Ski Cooper is seeking a champion for independent skiing to guide “The Heart of Skiing in the Heart of the Rockies” into its next era. If you are a passionate leader who thrives on developing and coaching high-performing teams, solving dynamic challenges, guiding an authentic underdog through its next phase of growth, and blending time-tested ski industry traditions with forward-thinking strategies, all while building strong community and interagency relationships, you may be our next President & General Manager.
Ski Cooper
Ski Cooper stands proudly as the antithesis of the megaresort. Its origins trace back to the brave men of the 10th Mountain Division who skied the first slopes on Cooper Hill to train and prepare to fight on skis and secure victory in the breakthrough Battle of Mount Belvedere in World War II, successfully breaking the German line and opening the path to the Po Valley. Through its long-term lease agreement with Lake County spanning decades, Ski Cooper has retained an authentic skiing-centric, no-nonsense mission ever since.
Straddling the Continental Divide just outside of America’s highest city, Leadville, CO, the mountain’s high elevation guarantees superior snow quality, while its approachable, down-to-earth atmosphere make it the ideal learning experience for new skiers, and simultaneously a welcome retreat for skiers of all abilities who prefer shorter lines, uncrowded slopes, and accessible prices.
Topping out at 11,700’ elevation, Ski Cooper offers 64 trails served by 5 lifts, spanning 480 lift-served acres. And that’s just the beginning. The 2025 Ski Cooper Master Development Plan, currently in review by the United States Forest Service, guides the way to organic and thoughtful growth true to the mountain’s character, opening the door to $40 Million in improvements including multiple new lifts, major terrain expansion, and significant base area upgrades.
Your Opportunity at Ski Cooper
You have the opportunity to lead a successful 501(c)4 organization at an exciting time of growth. You’ll have ownership of all operations, administration, and management of the ski area, reporting to the Cooper Hill Ski Area, Inc. volunteer Board of Directors.
You’ll confidently navigate the complexities of the day-to-day leadership of the company, while partnering with the Board to ensure long-term strategic and financial goals are achieved.
You’ll develop and coach your team to excellence so you can focus on executive leadership, strategy, growth, and fostering community/interagency relationships, while still maintaining a visible presence around the mountain.
You’ll also be responsible for the next chapter: championing the Ski Cooper Master Development Plan and the strategies and financial planning needed to bring it to fruition.
Compensation, Benefits, and Perks
Anticipated Salary Range: $135,000 - $190,000 annually DOE, plus bonus opportunities
Job Type: Full-Time Year-Round, onsite
Benefits: 100% Employer-Paid Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Supplemental Insurance options, Paid Time Off (PTO), Profit Sharing Retirement Plan
Perks: Free season pass for you and your dependents, Reciprocal Skiing Privileges at many resorts, Complimentary Ski/Snowboard Lessons, On-Premises Discounts
Key Responsibilities
Leadership
- Develop and coach a high-performing team to successfully operate the ski area to high standards of guest satisfaction, safety, and operational excellence
- Identify opportunities to improve organizational structure
- Forge a culture of resilience, high performance, accountability, and teamwork
- Lead and guide succession plans for key roles
- Maintain strong relationships with insurance carriers, industry organizations (NSAA, CPTSB, CSCUSA), and industry peers
- Guide and monitor capital projects from conception to completion
- Model integrity, safety, passion, judgment, and accountability to your team
Financial Stewardship
- Own top-level budgeting and forecasting
- Identify and execute new revenue opportunities
- Analyze Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and develop strategies to improve operational efficiency and maximize revenue opportunities
- Nurture vendor and supplier relationships
- Ensure meticulous financial statements, fully compliant with relevant tax law and GAAP standards
Strategy
- Hone and own the long-term vision and strategic plan true to brand and mission
- Collaborate with stakeholders to address emerging opportunities and challenges
- Apply experience and judgment in prioritizing opportunities and tackling challenges with creative solutions
- Steward the Master Development Plan and its phased execution
Operations
- Provide visible leadership ensuring that all ski area operations are optimized for safety, guest experience, and efficiency, and continuous improvement
- Uphold a culture sensitive to the ever-changing landscape of ski area Risk Management, maintaining current knowledge of emerging risk and compliance topics in the industry
- Ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations, including but not limited to: Labor Law, ANSI B77.1, CPTSB, OSHA
- Maintain compliance with all terms of the USFS Special Use Permit and BOCC Lease Agreement
Guest Experience
- Foster a guest-centric culture across the ski area’s services
- Engage with guests directly and maintain a personal awareness of the guest experience
- Leverage guest feedback to identify opportunities for revenue growth and operational/experiential improvement
Board Accountability
- Maintain strong, proactive communication with the Board of Directors
- Collaborate with the Board, Subcommittees, or individual Board Members as needed on special tasks or initiatives
Community and Interagency Relations
- Engage with local community interests and needs, developing a strong personal connection with the Lake County community as the face and voice of Ski Cooper
- Foster an effective working relationship with the Leadville Ranger District of the United States Forest Service Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands
- Collaborate with the Lake County Board of County Commissioners to understand and address BOCC priorities
Qualifications and Experience
- Seasoned ski resort leadership experience across multiple domains with multi-department responsibility
- Readiness to operate at the General Manager level navigating complex environments (interagency relations, capital development, community engagement, etc.)
- Comfort moving between strategic and operational environments
- Strong proficiency in written and spoken communication, including political and diplomatic acumen for engaging agencies, elected officials, and community stakeholders
- Demonstrated fiscal responsibility successfully managing P&L and driving revenue growth
- Familiarity with ski industry regulatory environments, including ANSI B77.1, the NEPA process, OSHA, and the evolving risk/compliance environment
- Keen capacity for strategic thinking while maintaining disciplined execution
- Proven capacity for effective change management
- Excellent judgment and problem-solving aptitude
Your First Year
Success in your first year as Ski Cooper’s President & General Manager will involve listening, learning, and observing, but you’ll take ownership from day one. You’ll build rapport with your team, your guests, the County Commissioner Representative to the Board, the local USFS District Ranger, industry colleagues and peers, and other key partners. You’ll thoughtfully observe and bolster what is working well, while identifying opportunities for growth and improvement. You’ll insist on operational and fiscal excellence and begin developing a clear path into the future. You’ll engage with the insights and feedback of your senior team as you craft a vision for Ski Cooper’s continued long-term success. And you’ll ski: with your team, with your guests.
Working Conditions
The President & General Manager position is primarily indoors, but it also involves outside work with possible exposure to temperature extremes (above 85 degrees and below 20 degrees), sun and wind exposure, inclement weather (rain, ice, snow), and high altitudes (10,500+ feet).
Physical Requirements
Must be able to walk on even/uneven/slippery terrain, climb/descend even/uneven/slippery terrain, climb/descend stairs, stand and/or sit for long periods of time, bend, stoop, reach, pull, lift objects that may be heavy, and be comfortable around and operating heavy equipment.
Other Requirements
- Must be 21+ with a current and valid Driver’s License
- Ski Cooper employment requires legal authorization to work in the U.S.
- Combination of education and experience commensurate with job duties
- High School Diploma or GED Required
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field highly desired.
- Advanced skiing or snowboarding ability
Every application will be reviewed by a real human member of the Ski Cooper team, and will receive a response regarding your candidacy. We believe you deserve the same respect and professionalism we expect from our own team.
Ski Cooper is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.
Resume and Cover Letter are required for the application process.
