Snowmaking Lead

The Snowmaking Lead plays a key leadership role in the Snowmaking Department, overseeing nightly operations to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality snow production across the mountain. As the on-shift leader, this individual coordinates crew workloads, responds to changing weather conditions, and communicates closely with departments like Grooming and Lift Operations to align with resort priorities. 

Candidates should have 2-4 years of snowmaking experience, strong technical knowledge of both manual and automatic snowmaking systems, and proven leadership in cold, physically demanding environments. The role requires excellent judgment, communication, and a strong commitment to safety and teamwork during overnight and early-morning shifts.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead and supervise snowmaking crew during assigned shifts, ensuring efficient and safe operations in line with resort standards.
• Monitor and operate SmartSnow 7 and automated/manual snowmaking systems to produce consistent, high-quality snow.
• Interpret weather conditions (wet-bulb temperature, humidity, wind) and adjust snowmaking plans accordingly.
• Operate and oversee use of snowmaking equipment: fan guns, hydrants, hoses, valves, and compressors.
• Manage the safe start-up, shutdown, setup, and relocation of snow guns and equipment based on terrain and weather needs.
• Enforce all snowmaking safety protocols, including proper PPE usage, lockout/tagout procedures, and equipment handling.
• Conduct and supervise routine inspections and maintenance on snowmaking equipment and systems.
• Ensure proper vehicle operation and documentation, including UTVs, tracked UTV’s, snowmobiles, and snowcats.
• Prevent damage to natural and resort infrastructure, including lifts, buildings, and sensitive terrain.
• Maintain clear communication with supervisors, groomers, terrain park staff, lift operations, and ski patrol.
• Train and mentor lower level snowmakers, supporting their growth in snowmaking technical skills and understanding of safety and resort procedures.
• Monitor and maintain gun run conditions, including shoveling snow, clearing hoses, and applying proper padding.
• Ensure efficient use of resources, reducing waste of water, electricity, and fuel in accordance with sustainability goals.
• Know the area of the mountain covered by the snowmaking system - locations of pumphouse, hydrants, valves, Electrical boxes, layout of the snowmaking system, and the general terrain.
• Properly operate and care for all equipment used, such as trucks, snowmobiles, tracked vehicles, pumps, snow guns, hoses, valves, hydrants, radios and lights.
• Maintain snowmaking closures and padding around all snowmaking equipment.
• Leads Snowmaking team in ensuring each vehicle utilized by the department is checked out at the beginning of each shift and is in working order per the Arizona Snowbowl Mechanic’s checkout sheet (QR code label on each). Responsible for logging issues and coordinating repair with Arizona Snowbowl Mechanics.
• Operate snowmobiles, UTV’s and tracked UTV’s as directed by the Arizona Snowbowl UTV/ATV and Snowmobile Manual.
• Trained in Arizona Snowbowl’s Lockout/Tagout program and how/when to properly mark equipment as unsafe and prevent its use.
• Disciplinary action to include write ups for safety violations or other workplace infractions, to be communicated with Snowmaking Supervisor for evaluation on if further action is needed.
• Personal responsibility for time keeping through the Paycom System. Your time needs to be entered at the beginning and end of each shift and correctly completed each day and verified at the end of each pay period. 

Other Responsibilities:

• Complete necessary paperwork such as fuel logs, repair orders, timecards, in a timely manner.
• Utilize Smart Snow for the purpose of daily reporting and remote operation of the snowmaking system.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: 

• 2-4 Years of Snowmaking experience with demonstrated competence.
• 1 -2 year minimum knowledge of pumps operational procedures, automated systems (SmartSnow 7 or equivalent) and other equipment used in snowmaking. 
• Comfortable working outdoors for extended periods in cold, wet, and high-altitude conditions.
• Intermediate mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills to recognize minor or major snowmaking equipment malfunctions.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in a team-oriented environment.
• Heavy equipment experience preferred (Snowcat).
• Ability to ski or snowboard in all terrain types is required.

• Knowledge of environmental and energy-efficient snowmaking practices.

• Alertness, precision, initiative, ingenuity, common sense, decision-making, problem-solving, analytic ability, judgment, patience, concentration, spatial perception, creativity, auditory, tactile, and visual  are necessary mental abilities.
• Must be able to pass a written and driving test for snowmobiles, ATVs, UTVs, tracked UTV’s and Snowcats.
• Requires interpersonal skills to work closely with other snowmakers as well as other mountain operation departments.

Education or Formal Training: 

• Valid Driver’s License with a clean driving record is required to operate vehicles on roads on Snowbowl property.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Technical training or certifications in mountain operations or equipment maintenance preferred.

Other Specific Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be able to work weekends and holidays as well as swing and/or night shifts.
• Must be able to work 12 hour shifts potentially longer.

Material and Equipment Directly Used:

Flashlights, Radios, 1/2 ton pick-up truck, UTV’s, Tracked UTV’s, Snowmaking guns, Snow hoses with couplers, Wrenches, Hammers, Shovels, Picks, Digging bars, Trailers, Confined space rescue equipment, and other related industrial tools and supplies.

Working Environment/ Physical Activities:

• The majority of the workday is spent outdoors at night in a mountain environment, in constantly changing weather conditions to include extreme cold, snow, and wet. 25% of the time is spent sitting (riding in a tracked vehicle), 55% walking and hiking and 20% standing. Must have the ability to hike for sustained periods of time at a high elevation and in inclement, unpredictable and cold weather conditions at night. 
• Frequently bending, kneeling, handling, reaching, grasping and performing repetitive motions like climbing, balancing, stooping, crouching, handling, operating controls, and feeling objects. 
• Frequently engaging in radio transmission.
• Noise levels can reach 100 decibels (without hearing protection) six hours of the workday. With hearing protection noise levels reach approximately 71 decibels. Wearing Ear protection is required when making snow on-hill.
• Frequently using far acuity, depth perception, accommodation and field of vision.
• Frequent exposure to mechanical and electrical hazards.