Avalanche Technician RMSI-JTAC Jasper Team Leader

RMSI-JTAC 1 Marmot Rd, Jasper, AB

Job Type: Full-time

Location: 1 Marmot Rd, Jasper, AB

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:

1. Identify and address safety concerns pertaining to staff and guests while working in a safe and efficient manner.
2. Perform the daily tasks associated with Marmot Basin’s Avalanche Safety Plan.
3. Travel in and through avalanche terrain on skis, snowmobiles, and snow cats.
4. Lead single teams through avalanche terrain for active avalanche control and data collection.
5. Use rope and mountaineering travel skills to travel through alpine terrain as part of a team.
6. Collect weather and snowpack information, teach the same to others, and analyze the information collected.
7. Use communication, signage, explosives, ski cutting, PPE, and other tools to help mitigate avalanche risk.
8. Under the direction of Forecaster(s), prepare daily avalanche forecast and nowcasts.
9. Under the direction of the Forecaster(s), communicate avalanche risk and terrain status to staff and guests.
10. Submit weather, avalanche, and snowpack observations to the InfoEx.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. Under the direction of the DPS, present avalanche and snowpack risk management information to staff, managers, and guests.
15. Communicate snowpack and weather information to the DPS or their designate.
16. 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.
17. Ensure other staff working in their control team work in a safe and efficient manner and follow all applicable policies, SOPs, and guidelines.
18. Data and database management.
19. Assist with Marmot Basin’s on-slope Risk Management program as outlined in Marmot Basin’s Safety Operations Training Manual.
20. Report all damage or problems with company vehicles to the Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor.
21. Work with outside agencies as required.
22. Perform all job duties of a Grade three (3) ski patroller as required.
23. Other duties as assigned by your Supervisor.

Qualifications:

1. Has exceeded all Ski Patroller Grade 3 Job duties and performance requirements.
2. 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.
3. Previous experience working in a continental snowpack (preferred).
4. Alberta class 5 Driver’s license or equivalent.
5. Drivers abstract on file and re-submitted annually.
6. Demonstrated strong skiing ability in all mountain and snow conditions in “Advanced/Most Difficult” and “Expert/Extreme” terrain and any snow conditions.
7. Physically fit and able to ski with heavy loads (25+ kg).
8. Has proven physical ability to perform all Avalanche Technician tasks.
9. 80 hour advanced First Aid course or higher.
10. Current CPR certification.
11. Successful completion of the advanced protocol training program.
12. Canadian Avalanche Association Industry Training Program Level 2 (preferred).
13. Canadian Avalanche Association basic weather course.
14. Canadian Avalanche Association AvSar course.
15. Incident Command System ICS 200.
16. Avalanche Practitioner, in good standing, with Canadian Avalanche Association.
17. Yearly submission of CAA CPD sheets to the DPS.
18. Intermediate/Advanced snowmobile operator.
19. Alberta non-mining explosives license.
20. 8 hours yearly of Explosives related CPD.
21. Transportation of Dangerous Good by ground.
22. Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Air (preferred).
23. Attended Marmot Basin’s Annual explosives refresher.
24. Natural Resources Canada Explosive Regulatory Division letter or other approved documentation on file to handle high powered explosives.
25. Completed and be signed off on Marmot Basin’s avalanche control route leader check list.
26. Clear Criminal Record and Vulnerable Person Record Check on file with Human Resources.
27. Completed the Workplace hazardous materials training (WHMIS).
28. Completion of working at heights training.
29. Advanced RIT training (preferred).
30. Rope rescue training/certification (preferred).
31. Maintain a fall arrest/rope training/work log book.

Core Competencies:

1. Professional deportment with excellent customer service skills: experience dealing with all on-hill patrons.
2. Demonstrated temperament and disposition for highly stressful situations, i.e. administering first aid, triage situations, with guests, and explosives.
3. Able to ski in all types of mountain terrain in varying conditions.
4. Have completed the Marmot Basin and Safety Operations ski skill assessment and have a copy on file.

Attributes:

1. Strong team member able to take direction.
2. Motivated and observant; able to perceive needed tasks and complete them without direction.
3. Self-aware; able to identify strengths and gaps in own abilities and training.
4. Able to use taught skills and previous experience to problem solve.
5. Trustworthy and capable of working unsupervised.
6. 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 performing 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:

1. Have completed the Marmot Basin and safety operations ski skill assessment and have a copy on file.
2. Pass a ski binding test for all work boots & skis, performed & recorded by Marmot Basin Rental/Repair staff.
3. Have a vulnerable persons record check completed and on file. To be completed yearly.
4. Have a drivers abstract on file with Marmot Basin HR.
5. 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.