Avalanche Technician Team Leader

Reports To: Director of Public Safety

Position Overview:
These are avalanche technicians who have proven skills and competence leading team members through avalanche terrain for active avalanche control work and data collections. These staff are also senior staff members and are responsible for having a high skill level to mentor junior staff and many safety operations topics and training.

This is a full-time seasonal role working within the Safety Operations Department. This position has a compressed schedule/two-week rotating cycle: may work nine (9) hours per day or Ten and a half (10.5) hours per day (operating season) and eight (8) or ten (10) hours per day (non-operating season) depending on operational requirements.

The incumbent should expect to be working outside in any, all and sometimes adverse weather conditions.

The first 90 working days of employment for full/part time seasonal employees is a probationary period.

Job Duties

• Identify and address safety concerns pertaining to staff and guests while working in a safe and efficient manner
• Perform the daily tasks associated with Marmot Basin’s Avalanche Safety Plan
• Travel in and through avalanche terrain on skis, snowmobiles and snow cats
• Lead single teams through avalanche terrain for active avalanche control and data collection
• Use rope and mountaineering travel skills to travel through alpine terrain as part of a team
• Collect weather and snowpack information, teach the same to others and analyse the information collected
• Use communication, signage, explosives, ski cutting, PPE and other tools to help mitigate avalanche risk
• Under the direction of forecaster(s), prepare daily avalanche forecast and nowcasts
• Under the direction of the forecaster(s), communicate avalanche risk and terrain status to staff and guests
• Submit weather, avalanche and snowpack observations to the InfoEx.
• Assist in emergency situations including, but not limited to: Avalanches, First Aid, MCI, Rope Rescue, Chair lift evacuation, fire, missing people, spills, fatalities, animal attacks and explosions
• Under the direction of the Director of Public Safety (DPS), assist with the instruction of staff regarding on-slope risk management topics including: Hazard identification and marking, Radio communication, Toboggan handling, and other topics as directed
• Under the direction of the DPS, create teaching resources as well as provide instruction in the risk management of, and response to: Avalanches, First Aid, MCI, Rope Rescue, Chair lift evacuations, fires, spills, missing people, fatalities, animal attacks, explosions and other topics as directed
• Under the direction of the DPS, present avalanche and snowpack risk management information to staff, managers and guests
• Communicate snowpack and weather information to the DPS or their designate.
• Ensure that the DPS or their designate is informed of on-hill risk that may have the potential to affect life or property if the residual risk exists outside of Marmot Basin’s Operational risk band
• Insure other, staff working in their control team, work in safe and efficient manner and following all applicable policies, SOP’s and guideline.
• Data and database management
• Assist with Marmot Basin’s on slope Risk Management program as outlined in Marmot Basin’s Safety Operations Manual
• Work with outside agencies as required
• Preform all job duties of a grade three (3) ski patroller as required

• Respect and adhere to the company’s policies and procedures as set in the “Corporate Policies”, “Employee Handbook” and “Safety Operations Training Manuals”
• Understand and adhere to Ski Marmot Basin’s “Harassment Policy” and the company’s “Privacy Policy”.
• Report all damage or problems with company vehicles to the Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor
• Other duties as assigned by your supervisor.


Qualifications:
• Has a minimum of three years of experience or more working in an active avalanche control program, or five years of experience working/volunteering in other roles
• Previous experience working in a continental snowpack (preferred)
• Alberta class 5 Driver’s license or equivalent
• Demonstrated strong skiing ability in all mountain and snow conditions in “Advanced/Most Difficult” and “Expert/Extreme” terrain and any snow conditions. Has demonstrated during work and by being marked as “exceeding standard” in the safety operations ski assessment.
• Physically fit and able to ski with heavy loads (25+ kg). Has proven physical ability to perform all Avalanche Technician tasks
• 80 hour advanced First Aid course or higher and successful completion of the advanced protocol training program and has a current CPR certification