Snowsports – Instructor

Serves as a professional instructor, coach, and representative of Taos. Works as a member of an interdependent team dedicated to creating the best possible environment for taking and teaching lessons. Shares our traditions of stewardship and inclusiveness. Inspires deep connections with our mountains and helps Create lifelong snowsports enthusiasts.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Must be able to coach, teach, and guide guests that have a variety of ranges, including age, ability, discipline, and experience.
• Work together as a team to organize classes and students based on individual abilities and goals.
• Initiates contact and greets guests in a friendly, helpful, and respectful manner.
• Listens to guests’ needs and concerns. Then relates the message to management.
• Reliable attendance on all scheduled workdays.
• Assist with daily operations outside of lesson times.
• Availability to assist with boot fitting, fences, cleaning, snow removal, scanning, or other tasks as early as 7am until at least 4pm.
• Completes indoor and on snow tasks before and after lessons as needed.
• Recognizes that service is our product and helping guests have a great Taos experience is our primary job. Ultimately embraces that our goal is to help guests find the love of skiing/riding and the mountains we share.
• Must be able to clearly communicate information that is relevant in an enthusiastic manner to create an exceptional guest experience.
• Serves as a public relations representative for Taos, both on and off the job.
• Looks for ways to better serve the guest, Snowsports, and Taos Ski Valley.
• Participates as a part of a team, essential for the success of the Guest, Instructor, Snowsports School, and Area.
• Cooperates with all area employees and co-workers in the performance of duties.
• Maintains good humor and cooperative attitude.
• Performs other jobs and responsibilities as assigned.

Personal Skills:

• Maintains personal and guest safety as a top priority.
• Can address guests’ needs and goals cognitively, affectively, and physically.
• Reads and complies with Taos employee handbook and Snowsports procedures and policies.
• Is responsible for information; emails, newsletters, informational websites, bulletin boards, memos and required meetings.
• Makes a continued effort to seek training and improve personal skiing/riding skills, teaching skills and coaching knowledge.
• Strong personal character and commitment to Taos Ski Valley, Inc.’s Vision, Purpose, and Values.
• Provides a guest experience that exceeds the guest’s expectations.
• Ability to accept criticism and opportunities gracefully and humbly for growth.
• Ability to stay positive, focused, and constructive when faced with setbacks, challenges, and while working in an ever-changing environment.

Qualifications/Knowledge:

• Must be 18 years of age.
• Instructs group, private and special program lessons of varying abilities as assigned.
• Instruct students of any age, sex, and learning abilities as assigned.
• Must physically, clearly, and accurately demonstrate skiing/snowboarding model at a minimum intermediate level.
• Must be able to share the information and emotions that inspire the guest to return to Taos and the Snowsports School.
• Supplies personal equipment and maintains it in a safe functional and attractive condition.
• Understands and adheres to the Responsibility Code and Skier Safety Act.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including weekends, holidays (including Christmas), and evenings.

Criteria for Evaluations

The Snowsports Instructor is evaluated on performance of duties and take into account a variety of factors some examples are: teaching ability, communication skill, level of guest service, attitude, attendance and punctuality, attire and grooming, initiative, guest comments, student return rate, skiing/riding ability and improvement, technical knowledge, relations with co-workers, and have professionalism, mature and logically sound judgement.

Skill Level I – Non-certified instructor and/or has little to no experience in teaching, guiding, coaching roles

Skill Level II – PSIA/AASI Level I certification and/or equivalent teaching, guiding, coaching experience and/or relevant recreation or education certifications. Qualified intermediate skiing/riding ability.

Skill Level III – Current PSIA/AASI Level II certification and/or equivalent teaching, guiding, coaching experience and/or relevant recreation or education certifications. 2+ years teaching within the snowsports industry. Qualified intermediate skiing/riding ability. Must be able to demonstrate and articulate the skiing/snowboarding model at most levels of skiing/riding physically, clearly, and accurately.

Skill Level IV – Current PSIA/AASI Level III certification and 5+ years teaching within the snowsports industry. Qualified expert skiing/riding ability. Must be able to demonstrate and articulate the skiing/snowboarding model at all levels of skiing/riding physically, clearly, and accurately.

Skill Level V – Current PSIA/AASI Trainers certification and 10+ years teaching within the snowsports industry. Qualified expert skiing/riding ability. Must be able to demonstrate and articulate the skiing/snowboarding model at all levels of skiing/riding physically, clearly, and accurately. Have the ability and motivation to; Share our traditions of stewardship and inclusiveness, inspire deep connections with our mountains and help Create lifelong snowsports enthusiasts; is a critical asset.

Work Environment:

Taos Ski Valley, Inc. is often a fast-paced work environment, especially during Holiday and Peak days. TSVI is in a high-altitude alpine environment. Employees must be prepared to ski, ride, and stand outside for their shift (4-5.5 hours) in changing and potentially extreme weather conditions. Must be able to ski or snowboard proficiently. Position may require travel on uneven, snow-packed, or icy terrain and may be exposed to wet, cold, and/or humid conditions. Must be able to work in close quarters and with other staff.

Physical Demands of Position Include:

• Instructor/Employee has ability to teach skiing or snowboarding while safely navigating the Ski Area in a professional and exemplary manner.
• Instructors must be able to ski, ride, walk, kneel, crawl, carry, reach, stand, stoop, squat and lift equipment or students up to 50lbs while actively teaching and coaching students for the duration of the lesson to complete all daily job duties.
• Instructor/Employee must assist and lift students onto and off chairlifts.

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: Yes
• Is an MVR required for this position: No

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