Beaver Valley Ski Club – General Manager

Beaver Valley Ski Club

www.beavervalley.ca

GENERAL MANAGER

CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACKAGE

September 2023

Beaver Valley Ski Club

Our Purpose

Beaver Valley Ski Club is a welcoming family oriented community whose purpose is to provide a progressive, fun, recreational, competitive and social experience for the membership, their guests, the Beaver Valley team and our Partners.

Overview

Beaver Valley is a private ski club which began in 1967 with a group of interested skiers who saw the valley as a special place to raise their children. Now, more than fifty years later, the Club continues to be a sought after place for families to make long-lasting memories. While the members now enjoy a much more diverse array of activities, the same founding values continue to hold true for the Club. Today, Beaver Valley is a multi-sport, multi-season facility. Winter features snow sliding activities of all kinds. In addition to dedicated racing terrain for both skiers and snowboarders, Beaver Valley also features a world class terrain park, a dedicated mogul field, and expansive snowshoe and cross country trails. During the summer months, the Club offers tennis, hiking, our own swimming hole, and access to over 40 km of mountain biking trails, including new up and down trails on the ski hill.

Beaver Valley is a private club with approximately 800 member families and more than 2500 badge holders. Members pay an initiation fee, as well as annual dues which allows them access to the snow covered terrain, as well as to the on-hill lesson and competitive programs. Equally important, members enjoy a huge array of social activities, allowing them to foster old friendships and develop new ones.

Members are welcome to invite their guests to take advantage of the facilities by purchasing day tickets which allow access to the hill. They are also encouraged to bring their Corporate Groups mid-week for specially tailored events.

Tucked away in the beautiful Beaver Valley, just thirty minutes from Collingwood and Thornbury, Beaver Valley is truly one of Ontario’s best kept secrets.

Leadership and Organization

The Club’s strategic direction is set by an elected nine-member Board of Directors, and supported by a strong core of volunteers who staff a diverse set of Board Committees. The Board’s mandate is to work with the General Manager and management team to establish areas of strategic focus and long-term plans. The Club’s future capital plans have been captured in its long-range strategic plan which was developed with input from members in 2019 and continues to be updated to reflect the changing needs of the members.

The operation of the Club is led by the General Manager, along with an eight-person Management Team. The management team, Board and Committees work together with a core staff of 15 full-time employees, 380+ seasonal staff, and over 100 volunteers across eight departments: Operations & Maintenance, Membership Services, Facilities, Alpine Programs, Risk Management, Ambassadors, and Marketing, Communication and Sales. Food & Beverage is fully managed under a third-party five-year contract with the Bruce Wine Bar.

Infrastructure and Setting

Beaver Valley prides itself on the beauty, diversity and breadth of its terrain. It is a multi-sport, multi-season facility. It’s infrastructure, including all buildings and snow-making are up to date. Recent improvements include chairlifts being replaced in a timely manner, snowmaking being updated to 30% on hill automation and three front line snowcats on a 4000-hour replacement cycle. A strong Capital Plan is in place to ensure that it stays that way.

Diverse terrain includes a beginner slope with a magic carpet, intermediate terrain with fun but modest features, and glades and expert terrain that includes Ontario’s steepest hill, The Avalanche. Competitive training zones for both ski and snowboard racing include Canyon, known as one of Ontario’s most challenging slalom courses.

Freestyle skiing is also extremely strong at Beaver Valley. The Club has hosted both Canadian Series and Noram level mogul events. Beaver Valley has long been known as a leader for its challenging, creative and fun features included in its terrain parks, cross courses, and mogul courses. The Club is also home to many Slopestyle, Park, Boarder-cross and Ski-cross events. Beaver Valley truly offers something for everyone interested in adventure on the slopes.

Programs

Leadership, friendliness and a service orientation thrive in all Club areas. The Staff make Beaver Valley a very happy place to be.

Ski and Snowboard Schools – the Club offers strong programs that are enjoyed by children and adults alike. Beaver Valley was the first club to start a Crossover Program – a program where children can participate in both skiing and snowboarding rather than having to limit themselves to one sport or the other.

Ski and Snowboard Competitive Programs – Beaver Valley has always had a strong ski racing program and won the Alpine Ontario Race Club of the Year in the 2018/19 season. The Club is also the home of Ontario’s largest and most competitive Freestyle programs including moguls, park, skier and boarder-cross.

The Members

Members of Beaver Valley pride themselves on being friendly, down to earth, and welcoming. The culture of the Club is one of full family fun. In addition to the beautiful setting and great terrain, the social scene is second to none. One of the Club’s key drivers of success is our ability to show guests a good time.

THE ROLE

Title: General Manager

Location: Markdale, Ontario. Club facilities are located in a beautiful setting in the Beaver Valley within the Niagara Escarpment Region and along the famous Bruce Trail

Reports to: President of the Board of Directors

Summary

Working with a volunteer member Board of Directors, the General Manager leads the delivery of programs and services in a cost-effective manner to ensure all members and guests enjoy an outstanding family-focused experience on and off the hill. The General Manager leads the development and cost-effective management of the organization’s current and future assets. The General Manager also leads the development and execution of a marketing plan to sustain the desired level of membership and attract additional revenue as outlined by the Board of Directors.

Key accountabilities include:

Reporting to the Club President and Board of Directors, the GM is accountable for:

Leading and directing a core team of high performance managers who are responsible for the delivery of programs and services to members and guests in accordance with the Club’s policies and procedures and the direction/ vision set by the Board of Directors;
Managing the application of industry leading human resource and health and safety practices;
Ensuring timely and appropriate communications among Club stakeholders and with its members;
Managing the Club’s operating budget;
Generating revenue including membership development, program utilization, food and beverage, mid-week groups and off-season events;
Coordinating and executing major capital projects;
Evaluating the marketing strategy and making recommendations as needed;
Facilitating thedevelopment and execution ofstrategic plans to enable long-term sustainability of Club operations;
Ensuring that the Club is in compliance with all regulations/legislation.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

The successful candidate will possess a combination of the following background and experience:

Education

Post-secondary training at the College or University level in business management, or ski area/private club/hospitality management;
Demonstrated professional growth through participation in continuing education, seminars / conferences or other relevant technical or leadership development programs.

Background / Skills / Experience

Minimum of 10 years of management experience in a ski club, resort or hospitality enterprise, or other similar operation;
Management of revenue generation activities and demonstrated cost control accountability;
Successful management of human resources including attracting and retaining a large seasonal staff;
Proven skills in leading and managing a high performing team responsible for a wide variety of operations through effective coaching and performance management;
Experience in managing the challenges of an activities-based member centric club. Experience in directing the delivery of programs and services in a demanding membership or customer service multi-generational “Member Centric” culture;
Demonstrated skill in communicating effectively with key stakeholders such as members, employees and volunteers;
Direct experience with operations management – preferably in a ski club/ski resort operation;
Experience managing government regulations that impact operations including health & safety, labour/employment, natural resources and other relevant regulations;
Success working effectively with volunteer boards and committees is preferred;
Demonstrated experience in achieving results through sound financial planning, cost control and reporting;
Considerable experience in successfully assessing, designing and executing major capital asset projects.

Personal Characteristics

Importantly, the successful candidate will demonstrate a combination of the following personal characteristics:

Customer / member focused;
Excited to commit to becoming a participating member of the “BVSC family” and will develop linkages to the local community;
Results-oriented leadership exhibiting a collegial and participative management style;
Warm and friendly – an active listener, capable of communicating openly, effectively and personally to members and staff in a warm and sincere manner;
Comfortable creating a culture of inclusion and sensitivity to Club values that will be evident to members and their guests every day as they experience the Beaver Valley Ski Club

CANDIDATE APPLICATIONS

Candidates that enjoy an active, and family-oriented lifestyle will be particularly attracted to this opportunity. Interested and qualified candidates should submit a covering letter outlining their interest in the position as well as a detailed resume, by September 22^nd, 2023 directly to: [email protected].