A mountain manager is typically responsible for the running of a mountain ski resort and is often employed either by the state in which the resort is located or by the owner of the resort. He or she is usually responsible for planning and establishing a budget for the running of the resort and other facilities throughout each year, and then ensuring the budget is met. Other duties will typically include ensuring equipment is properly serviced, keeping food and drink operations running, and overseeing all other aspects of the resort. A mountain manager may need educational and professional experience both in terms of hospitality management and in business and finances.
Though a mountain manager may be employed by a state, he or she is not necessarily a government employee and is typically more like a private manager of a resort. This type of job is usually associated with ski resorts, though other mountain resorts may have similar needs and require this type of manager. The typical responsibilities of a mountain manager include ensuring the smooth operations of the resort he or she is managing and overseeing all of the other employees that help ensure the resort is successful and profitable.
One of the most important functions of a mountain manager is to establish the yearly budget for the resort he or she is managing, and then ensuring that the budget is properly met. This often requires some abstract thought and the ability to anticipate many issues that may come up throughout the year. Since a mountain manager is usually responsible for a ski resort, he or she will likely have to consider how severe cold weather and snow may impact the operations and equipment of the resort. Such weather can make machines break down sooner and may require more costly upkeep of buildings and vehicles used by the resort, so financial planning can be quite complex.
While other employees are typically hired to handle repairs of ski lifts, keep snow slopes looking nice, and serve food and drinks to visitors, a mountain manager will usually oversee these employees and ensure operations are running smoothly. Much like any other type of management, different managers will use different styles, and a mountain manager should have a good ability to communicate and manage multiple employees and tasks. This type of manager may also need to have a sense of advertising and business as well, since he or she may also be in charge of marketing and ensuring the resort is successful.
