Meet the Team

CairnGorm Mountain is an amazing place to work providing a spectacular backdrop and environment to work in both during the summer months and the winter months.

We have a highly dedicated year-round core team that is supplemented during the winter months by large numbers of additional seasonal staff across a very wide variety of roles. We also take on extra staff over the summer months. Periodically there are also full-time vacancies for our year-round core team.

Members of our friendly Ski Patrol

We are looking for individuals with drive and commitment to help deliver the vision and ensure that CainGorm Mountain continues to be an amazing operation and a wonderful place to work. We focus on 3 core values –

• Amazing Service – to go the extra mile for all our guests by ensuring an amazing knowledge of all areas of the operation to assist guests and ensure they make the most of their visit. We want all team members to take pride in in their role and deliver the best service possible to guests.
• Amazing Product –providing the highest standard of product is paramount and to ensure we do everything we can to achieve this.
• Amazing Culture – we recognise and reward achievement. Teamwork is everything to ensure all aspects work well together.

You have a fantastic opportunity to be part of our team at such an iconic location. If you love delivering amazing service, are passionate about what we have to offer and love to go above and beyond, please see details of how to apply below. You can either respond to a specific vacancy or register your interest for the future.

About CairnGorm Mountain

Originally established almost 60 years ago, Cairngorm Mountain is the most popular snowsports destination in Scotland. Located within the Cairngorms National Park the resort is a major tourist hub providing an uplift system to the top of Cairn Gorm. In winter, the Resort is a commercial ski operation as well as winter climbing, races and training. In summer the Resort serves as a summer tourist destination for walkers, nature lovers and tourists. The Resort itself attracts over 200,000 visitors each year making it a very busy operation.

Piste groomer next to the Ptarmigan Restaurant

CairnGorm Mountain Departments

CairnGorm Mountain is a very large operation which covers numerous departments spread over a large geographical area. Strong communications skills and teamwork are essential for every role and all teams have to work together to ensure the effective operation of the whole area. A focus of customer service and customer care skills are also essentials for all roles which are guest facing. A brief summary of each of the departments is set out below to give a broader understanding of each aspect.

Retail

With 2 shops selling a variety of practical ski, bike and walking gear as well as gifts, books, toys, alcohol and other trinkets there is plenty for guests to browse and purchase. With a large volume of stock both shops are always busy attracting people looking for practical items or just browsing. Client Service skills are essential as this role involves constant guest interaction.

Key Skills

• Guest Service skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong service ethos

Guest Services

The guest services operation includes all aspects of ticket sales, working on the funicular railway (train drivers, control room operators and platform attendants), arranging or leading guided walks and general information about the CairnGorm Mountain operation. All aspects are guest facing and require excellent customer care skills. Queue management can be a critical aspect during peak periods when the mountain is exceptionally busy and takes considerable patience and diplomacy skills. The guest services team also liaise regularly during the winter months with the Snow School and Equipment hire areas as these often work in conjunction with each other.

Key Skills

• Guest Service skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong service ethos
• Flexibility
• Great teamwork

Food & Beverage

The Storehouse operation at the base of the mountain and the Ptarmigan Restaurant at the top of the mountain which also hosts events are the 2 food and beverage outlets each with their own busy kitchens. The Storehouse offers teas, coffees, other drinks, cakes, snacks and lunches whilst the Ptarmigan offers an array of hot food as well as drinks and snacks. Both areas are licenced and the Ptarmigan offers a ‘grab and go’ selection during peak periods over the winter months. Both areas can be very fast paced during the busy periods and requires strong customer service skills and ability to respond quickly to customer requirements.

Key Skills

• Guest Service skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong service ethos
• Flexibility
• Great teamwork

Snow School

The snow school offers group and private lessons to skiers and boarders covering both adults and children. It is a busy operation during the winter months and works closely with the Equipment Hire and Workshop teams. The snow school office takes bookings coordinates lessons and liaises with the instructors to ensure the smooth running of the snow school. We also arrange school groups, races and other special events. We are hoping to install an artificial ski slope to ensure all year-round activity for this area. There are a variety of role in the ski school all of which are guest facing and need excellent customer care skills and strong service ethos.

Key Skills

• Guest Service skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong service ethos
• Flexibility
• Great teamwork
• Admin skills or ski/board Instructor skills

Equipment Hire and Workshop

The Hire and workshop teams work closely with the Snow School and Guest Services providing equipment to guests or servicing/repairing equipment both internally and on behalf of our guests. The winter period gets extremely busy particularly early in the morning and people need to cope with the fast turnover of guests. We require people with the necessary skills and experience for fitting and/or repairing equipment as well as strong customer care skills and a calm manner.

Key Skills

• Guest Service skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong service ethos
• Calm approach
• Boot fitting/ski repair skills

On-site Support Teams

Marketing – Marketing support is provided both on-site and via the team at head office

Finance – The finance team supports the business with most aspects of day to day accounts and payroll, assisting in the budgeting process and providing reports as needed.

HR – HR support is provided to all teams both from the on-site team and via the head office team

Key Skills

• Great teamwork
• Strong service ethos
• Specific skills related to the function

Facilities

With such a large site the facilities area covers janitors and car park attendants both of which perform an important job keeping the site operating, ensuring it stays clean and tidy and assisting with some basic maintenance tasks which is a year-round requirement. The three car parks require controlling at busy times and all will assist with queue management when needed. There is a reasonable degree of physical work involved in this area.

Key Skills

• Cheerful nature
• High level of physical fitness
• Great teamwork
• Guest Service skills

Health & Safety

The complexity of the operation at CairnGorm Mountain and the nature of the activities means that Health & Safety is constantly at the heart of everything we do. It is essential that all team members are fully versed on all aspects of health & safety and adhere to the requirements, policies and procedures at all times.

Key Skills

• Understanding of the H&S guidelines relevant to your department

Land and Rangers

The vast area covered by CairnGorm Mountain is managed by the Land Management team which includes the Rangers. The Rangers work as part of the CairnGorm Mountain Ranger service to ensure the sustainable management for the Cairngorm Estate as well as leading walks and providing educational sessions to guests.The vast area covered by CairnGorm Mountain is managed by the Land Management team which includes the Rangers. The Rangers work as part of the CairnGorm Mountain Ranger service to ensure the sustainable management for the Cairngorm Estate as well as leading walks and providing educational sessions to guests.

Key Skills

• Physical fitness
• Ability to work alone
• Strong guest service skills

Outside Squad

Management of waste water treatment plant, building repairs and general maintenance, supporting other teams transporting material around the Resort.

Winter Operations – Ski Patrollers

With over 30km of pisted runs and several km’s of off piste terrain to look after, our highly skilled and experienced team of patrollers are always busy. Another department which interacts with guests looking out for their welfare and safety. In the unlikely event of an accident their highly developed mountain medical skills ensure the highest standard of assistance is always available.

Key Skills

• Cheerful nature
• Advanced level skiers or snowboarders
• High level of physical fitness
• Medical/first aid qualification

Winter Operations – Lift Operators

The lift operators are very much in the front line of our winter operations, working over a large area. Up to 11 ski lifts can be operating including the Mountain Railway. Lift operators are required to go the extra mile in looking after our snowsports guests and cope with very busy period during the peak season.

Key Skills

• Experienced skiers or snowboarders
• Able to cope with all extremes of weather 
• Ability to cope with the demands of customers at busy times

Winter Operations – Plough Drivers

Cairngorm Mountain is responsible for looking after a 3.5 mile stretch of public mountain road during the winter season. These roads are quite often subject to heavy snow, ice, high winds, drifting snow and whiteout blizzard conditions. Mostly operating in the hours of darkness and in inclement weather, a very high skill set is required to operate 3 state of the art snowclearing/gritting vehicles and a telehandler vehicle with digging capability.

Key Skills

• HGV category C license required. CPC required
• Understanding of health and safety requirements for operating HGV’s
• Knowledge of HGV vehicle maintenance and daily safety checks required

Winter Operations – Piste Machine/ Snow Groomer Operators

Groomer operators are a vital part in the winter operations, ensuring timely preparation of all the ski runs and uplift tracks prior to opening to our guests. The aim is to have superbly prepared and safe areas for our snow sports guests. We operate 3 large state of the art Pisten Bully 600 Machines, two of these equipped with a winch for advance grooming operations.

Key Skills

• Experience and competency in operating these machines is required
• Be able to cope with all extremes of weather in a Mountain environment

Electricians

With 11 ski lifts including the Mountain Railway, to keep maintained, serviced and repaired, our small team of electricians are kept very busy all year round. This team also look after all our buildings electrics and High Voltage supplies. In winter and summer their duties include the daily main safety system and operational checks of the Mountain Railway and are on standby for reacting to any electrical faults on the Train, ski lifts or in the buildings.

Key Skills

• Qualified and competent in all aspects of domestic and industrial systems 
• Up to date with all current regulations for domestic and commercial operations.

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