Ski Patroller- Winter
Job Description
Taos Ski Valley, Inc.
This job description is intended to be a broad description of duties. You will be asked to carry out all responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Specific information on duties and policies can be found with your supervisor or in the Employee Reference Guide.
Essential Job Responsibilities:
The essential duties of this job are outlined below. In addition, you will sometimes be asked to undertake details or to perform tasks not specifically mentioned in this job description or completely outside your area of responsibility. Your willing, cheerful and enthusiastic cooperation is expected and appreciated.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including very early 5 am mornings, weekends, holidays and evenings.
- Reliably show up to work on all scheduled days.
Patient Care:
- Administers first aid and provides sled transportation of injured guests off the ski hill and to the clinic.
- Administers first aid to injured or ill guests in base area buildings, lodges, parking lots, roads, walkways, and private residences.
- Provides transportation of injured or ill guests to the clinic or area hospital via sled, truck, wheeled litter, or ambulance.
- Assists in patient transfer through the Mogul Medical Clinic, Taos County Ambulance, Lifeguard or other air ambulance service, and Holy Cross Hospital.
- Delivers heavy and cumbersome medical gear to accident scenes that may be in extreme mountainous terrain, on skis. This can also involve uphill travel with skins, snowmobile or on foot
- Return sleds, litters, or emergency vehicles to their proper placements. This can involve manually loading sleds onto chairlifts, navigating icy walkways, or driving in winter conditions.
- Completes accident report forms and other accident investigation paperwork in a timely, professional and accurate manner.
Avalanche Mitigation:
- Assists the Snow Safety department with snow stability evaluations and terrain recommendations.
- Digs snow pits to record and share snow stability data.
- Performs routine avalanche rescue, beacon, and probe practice.
- Performs ski cutting assignments in known avalanche paths under hazardous conditions.
- Recognize and manage an avalanche emergency.
- Record all avalanche mitigation work manually and with computers.
Technical Rescue:
- Perform technical rope work utilizing carabiners, belay devices, harnesses, and other assorted hardware.
- Perform rope evacuations or stranded lift passengers. Involves climbing lift towers in ski boots carrying coiled ropes, securing ropes and equipment on lift structures, and safely belaying passengers to the ground.
- Belay sleds off steep slopes.
- Belay/rappel injured or misguided guests off cliff areas.
- Travel in the backcountry, on skis, with overnight packs.
Guest Assistance:
- Assists guest through information, safety education, speed control, evacuation from difficult situations, finding lost equipment, escorting guests to more appropriate terrain, finding separated guests/children, etc.
- Helps friends and family of injured guests from a psychological and logistical standpoint.
- Calms and helps upset or unhappy guests.
- Deals with problem guests in a calm, professional manner.
Daily Functions:
- Operates chairlifts when necessary for mountain operations.
- Shovels snow to clear building, chairlifts, or other equipment.
- Picking up litter and emptying garbage cans.
- Crowd control at medical scenes, avalanche emergencies, and chairlifts.
- Assists other departments when needed, even when not asked.
- Moves signs, rope, bamboo, fences, padding.
Personal Skills:
- Strong personal character and commitment to Taos Ski Valley, Inc.’s Vision, Purpose, and Values.
- Ability to gracefully and humbly accept criticism and opportunities for growth.
- Ability to stay positive, focused, and constructive when faced with setbacks, challenges, and while working in an ever-changing environment.
- Ability to gain the confidence of peers to perform and succeed in life or death situations.
Qualifications/Knowledge:
- EMT-B or higher level of medical training and license. With exceptions.
- Expert skiing ability.
- Excellent physical condition.
- Ability to work outdoors in extreme weather conditions.
- Requires an explosive handler license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
- 2 years Class A avalanche work is preferred.
Work Environment:
- Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment. Especially during Peak days and Holidays.
- Requires work in a high alpine environment. Altitude ranges from 9,000 to 13,000. Extreme weather conditions and temperature ranges are encountered. Steep and vertical terrain are the normal. Avalanche control mornings often begin in the dark.
- Must be able to work in close quarters and with other staff both indoors and out.
Physical Demands of Position Include:
- Carries 50-pound boxes of explosives and assembles hand charges.
- Carries 20-60-pound packs of assembled explosive charges uphill in extreme weather conditions.
- Throws 2-pound hand charges for long distances, repeatedly.
- Operates a snowmobile in adverse conditions.
- Skis, sideslips, snowplows with 200-400 pound toboggan/guest in steep, difficult terrain.
- Proficiency in computer skills such as Excell, Word, and GIS recording is required.
- 90% of your day may be spent skiing, hiking, standing, climbing.
Background Check:
Positions dealing with children, of safety – sensitive and/or confidential nature, require driving or positions that handle cash may require a background check and MVR check. Employment is contingent upon a favorable background check and MVR check.
- Is a Background Check required for this position: No.
- Is an MVR required for this position:? Yes.
- Ability to pass ATF&E explosive handlers certification is required.
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