Senior Manager of Mountain Operations

Vail Resorts • Town of Randall, WI

2d • $70,290 - $100,415 • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager of Mountain Operations provides oversight and leadership of all on mountain operations departments at Wilmot: lift maintenance, lift operations, grooming, snowmaking, terrain parks, vehicle maintenance, and general mountain activities. As a member of the Resort’s Senior Leadership Team, this position is a key contributor in the development, communication and implementation of resort strategies, goals, initiatives, culture and engagement, and a responsible member of the team in executing and meeting all business objectives.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in mountain operations or senior leadership.
• 3+ years managing multiple departments in a leadership role.
• Strong financial management and budgeting experience.
• Demonstrated leadership, team-building, and talent development capabilities.
• Crisis management and emergency response experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong public speaking ability.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with enterprise systems preferred.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and hazardous material handling.
• Ability to work in variable and extreme weather conditions.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• High school diploma required.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced skiing or riding ability preferred.
• college degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and inspire high-performing teams; recruit, hire, coach, and build leadership bench strength for succession planning.
• Foster a ‘one team’ culture prioritizing employee and guest safety while promoting accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee all mountain operations departments ensuring alignment with resort and corporate strategies, goals, and initiatives.
• Develop, manage, and track departmental budgets, workforce plans, and operational performance metrics.
• Drive safety initiatives with the goal of zero incidents; partner with Health & Safety and lead emergency preparedness and response efforts.
• Serve as Incident Commander in emergency situations and ensure training and readiness across teams.
• Ensure proactive maintenance programs for lifts, vehicles, and infrastructure to minimize downtime and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Lead capital planning, project management, and execution of capital investments (CapEx).
• Enhance operational efficiency through cross-department communication, collaboration, and process improvement.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, peers, leadership teams, regulatory agencies, and local communities.
• Maintain subject matter expertise in mountain operations and proactively apply industry best practices and innovations.
• Participate in and contribute to best practice groups across the enterprise.
• Ensure timely and effective communication across teams and departments.
• Adapt quickly to changing business, environmental, and operational conditions.

Benefits

• Free passes for employees
• employee discounted lift tickets for friends and family
• free ski lessons
• 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: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED