shared base-area spaces, snow removal, landscaping, exterior maintenance, and improvement initiatives.
• Build productive relationships with resort leaders, TCCA representatives, property managers, commercial partners, homeowners, and vendors to clarify responsibilities, align service expectations, and prevent gaps or duplicated effort.
• Coordinate work across shared boundaries and high-traffic areas so that the base area is managed as one cohesive guest environment, regardless of ownership or cost allocation.
• Provide timely, accurate communication on operating conditions, project status, service interruptions, emerging risks, and decisions needed from stakeholders.
• Regularly inspect the base area through the perspective of guests and stakeholders, identifying opportunities to improve appearance, access, wayfinding, cleanliness, functionality, safety, and overall sense of arrival.
• Develop prioritized improvement recommendations supported by scope, operational impact, estimated cost, timing, ownership, and expected guest or stakeholder benefit.
• Present clear and actionable recommendations to the Board and resort leadership, including options and tradeoffs when more than one solution is available.
• Create and maintain a multi-year base-area improvement roadmap that connects daily maintenance needs with capital planning and the long-term vision for the resort.
• Benchmark service levels, materials, equipment, and operating practices, then implement improvements that raise standards or create sustainable efficiencies.
• Lead winter snow and ice management, including staffing, equipment readiness, route priorities, response plans, documentation, and coordination with resort operations and affected stakeholders.
• Lead spring, summer, and fall landscaping and grounds care, including irrigation management, turf, planting areas, cleanup, event impacts, appearance standards, and seasonal transitions.
• Plan work around resort occupancy, events, weather, construction, pedestrian flow, and business needs to minimize disruption and maintain safe access.
• Ensure tools, vehicles, and heavy equipment are inspected, maintained, and operated in accordance with manufacturer guidance and resort standards.
• Provide visible, hands-on leadership and establish a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, care for the property, and service to others.
• Recruit, train, schedule, coach, and evaluate seasonal and year-round team members; adjust staffing and priorities to business volume, weather, events, and operating conditions.
• Set clear daily and weekly priorities, conduct effective pre-shift communication, and ensure the team understands how its work affects guests and other departments.
• Develop team capability and succession through cross-training, documented procedures, consistent feedback, and meaningful performance expectations.
• Represent the function as a strong resort leader, contributing beyond departmental boundaries and supporting broader resort priorities when needed.
• Partner with property management and resort leadership to develop annual operating and capital budgets for assigned areas, with appropriate consideration for TCCA requirements and cost-sharing responsibilities.
• Manage expenses, labor, purchasing, and project spending within approved budgets; explain variances and recommend corrective action when needed.
• Develop project scopes, support competitive bids, coordinate approvals, supervise vendors, and confirm quality and completion before work is closed.

Benefits

• 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)
• Free ski passes for dependents
• Critical Illness and Accident plans

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED