About this role
Job Description
Niseko Operations Manager - Rhythm Rides
Location: Niseko
Dates: 1st October to 30th April 2027
Salary Range:
From ¥652,619 to ¥783,143 per month
Per Season From: ¥4,568,333 to ¥5,455,373
Plus performance-based incentives
Please note that the actual amount will vary depending on the actual number of working days, hours, and shift conditions.
Travel Allowance: Up to ¥150,000, reimbursed on actual flight cost
Position Type: Seasonal Fixed Term Salary
Reports to: Head of Operations
Direct Reports: Backcountry Program Manager, Privates Manager, Kids Manager, Operations Logistics Manager, Guest Services Manager
Scope: Location leadership for lesson & guiding delivery, guest services & operational logistics
About us:
Rhythm is about creating epic experiences for our customers, which starts with our people. We live by our values and put people first. We take pride in creating working and living environments that foster innovation, adventure, and balance. Working at Rhythm is more than a job, it's an experience you will have forever.
The Role:
The Niseko Operations Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance and successful delivery of Rhythm Rides' Niseko operation.
The role leads the Niseko management team across Private Lessons, Kids Programs, Backcountry, Guest Services and Operations & Logistics. Department managers fully own their products, teams and routine daily decisions; the Operations Manager sets location priorities, coordinates departments and holds managers accountable for results.
The role also provides the senior location framework for cross-department staffing. Instructors and guides may work across departments, with their Primary Manager retaining overall people leadership and the Receiving Manager holding operational authority for the assigned shift or product.
The Operations Manager reports to the Head of Rides Operations and is the senior Niseko escalation point for significant operational, staffing, guest, safety and cross-department matters.
Niseko Operations Manager is accountable for:
• Safe, consistent and compliant Niseko operations
• Capable and accountable department managers
• Strong coordination across all Niseko departments
• Effective cross-department workforce deployment
• Strong guest, people and business performance
• Clear escalation and decision-making at the appropriate management level
Key Responsibilities and Duties:
Location Leadership
• Lead Rhythm Rides' Niseko operation across Private Lessons, Kids Programs, Backcountry, Guest Services and Operations & Logistics.
• Set clear location priorities aligned with the wider Rides strategy and Head of Operations direction.
• Build a capable management team that independently leads its departments and owns its results.
• Hold department managers accountable for operational delivery, people leadership, guest outcomes and business performance.
• Lead regular management meetings, individual check-ins and performance reviews and ensure agreed actions are completed.
• Act as the senior Niseko escalation point for significant operational, staffing, guest, safety and cross-department matters.
Operational Oversight and Readiness
• Maintain oversight of daily and seasonal operations without taking over routine departmental responsibilities.
• Ensure lessons, guiding, Guest Services, rentals, equipment and logistics are coordinated and ready for daily delivery.
• Ensure managers have the information, resources and management coverage required to operate effectively.
• Oversee preseason preparation, peak-period planning and end-of-season operations.
• Ensure facilities, vehicles, equipment, lift passes and other shared operational resources are fit for purpose through the Operations Logistics Manager.
• Ensure approved policies, procedures, reporting requirements and operating standards are understood and consistently implemented.
Cross-Department Workforce Leadership
• Ensure every instructor and guide has a clearly identified Primary Manager and Primary Department.
• Support flexible deployment of staff across Rides departments according to qualifications, guest demand and operational requirements.
• When staff work outside their Primary Department, ensure the Receiving Manager has clear operational authority for that shift or product delivery.
• Hold Primary Managers accountable for gathering relevant feedback from Receiving Managers and incorporating it into coaching, development and formal reviews.
• Expect department managers to resolve routine cross-department staffing matters directly with each other.
• Resolve significant resource, staffing or priority conflicts that cannot be resolved between department managers.
• Ensure cross-department deployment supports business demand while considering staff wellbeing, fatigue, development and department requirements.
Guest Services, Capacity and Guest Experience
• Lead the Guest Services Manager operationally within Niseko and ensure strong coordination with product departments.
• Work with senior leadership to implement agreed Rides commercial and Guest Services priorities locally.
• Maintain oversight of upcoming demand, staffing capacity, availability and operational restrictions.
• Ensure Guest Services and department managers communicate capacity, product changes and operational constraints clearly.
• Monitor guest feedback and significant complaints and ensure recurring issues are addressed.
• Ensure the experience delivered is consistent with what has been communicated and sold to guests.
Safety, Compliance and Incident Leadership
• Maintain overall accountability for operational safety and compliance within the Niseko location.
• Ensure department managers maintain appropriate safety procedures, operational plans and incident-reporting processes.
• Support significant incidents, hazards or risk-management matters and coordinate the wider location response when required.
• Ensure authorised technical decisions made by qualified department leaders are respected and not overridden by commercial or staffing pressure.
• Monitor significant safety trends and corrective actions and escalate serious legal, compliance or reputational risks to the Head of Operations.
Workforce, People and Training
• Lead location workforce planning with department managers and review staffing needs against demand, capacity and labour budgets.
• Support recruitment and hiring decisions for key management and operational roles.
• Monitor workload, fatigue, engagement and retention across the location and ensure managers address emerging issues.
• Ensure department managers own onboarding, coaching, feedback, performance reviews and staff development within their teams.
• Work with the National Training Manager and relevant technical leaders to align training priorities with operational needs.
• Develop management capability and succession plans for key Niseko leadership roles.
Business Performance and Continuous Improvement
• Maintain oversight of Niseko revenue, labour, payroll, operating expenses, utilisation and departmental performance.
• Ensure department managers understand and take responsibility for performance within their areas.
• Review results with managers and agree corrective actions where performance is below target.
• Work with Senior Leadership on capacity, efficiency, product and performance opportunities.
• Support implementation of approved new products or business initiatives and confirm operational readiness before launch.
• Use guest feedback, staff feedback and business results to drive practical improvement across the location.
Role Boundaries
• The Head of Operations owns the national operational framework, location performance expectations and cross-location operational priorities.
• The Niseko Operations Manager owns overall Niseko operational performance and leads the location management team.
• Private Lessons, Kids Programs and Backcountry Managers fully own their respective products, teams, staffing, performance and routine daily decisions.
• The Guest Services Manager owns daily local Guest Services delivery; the Head of Commercial provides national commercial and Guest Services functional direction.
• The Operations Logistics Manager owns shared logistics, vehicles, lift passes, facilities, uniforms, backcountry rentals and equipment support, and operational administration.
• Qualified technical leaders retain final authority for technical safety decisions within their approved scope.
Key Measures of Success:
• Department managers independently and effectively lead their areas
• Clear ownership and accountability across the Niseko management team
• Cross-department staff deployment is well coordinated, and staff understand their Primary and Receiving Managers
• Safe, consistent and operationally ready Niseko delivery
• Strong guest experience and effective issue resolution
• Revenue, labour, utilisation and payroll performance are actively managed
• Strong staff engagement, development and management succession
• Effective collaboration across departments and with national leadership
What you need to succeed:
Qualifications and Experience
• Management experience within a snowsports school, resort or guest-experience operation
• Strong experience leading private lesson or instructor operations.
• Recognised Level 3 ski or snowboard instructor certification, or equivalent,
• Experience managing staff, daily allocations, guest issues and operational logistics.
• Experience with workforce planning, labour control, payroll, and business performance reporting.
• Strong knowledge of Niseko resorts, local operations and guest expectations is preferred.
• Current first-aid certification, or willingness to obtain.
• Valid Japanese or recognised international driver licence; snow-driving experience is preferred.
Skills and Attributes
• Strong leadership, coaching and team-management capability.
• Excellent organisation, planning and operational decision-making.
• Clear and professional communication with guests, staff and resort partners.
• Strong guest-service judgement and complaint-resolution skills.
• Ability to balance service quality, safety, staff wellbeing and commercial performance.
• Confidence managing changing priorities and resolving problems under pressure.
• Strong administrative skills and confidence using booking, scheduling and payroll systems.
• Collaborative, accountable and committed to a positive team culture.
The Perks and Benefits:
As a Rhythm employee, you’ll experience the same legendary hospitality we extend to our guests. We’re passionate about looking after our crew, and here are just a few of the perks you’ll enjoy when you join our team:
• Live, Work, and Play in Paradise: Immerse yourself in one of the world’s top mountain resorts.
• Work with a Legendary Crew: Join a team that’s passionate, fun-loving, and deeply connected to the industry.
• Subsidised Staff Accommodation: Affordable housing options and housing assistance to help you settle in.
• Epic Social Scene: From team ride days and department dinners to staff parties, events, and day trips, our social calendar is packed with opportunities to connect and unwind.
• Wellness and Lifestyle Benefits: Access the Rhythm Wellness program, enjoy free snowsports or bike demos, and take advantage of generous store discounts for you, your friends, and your family.
At Rhythm, we work hard, but we play even harder. If you know anyone who’s worked with us before, they’ll tell you this isn’t just a job- it’s an experience of a lifetime. Our fun, supportive culture is the heart of everything we do because people like you make Rhythm what it is.
From ¥652,619 to ¥783,143 per month