Director of Facilities & Mountain Operations

Are you a seasoned mountain operation professional with a passion for leadership, strategy, and the great outdoors? Giants Ridge, managed by Guest Services, is seeking a Director of Facilities & Mountain Operations to oversee the year-round operations of our premier resort in Northern Minnesota. 

In this critical leadership role, you’ll manage all aspects of mountain and facility operations – from lift operations and snowmaking to vehicle maintenance, landscaping, and infrastructure planning. This is your chance to shape the future of a beloved resort destination while working closely with a passionate team and supportive leadership. 

If you’re ready to bring your leadership, planning, and operations experience to a unique and exciting role, we’d love to hear from you!

This is a $87,360 - $96,720 salaried position commensurate with experience. 

What We’re Looking For:

§ Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience (8-10 years) in related field

§ 5 years in senior leadership role managing multiple departments

§ Strong knowledge of ski resort operations, including grooming, snowmaking, and terrain management

§ Financial management experience and strong administrative skills

§ Ability to work outdoors year-round in variable conditions

§ Proficiency with Microsoft Suite and operational software

Why Work at Giants Ridge?

§ Comprehensive Health Coverage – Stay covered with medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, plus access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for additional support. We also offer HSAs, FSAs and more to help you manage healthcare costs.

§ Retirement Savings – Play for your future with our 401(k) retirement plan, featuring a company match to help you build financial security. 

§ Paid Time Off – Take time to rest, relax and recharge with generous PTO.

§ Mountain Perks – Enjoy free employee passes and discounts for your family so you can hit the slopes and trails all season long!

§ Exclusive Golf Privileges – Hit the greens with complimentary golfing at our two championship golf courses.

§ Exclusive Discounts – Save on delicious food, stylish apparel and must-have accessories while working at Giants Ridge. 

§ Work with Friends – Join a fun, supportive team where every day feels like an adventure.

§ Flexible Scheduling – We offer flexible schedules to fit your lifestyle, but some evening, weekend and holiday shifts are required to keep up with the excitement at Giants Ridge.

§ And More! – Additional perks and surprises that make Giants Ridge a great place to work!

Giants Ridge is the #1-rated family vacation destination in Minnesota. Located just north of Duluth in the heart of Minnesota’s Superior National Forest, Giants Ridge is a four-season family-oriented resort offering fun and adventure for every level of outdoor enthusiast. Summer is filled with world-class golf, plus mountain biking, water recreation and more. Winter brings incredible skiing, snowboarding, fat tire biking and endless miles of snowmobile trails to explore, plus dining, shopping and much more. Spring and fall seasons are the perfect transitions to the next season of outdoor adventure.  

Job Summary

The Director of Facilities & Mountain Operations provides leadership, management and direction to year-round mountain and facilities maintenance operations at Giants Ridge. This position reports to the General Manager and works alongside other directors and managers in developing and executing company initiatives.

Essential Functions

§ Oversee the overall mountain operations including lift operations, lift maintenance, vehicle maintenance, snowmaking, grooming, trail maintenance, patrol, transportation, terrain parks, roads and base operations, buildings, landscaping and water usage.

§ Ensures ski lifts are maintained and operated in accordance with the rules and regulations of appropriate regulatory bodies, as well as company standards and guidelines.

§ Ensures adequate, year-round facilities maintenance and transition between seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall) landscaping, weatherproofing, preventative and regular maintenance. 

§ Oversight of year-round assessments of grounds and facilities, including pre-season and post-season maintenance assessments; adequately addresses immediate action items.

§ Creates a positive work culture that provides excellent guest service to guests.

§ Oversight of all related equipment and personnel.

§ Accountable for daily operations, future planning, strategizing on mountain, grounds, and facilities improvements to meet guest and company expectations.

§ Year-round project management, construction and maintenance, lift repairs, hill and trail maintenance.

§ Oversight of all vehicle/rolling stock including but not limited to: vehicles, groomers, heavy equipment/machinery, and ensuring all drivers are licensed and all vehicles are maintained in accordance with DOT regulations and company policies.

§ Monitoring and maintenance of infrastructure and essential systems including but not limited to: water, sewer, temperature control, parking lot and roads outside of municipality control.

§ Oversees snow removal in parking lots and necessary access areas.

§ Designs, implements and maintains policies and procedures.

§ Develops employee schedules and completes payroll.

§ Develop long and short-range maintenance plans/programs (Capital projects, EAP’s, energy management plans, budget plans, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring resources are effectively utilized.

§ Works collectively and collaboratively across all departments to address maintenance, facilities and mountain operations needs.

§ Inspects new constructions, repair work, projects, equipment, work orders, daily maintenance and supplies for the purpose of ensuring work is completed efficiently and correctly; specifications for major capital improvements are within local/state/federal regulations and approving inspection reports and payment requests.

§ Oversees and directs invoicing for appropriate coding and processing.

§ Ensures all training and maintenance work is properly logged, recorded and maintained.

§ Maintains logs of preventative, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance to all equipment.

§ Ensures security of facilities and inventories, inventory tracking and ordering controls and procurement.

§ Ensures safety and security training is completed with adherence to local/state and federal laws.

§ Attends and actively participates in all operational meetings and required company functions.

§ Manages budgets, including preparation, explanation and execution.

§ Interviews, selects, trains and directs managers and supervisors; monitors performance through regular evaluations, staff development and guidance.

§ Performs other duties as assigned. 

Skill and Knowledge Requirements

§ Bachelors degree from a four-year college or university; or eight (8) to ten (10) years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

§ Effective interpersonal skills, written and verbal communication; strong public speaker.

§ A minimum of five (5) years working in a senior leadership role managing multiple departments.

§ Extensive knowledge of ski area operations including snowmaking, grooming and summer mountain operations.

§ Reading and writing work-related documents in English. Ability to read and understand technical manuals, diagrams and instructions.

§ Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Suite. Ability to learn and implement new computer program systems.

§ Ability to lead people, manage time and accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously. 

§ Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.

§ Strong financial management skills.

§ Ability to ski/snowboard all terrain safely.

§ Must possess a valid Class D Driver’s License with an insurable driving record, CDL a plus.

Physical Requirements

§ Must be able to work extended hours outdoors in adverse weather conditions, including extreme cold and heat.

§ Must have the ability to walk, hike, stand, climb and balance on variable uneven terrain.

§ Ability to safely operate snowmobiles, snow grooming equipment, heavy equipment and all-terrain vehicles in difficult, uneven terrain.

§ Lifting, carrying, and pushing up to twenty-five (25) pounds regularly, thirty (30) to fifty (50) pounds frequently, and up to seventy-five (75) pounds occasionally.

§ Ability to work days, evenings, overnights, weekends and holidays as business needs dictate.

Equipment Used

§ Ski Lifts

§ Mechanical Tools

§ Alpine Grooming and heavy Equipment

§ Telephone

§ Two-way radio

§ Snowmobile and ATV equipment

§ Various office equipment including computers

§ Specialized electronics and related software