Pro Patroller
Seat: Alpine Patroller (Pro Patrol)
Department: Patrol
Reports To: Patrol Manager/Director
In Shift: Slope Lead
Status: Seasonal | Full-Time or Part-Time
Regular Schedule: Weekends, holidays, and peak operating periods expected; schedule may include early mornings, evenings, and extended shifts based on mountain conditions and operational needs.
Compensation: $22-$29per hour - Pending Experience
Seat Overview
The Alpine Patroller is a professional member of the Ski Patrol team responsible for providing emergency medical response, mountain rescue, terrain safety, risk mitigation, and guest assistance across resort operations. This position combines strong skiing/snowboarding ability, emergency medical skills, sound judgment, and a proactive approach to mountain safety.
Alpine Patrollers perform daily terrain inspections, establish and maintain hazard controls, respond to medical and rescue incidents, complete opening and closing procedures, and support emergency preparedness throughout the mountain. Patrollers are expected to remain calm and decisive in rapidly changing conditions while providing professional, respectful care and assistance to guests and employees.
This is a physically demanding, outdoor position requiring strong technical skills, situational awareness, teamwork, and the ability to make sound decisions in challenging mountain and weather conditions.
Seat Purpose
Provide professional emergency response, terrain safety, risk mitigation, and guest support to maintain a safe, responsive, and well-managed mountain environment.
Core Accountabilities
- Emergency Response & Patient Care: Deliver timely, skilled medical assessment, treatment, stabilization, and transportation of injured or ill guests and employees in accordance with established medical protocols and patrol standards.
- Terrain Safety & Hazard Mitigation: Inspect assigned terrain, identify and address hazards, and maintain appropriate signage, fencing, padding, closures, and other controls to support safe mountain operations throughout the day.
- Opening & Closing Execution: Complete assigned opening, ongoing inspection, sweep, and closing responsibilities to ensure terrain is appropriately evaluated, controlled, and cleared before and after public operation.
- Rescue & Emergency Preparedness: Maintain readiness and proficiency for mountain rescue, lift evacuation, missing-person response, severe weather, and other emergency procedures requiring patrol intervention.
- Guest Safety & Mountain Conduct: Provide professional guest assistance, communicate mountain safety expectations, and appropriately address unsafe behavior or violations of resort policies and skier responsibility standards.
- Equipment & Operational Readiness: Maintain medical supplies, rescue equipment, toboggans, patrol facilities, and assigned gear in safe, organized, and response-ready condition.
- Communication & Documentation: Maintain clear communication with patrol leadership, dispatch, and mountain operations while completing accurate and timely incident, patient care, terrain, and operational documentation.
Qualifications & Competencies
Required
- Current or ability to obtain CPR/AED certification appropriate to the level of medical care provided.
- Strong alpine skiing ability with the ability to safely and confidently navigate assigned resort terrain in varying snow, weather, visibility, and traffic conditions.
- Ability to successfully complete required patrol skiing, toboggan handling, medical, rescue, and operational competency evaluations.
- Ability to assess changing conditions, recognize hazards, and make sound decisions in high-pressure or time-sensitive situations.
- Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with guests, coworkers, leadership, and emergency response personnel.
- Ability to remain calm, professional, and compassionate while responding to injuries, emergencies, difficult guest interactions, and stressful situations.
- Strong dependability and ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a coordinated patrol team.
- Ability and willingness to work weekends, holidays, early mornings, evenings, and peak operating periods as scheduled.
- Valid driver's license if operation of resort vehicles or snowmobiles is required for assigned duties.
Preferred
- Current emergency medical certification appropriate to resort Patrol requirements, such as Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC), Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or other approved equivalent.
- Previous professional or volunteer ski patrol experience.
- Previous experience providing emergency medical care in outdoor, remote, ski area, or similar environments.
- Advanced medical certification, including EMT or higher.
- National Ski Patrol or comparable patrol training and experience.
- Experience with alpine rescue, lift evacuation, rope systems, incident command, search and rescue, or other technical rescue disciplines.
- Previous experience operating snowmobiles or other mountain operations equipment.
- Familiarity with ski area operations, trail systems, mountain risk management practices, and applicable industry standards.
Physical & Environmental Requirements
This position performs physically demanding work primarily outdoors in a mountain environment. Team members must be able to:
- Ski confidently and safely across assigned resort terrain while carrying patrol and medical equipment.
- Operate and control loaded and unloaded rescue toboggans in varying terrain and snow conditions.
- Lift, carry, push, pull, and maneuver patients, equipment, fencing, padding, signs, and other patrol materials, with assistance when appropriate.
- Perform emergency medical and rescue activities in confined, uneven, steep, slippery, or otherwise challenging environments.
- Frequently stand, walk, ski, bend, kneel, crouch, climb, reach, and perform repetitive physical movements throughout a shift.
- Work for extended periods outdoors in cold temperatures, snow, wind, precipitation, low visibility, and rapidly changing mountain conditions.
- Work at elevation and travel over uneven, icy, steep, or snow-covered terrain.
- Wear required personal protective equipment and carry necessary patrol equipment for extended periods.
- Maintain the physical stamina necessary to respond to multiple incidents and changing operational demands throughout the workday.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Work Environment & Schedule Expectations
The Alpine Patroller works primarily outdoors across skiable terrain, lift areas, patrol facilities, and other mountain operating environments. Work conditions may change rapidly based on weather, snowfall, terrain conditions, guest volume, emergencies, and operational needs.
Ski Patrol operates when guests are on the mountain, making weekends, holidays, and peak operating periods a regular expectation of the position. Scheduled shifts may begin before public opening or extend beyond closing to complete terrain inspections, opening procedures, sweep, incident response, documentation, or other operational responsibilities.
Patrollers may also be required to respond to emergencies or changing mountain conditions that extend beyond the normally scheduled workday. Consistent attendance, punctuality, and readiness for scheduled shifts are essential due to the safety-critical nature of Patrol operations.
Safety & Professional Expectations
Safety is a fundamental responsibility of every Alpine Patroller. Patrollers are expected to follow established medical protocols, patrol procedures, resort policies, and applicable safety requirements; use appropriate personal protective equipment; immediately communicate significant hazards or safety concerns; and never perform work beyond their training, authorization, or established protocols.
Because Alpine Patrollers regularly interact with injured guests and may encounter sensitive or distressing situations, discretion, professionalism, sound judgment, and appropriate handling of confidential information are required at all times.
Disclaimer: The statements above describe the general nature of the seat, but they are not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or skills required.
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities as needed. In addition, as we are a recreational business, availability on peak holiday timeframes and weekends is required.
