Sugar Bowl Resort is seeking a passionate, knowledgeable, and inspiring Snowsports School Training Manager to lead the professional development of one of California's most beloved ski resort instructor teams. This is a high-impact leadership role for an experienced snow sports professional who believes that great teaching is a craft - one that can always be refined, elevated, and passed on.
You'll own the design and delivery of Sugar Bowl's season-long instructor training program, building the skills, confidence, and methodology of our apprentice, certified, and supervisory staff from opening day through the end of the season. You'll set the standard for what great instruction looks like at Sugar Bowl, and you'll inspire your team to meet and exceed it every single day on the mountain.
This is a role for someone who leads from the front - on snow, in clinics, and in the culture of the Snowsports School.
Why Sugar Bowl?
Sugar Bowl Resort has been proudly independent for over 80 years and is one of the oldest ski resorts in California. Situated atop beautiful Donner Summit, Sugar Bowl has a storied past with ties to Austrian ski culture, Hollywood and Walt Disney. This special community helped bring skiing to “sunny California” since December 1939. Since then, it continues to attract adventurous winter sports enthusiasts alike.
Who you are
You are a highly credentialed, deeply experienced snow sports professional with a genuine love of teaching - and teaching teachers. You bring a sophisticated understanding of skiing and snowboarding technique, adult learning principles, and what it takes to develop instructors at every stage of their career. You're as comfortable leading an on-snow clinic with apprentices as you are presenting methodology to a room full of Level 3s.
You're organized, communicative, and culturally influential. You set high standards and create the conditions for others to rise to meet them. You understand that a strong training culture is one of the most powerful retention and recruitment tools a Snowsports School has, and you take that seriously.
Experience & Qualifications:
- PSIA/AASI education staff experience or PSIA/AASI National Team experience PSIA/AASI Level 3
- PSIA/AASI Children's Specialist II certification
- Cross-certification in alpine and/or snowboard disciplines preferred
- 5 + years of resort industry experience, including demonstrated instructor training clinician experience
- Deep knowledge of ski and snowboard mechanics, movement analysis, and progressive teaching methodology
- Experience designing and delivering structured training programs, clinics, and professional development curricula
- Familiarity with current PSIA/AASI certification pathways and exam preparation processes
- Ability to ski and ride at an expert level in all terrain and conditions
- Strong written, verbal, and radio communication skills
- Proficiency with MS Office;
- Ability to learn RTP and Flaik scheduling software
- Ability to build positive relationships across all levels of the Snowsports School and resort organization
- Must be available to work weekends and holidays
Bonus Points:
- Experience managing or mentoring supervisors and senior instructors
- Bilingual or multilingual - ability to support a diverse, multilingual instructor workforce
- Experience developing onboarding programs for high-volume, seasonal workforces
- Cross over certification (Ski and Board)
- Freestyle/Freeski certification
What you will do
Training Program Design & Delivery
- Own the design, development, and delivery of Sugar Bowl Snowsports School's season-long instructor training program - from pre-season preparation through end-of-season review
- Build and maintain a structured training calendar that serves instructors at every level: apprentice, certified (L1–L3), & the leadership pathway
- Lead on-snow clinics, movement analysis sessions, teaching practicums, and methodology workshops throughout the season
- Develop training resources including written guides, video references, assessment rubrics, and clinic plans that instructors can reference and grow from
- Continuously evaluate and evolve training content to reflect current PSIA/AASI standards, guest experience goals, and industry best practices
- Partner with Snowsports School management to align training priorities with departmental goals including NPS scores, safety outcomes, and staff retention
Instructor Development & Certification Support
- Identify and track individual instructor development needs across the full team, creating personalized growth pathways for staff at all levels
- Prepare and support instructors pursuing PSIA/AASI certification exams, providing structured clinic preparation, feedback, and encouragement
- Mentor apprentice instructors through Sugar Bowl's in-house training program, building the foundational skills and confidence they need to become effective, independent instructors
Guest Experience & Safety Standards
- Champion a culture of guest-centered instruction across the full Snowsports School team, ensuring that training methodology always connects back to real, positive guest outcomes
- Partner with supervisors to monitor lesson quality on the hill, providing real-time coaching and follow-up development as needed
- Uphold and reinforce safe teaching practices, terrain selection standards, and risk management protocols across all instructional staff
- Serve as a resource for guest feedback related to lesson quality, working with management to identify trends and addressing gaps through targeted training
Culture & Values
- Model and champion Sugar Bowl's core values in every interaction and on every run
- Cultivate a Snowsports School culture where learning is celebrated, feedback is welcomed, and every instructor feels supported in their growth
- Partner with HR on instructor recognition, retention strategies, and professional development programming that keeps great talent coming back season after season
Physical Requirements
This is a physically demanding, outdoor leadership role performed on the mountain and around resort facilities in Sierra Nevada winter conditions. Candidates must be able to meet the following requirements:
- Prolonged physical activity on snow including skiing, riding, walking in ski boots, and standing on varied terrain
- Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions typical of Donner Summit - including heavy snowfall, high winds, freezing temperatures, ice, flat light, and reduced visibility - full days, every scheduled shift
- Ability to lift, carry, and move equipment and materials weighing up to 50 pounds
- Ability to perform snow removal and general physical facility maintenance tasks as needed
- Sufficient cardiovascular endurance to sustain high-output physical activity at altitude (approximately 7,500 – 8,383 ft elevation)
- Visual and auditory acuity sufficient to monitor staff, guests, and mountain conditions across a wide operational area
- Must be able to dress appropriately for and safely tolerate sustained exposure to heavy winter weather
Winter Benefits
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Seasonal training opportunity
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Tiered equipment reimbursement based on qualifying hours, available upon return the following season
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Certification reimbursement, available upon return the following season
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Employer sponsored 401k plan after 1000hrs (and 1-yr)
- Professional Development Opportunities
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Free ski and tubing passes for employees
- Free ski passes for dependents
- 50% off food at our cafeterias
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Free group ski and snowboard lessons for employees
- Excellent discounts on competitive and non-competitive Snow Sports Programs
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Employee discounted lift tickets for family and friends
- Lift ticket discounts at tons of resorts including 24 destinations thanks to the Mountain Collective
- Hotel discounts
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Employee ski reciprocal programs
- Discounted group lessons for dependents
Sugar Bowl Resort believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants because of race, color, hair, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender orientation, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance or regulation. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.
