Lift Operator Winter 26/27
Job Description
Position Summary
The Lift Operator is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of ski lifts while providing exceptional guest service. This position ensures guests are loaded, transported and unloaded safely, maintains orderly lift lines and lift areas, and supports overall mountain operations through continuous attention to safety, communication, and operational procedures. Lift Operators work outdoors in varying weather conditions and play a critical role in creating a positive guest experience.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Operate Lifts Safely: Run ski lifts in compliance with ANSI B-77 and established procedures, including opening, downloading, and last chair protocols.
- Assist Guests: Greet guests warmly, provide clear loading and unloading instructions, and offer extra support for children or those with adaptive equipment.
- Monitor Operations: Perform pre- and post-shift inspections, monitor lifts throughout the day, and promptly report problems, unusual conditions, or malfunctions.
- Maintain Lift Areas: Keep ramps, shacks, and lift zones clear of snow, ice, and hazards while ensuring tools, equipment, and barriers are organized.
- Monitoring Lift Lines: Manage the flow of skiers and snowboarders in the lift line, ensuring an orderly and efficient boarding process. This includes keeping the loading and unloading area safe.
- Deliver Service Excellence: Provide courteous guest service, manage lift lines safely and efficiently, and uphold departmental standards for punctuality, attendance, dress, and grooming.
- Documentation & Safety: Complete required paperwork accurately and on time, participate in evacuation training, and assist in actual evacuations if needed.
- Team Support: Maintain timely break rotations, communicate effectively with supervisors and coworkers, and support a positive, inclusive team culture.
- Lead by Example: Model professionalism, teamwork, safety awareness, and exceptional guest service, while assisting colleagues across departments when needed.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred; must be at least 18 years old.
- Must pass a background check.
- Education and/or experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the role effectively.
- Ability to work up to 40 hours per week, including weekends, evenings, and holidays.
- Comfortable operating ski lifts, assisting guests, managing lift lines, and maintaining ramps in all weather conditions.
- Physically able to lift 50+ pounds, stand and walk for long periods, and perform strenuous outdoor tasks.
- Ability to ride chairlifts as a passenger.
- Strong communication and customer service skills; calm and professional under pressure.
- Reliable, punctual, and able to follow written and verbal instructions independently.
- Capable of safely using tools and equipment, maintaining accurate records, and completing paperwork on time.
- Must have cold weather-appropriate gear to include winter-rated boots, socks, gloves, hat, face covering/buff, warm layers. Uniform winter coat and pants to be issued.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Proper cold-weather clothing, protective gear, and adherence to safety procedures are required to ensure personal well-being and maintain safe operations in challenging conditions. The employee must be able to lift, push, pull, or carry objects, use abdominal and lower back muscles to provide support over time without fatigue, and effectively jump, sprint, or throw an object. Excellent stamina is required. The employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and in outside conditions that include inclement weather, heat, cold, humidity, and exposure to snow/ice.
Note
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.
The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, a drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.
