Job Description

About Us

Eleven is like no other place. We’re an adventure travel company with a diverse portfolio of intimate, extraordinary adventure lodges in remote locations around the world. We strive to give every one of our guests the best day of their life everyday, whether heli-skiing near the Arctic Circle in Iceland or casting for bonefish on a remote island in the Bahamas. At each destination our guided backcountry adventures await guests of all ages and skill levels. Our lodges, chalets, and beach houses combine five-star accommodations with incredible cuisine. To our guests we are trusted, down to Earth, smart, innovative, discrete and fun. To our international team, we are a community with genuine camaraderie, and we value creativity, work ethic, kindness, and strong communication. Our success is dependent on our employees’ well being, and we continue to evolve more programs and benefits to support work life balance, and remain open to ideas, feedback, and new sustainable approaches. We take pride in promoting employees from within who prove to be committed, valuable, and have a genuine desire to grow.

Irwin Backcountry Guides is seeking an experienced Snow Safety Manager to lead avalanche mitigation and snow safety operations in Crested Butte, Colorado. This role is responsible for developing and executing snow safety programs, monitoring weather and snowpack conditions, managing hazard mitigation activities, and helping ensure the safety of guests, staff, and operations in mountain environments. The ideal candidate has strong avalanche knowledge, leadership experience, sound judgment, and the ability to perform in dynamic winter conditions. This is a full-time, season position offering a salary of $6,000 per month. The Winter season runs mid-November through mid-April.

Position Purpose

The Snow Safety Manager is a member of the Irwin Guides leadership team with primary responsibilities focused on avalanche forecasting, assessment, mitigation, training, and documentation. The Snow Safety manager supports the Mountain Manager and Guide Manager with operations supervisor and guiding duties as needed.

Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks

Daily

• Lead avalanche forecasting, assessment, and hazard mitigation efforts
  • Manage the snow safety portion of AM & PM guide meetings.
  • Manage all run openings and closings
• Work as a certified Blaster-in-Charge during avalanche mitigation
• Perform operations manager and/or guiding duties as required

Ongoing

• Oversee weather, snowpack, and avalanche database entry
• Oversee daily observations submission
• Collaborate on snow safety scheduling
• Produce avalanche incident documentation
• Purchase, store, and document explosive usage per Colorado and ATF requirements
  • Maintain current State and Federal explosives permits and licenses.
  • Serve as an ATF Responsible Person

Seasonal

• Develop and manage the explosives training program
• Develop and manage snow safety mentorship and training programs
• Manage the boot packing program
• Create the snow safety portion of the End of Season Report
• Oversee revisions of Avalanche Rescue and Snow Safety Operating Plans

Preferred Qualifications

• Pro 2 Avalanche Certification or equivalent.
• Minimum Wilderness First Responder & CPR Certification.
• Colorado Type 1 Explosives Permit or the ability to obtain one
• Minimum of 5 years ski industry supervisory experience
• Minimum of 10 years professional snow safety experience
• High level operational weather and avalanche forecasting skills
• High level operational risk management skills
• Strong organization and communication skills
• Strong work ethic, teamwork, and dynamic decision making skills.
• High level self and social awareness
• Experience with professional mentoring and training

Special Position Requirements

• Must be comfortable traveling in complex avalanche terrain
• Must be comfortable transporting, storing, assembling, and detonating explosives

Work Requirements

• Expert skiing skills
• Must be able to snowmobile to/from Irwin in all conditions
• Must be able to work all day in a high elevation extreme winter weather environment
• Must be able to lift 50+ pounds repeatedly.