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) or Ski Patrol Supervisor, 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 Training Manual
• Report all damage or problems with company vehicles to the Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor
• Work with outside agencies as required
• Preform all job duties of a Grade three (3) ski patroller as required
• Other duties as assigned by your Supervisor.

Supplementary:

• Respect and adhere to the company’s policies and procedures as set in the “Corporate Policies”, “Employee Handbook” and “Safety Operations Training Manual”
• Understand and adhere to Ski Marmot Basin’s “Harassment Policy” and the company’s “Privacy Policy”.

Qualifications:

• Has exceeded all Ski Patroller Grade 3 Job duties and performance requirements.
• 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
• Drivers abstract on file and re-submitted annually.
• Demonstrated strong skiing ability in all mountain and snow conditions in “Advanced/Most Difficult” and “Expert/Extreme” terrain and any snow conditions

• 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

• Current CPR certification
• Successful completion of the advanced protocol training program
• Canadian Avalanche Association Industry Training Program Level 2 (preferred)
• Canadian Avalanche Association basic weather course
• Canadian Avalanche Association AvSar course
• Incident Command System ICS 200
• Avalanche Practitioner, in good standing, with Canadian Avalanche Association  
• Yearly submission of CAA CPD sheets to the DPS
• Intermediate/Advanced snowmobile operator
• Alberta non-mining explosives license
• 8 hours yearly of Explosives related CPD
• Transportation of Dangerous Good by ground
• Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Air (preferred)
• Attended Marmot Basin’s Annual explosives refresher
• Natural Resources Canada Explosive Regulatory Division letter or other approved documentation on file to handle high powered explosives
• Completed and be signed off on Marmot Basin’s avalanche control route leader check list
• Clear Criminal Record and Vulnerable Person Record Check on file with Human Resources
• Completed the Workplace hazardous materials training (WHMIS)
• Completion of working at heights training
• Advanced RIT training (preferred)
• Rope rescue training/certification (preferred)
• Maintain a fall arrest/rope training/work log book

Performance Requirements:

General:

• Successfully complete the Marmot Basin First Aid refresher including advanced protocols

• Attend Marmot Basin’s annual explosives refresher
• Able to manage, organize and communicate effectively with staff

• Advanced understanding of all sections of Marmot Basin’s Safety Operations Training Manual, policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and First Aid algorithms. Be able to appropriately apply these concepts.
• Proven competency with radio protocols, knows all 10 codes, emergency colour calls, standard radio calls, as well as professional use of the radio
• Can demonstrate a high level of practical first aid experience; a minimum of 80 patient interactions. Apply this experience to many situations and perform and lead patient treatment and extrication in all Marmot Basin terrain including lead teams in the applications of the advanced first aid protocols.
• High skill level of Rescue Toboggan (10-23) handling in all terrain (includes Akia toboggan use). Is able to teach and demonstrate these skills.
• Can demonstrate a very high working knowledge of Marmot Basin’s on-hill risk management and Safety Operations programs

• Can perform high quality run checks and risk mitigation, and explain associated risk management principles. Complete all associated paperwork to a high standard.

• Know appropriate early season signs and fences and be able to set up with minimal explanation or supervision, including all avalanche closure fences and area boundary fences.

• Moves self and others & equipment around the hill appropriately and with no prompting
• Detailed knowledge of Marmot Basin’s terrain, including all runs, often used nick names, access and egress trails, all runs in Eagles East, boundary lines, back country access points, kiddy/tree trails etc.

• Able to lead staff through avalanche terrain for data collection and active avalanche control
• Can demonstrate experience working with and applying the concepts of Applied Avalanche Risk Management
• Experience using ski cutting and explosives for the purpose of avalanche control
• Maintain an explosives log (minimum of three (10) missions and fifteen (25) explosives logged per season for any ticketed blaster)

• Understands the needs and principals involved with AI, missing person investigation, avalanche occurrence investigation.

• Read Marmot Basin’s snow mobile operators manual and has been instructed on and can perform a pre-trip inspection

• When requested by supervisor able to safely and effectively use the snowmobile to access nonstandard terrain
• Is able to comfortably perform courtesy rides (10-10’s) on all standard snow mobile routes. Meets all requirements of a snowmobile intermediate/advanced operator (higher proficiency preferred)
• When tasked set/maintain all rescue trails
• Tow teams in and out of rescue trails
• Demonstrates sound judgement when using snowmobiles.

• In-depth understanding of Marmot Basin’s Avalanche Safety plan. Knows all Safety Operations departmental roles and responsibilities within the plan.
• Heightened level of understanding of the Avalanche rescue plan and companion rescue
• Act as an AvSar strike team leader or lead other teams, task forces, act as a Div Sup or a safety officer. Building towards Ops section Chief.
• Lead a scene with 5-8 targets (Clue, Recco, Transceiver, Dog, probe, other). Establish interview, staging areas, communications, deploy on scene resources, initial flagging, safety, Avalanche triage, and hand over to Ops Section chief.
• Give detailed snowpack and weather condition updates to the Area Leader/Forecaster

• Can demonstrate a high proficiency working with ropes
• Safely perform self-evacuation from a chair lift
• Lead a manual chairlift evacuation team, with an inexperienced partner
• Can perform a lift line check and explain it
• Working at heights training and can climb tower, can explain and set up a shive by-pass. Perform chair lift evac RIT tasks.

• Maintain a fall arrest/rope rescue training and work log
• Deescalate tense situations, remove ski passes, escort guest from the premises, or refer an escalating situation to a supervisor

• Able to fill the dispatching role
• Read and signed off on Marmot Basin’s Employee Handbook
• Read and signed off on the Safety Operations Work Hazard Assessment
• Complete all regular currency training and Maintain training checklist(s)
• Maintain tools, equipment, and supplies needed to perform these duties
• Maintain certifications and training records to remain current in the position.

Core Competencies:

• Professional deportment with excellent customer service skills: experience dealing with all on-hill patrons
• Demonstrated temperament and disposition for highly stressful situations, i.e. administering first aid, triage situations, with guests, and explosives

• Able to ski in all types of mountain terrain in varying conditions.

• Have completed the Marmot Basin and Safety Operations ski skill assessment and have a copy on file.

Attributes:

• Strong team member able to take direction
• Motivated and observant; able to perceive needed tasks and complete them without direction
• Self-aware; able to identify strengths and gaps in own abilities and training
• Able to use taught skills and previous experience to problem solve
• Trustworthy and capable of working unsupervised
• Recreational mountain pursuits, such as rock climbing, and ski touring, are considered assets.

For your safety and that of your patients, it is very strongly recommended that safety operations staff preforming patient care have up to date inoculations against; Polio, Hepatitis A/B, Mumps/Rubella, Diphtheria tetanus, Varicella, Measles, Influenza (yearly), & COVID 19.

All employees in this position are required to:

• Have completed the Marmot Basin and safety operations ski skill assessment and have a copy on file
• Pass a ski binding test, for all work boots & skis, performed & recorded by Marmot Basin Rental/Repair staff.
• Have a vulnerable persons record check completed and on file. To be completed yearly
• Have a drivers abstract on file with Marmot Basin HR

Employees in this position are responsible for providing the following tools: Skis, touring bindings, skins, a head lamp, simple sit harness, triple action locking carabiner, three antenna digital transceiver, avalanche probe, avalanche shovel, black ski pants as well as other sundry items. An annual equipment allowance is provided.

This is a position contained within the Bargaining Unit, and as such, terms and conditions of employment are set out in the Collective Agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada Union, Local No. 401.