Job Description
Hakuba Operations Manager - Rhythm Rides
Location: Hakuba
Dates: November through to April
Salary: Monthly salary from ¥652,619 to ¥779,339, seasonal estimate from ¥3,915,714 to ¥4,676,034 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 Salary Fixed Term
Reports to: Rides Head of Operations
Direct Reports: Assistant Manager - Hakuba; Guest Services & Operations Assistant; Snowsports Instructors; Resort Coordinator
Department Scope: Private Lessons, Resort Tours, Guest Services and Operational Support
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'll carry with you forever.
The Role
The Hakuba Location Manager is responsible for the leadership, performance and daily delivery of Rhythm Rides' winter operation in Hakuba. The Hakuba operation delivers private ski and snowboard lessons and resort tours at Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 Resort.
This is a hands-on location leadership role that coordinates instructor operations, guest services, transport and daily operational support to deliver safe, efficient and exceptional guest experiences.
The Hakuba Location Manager is the primary point of accountability for the location's operational performance and the senior escalation point for significant staffing, guest, safety, resort and operational matters.
The Hakuba Location Manager is accountable for:
Safe, consistent and compliant private lesson operations
Exceptional guest experiences across private lessons and resort tours
Strong leadership, performance and development of the Hakuba team
Effective coordination between instructors, Guest Services and operational support
Financial, labour and instructor-utilisation performance
Positive relationships with Hakuba resort partners and local stakeholders
Responsibilities and Duties:
Location Leadership
- Lead Rhythm Rides' Hakuba operation across private lessons, Guest Services and operational support.
- Set clear location priorities aligned with the wider Rides strategy and business objectives.
- Build a positive, accountable and collaborative culture that reflects Rhythm's values.
- Act as the senior escalation point for significant staffing, guest, safety and operational matters.
- Represent Hakuba in Rides leadership, planning and operational meetings.
- Ensure clear ownership, communication and collaboration across the location team.
Team Leadership and Workforce
- Lead, support and develop the Privates Assistant Manager, Guest Services & Operations Assistant and instructor team.
- Set clear roles, daily priorities, service standards and performance expectations.
- Provide regular coaching, feedback, check-ins and performance reviews.
- Ensure staff onboarding, training, qualifications and performance records are completed and maintained.
- Address significant performance, conduct or wellbeing matters promptly and professionally.
- Monitor workload, fatigue, engagement and retention, and promote open communication and teamwork.
- Plan staffing and rosters against bookings, operational needs and approved labour budgets.
Private Lesson Operations
- Plan and lead the daily delivery of Hakuba private lessons and resort tours.
- Review upcoming bookings, guest needs, instructor availability and operational requirements.
- Oversee instructor allocation based on qualifications, experience, guest goals, language needs and availability.
- Ensure instructors receive clear booking information, meeting points, guest details and operational updates.
- Monitor instructor capacity, workload and utilisation and adjust allocations when demand or conditions change.
- Coordinate staff briefings, departures, guest transitions, lesson follow-up and next-day planning.
- Monitor on-snow delivery and ensure lessons meet Rhythm safety, service and professional standards.
- Ensure lesson notes, incident reports, payroll records and operational documentation are complete and accurate.
Guest Services and Guest Experience
- Lead the daily delivery of Hakuba Guest Services and ensure bookings, guest profiles and special requirements are accurate.
- Ensure guests receive clear information about products, meeting points, transport, equipment and resort requirements.
- Align sales and booking availability with instructor capacity and operational constraints.
- Oversee guest check-in and smooth transitions between Guest Services, instructors and transport support.
- Resolve guest issues promptly and support the investigation of serious or sensitive complaints.
- Monitor feedback and recurring service issues and ensure improvements are implemented.
- Promote a guest-first culture that balances personalisation, safety, team wellbeing and commercial performance.
Operational Management and Logistics
- Coordinate Guest Services, instructor operations, transport and daily operational support across the location.
- Ensure the team has the information, facilities, vehicles, equipment and resources required to operate effectively.
- Oversee preseason preparation, peak-period planning and end-of-season operations.
- Maintain appropriate management coverage and clear escalation arrangements.
- Coordinate vehicles, guest and instructor transport, lift passes, uniforms, meeting points and other operational resources.
- Ensure driver licences, authorisations, training, safe-driving records and vehicle incidents are properly managed.
- Ensure facilities and workspaces are safe, organised and fit for purpose.
- Work with other Rhythm teams to resolve equipment, transport, maintenance and shared-resource needs.
Safety, Compliance and Resort Requirements
- Maintain overall accountability for operational safety and compliance within the Hakuba location and specifically with Hakuba Goryu & 47 Resort.
- Ensure operations follow Rhythm policies, resort rules, affiliation conditions and relevant industry standards.
- Ensure private lessons and resort tours operate only within approved products, locations and permissions.
- Lead daily operational and safety briefings and ensure instructors understand current resort conditions and requirements.
- Ensure incidents, hazards and near misses are reported, investigated and followed up.
- Monitor safety and compliance trends and ensure corrective actions are completed.
- Escalate significant safety, compliance, legal or reputational risks to senior leadership.
Training and Development
- Develop and deliver Hakuba preseason onboarding and operational training.
- Ensure training covers local resort orientation, lesson procedures, guest care, safety, systems and emergency response.
- Work with Rides training leadership to align instructor development with company standards and pathways.
- Monitor instructor performance and development throughout the season.
- Provide coaching and development opportunities and address individual or team training needs.
- Develop the Privates Assistant Manager and other future leaders to support succession and location capability.
Business Performance
- Monitor revenue, wages, instructor utilisation, operating expenses and location profitability.
- Ensure staffing and operational decisions remain within approved budgets.
- Ensure timesheets, payroll approvals and operational records are accurate and completed on time.
- Identify opportunities to improve booking conversion, capacity, efficiency and utilisation.
- Use guest feedback, staff feedback and business results to improve workflows and service delivery.
- Balance guest experience, staff wellbeing, safety and commercial performance in decision-making.
Program Development and Collaboration
- Support the review and development of Hakuba private lesson and resort-tour products.
- Provide operational input into pricing, product design, guest communication and future business opportunities.
- Confirm new or revised products have appropriate staffing, training, procedures and operational support before launch.
- Collaborate with Guest Services, Training, Marketing, Sales, Finance, People and Culture, Retail, Rentals and other Rhythm teams.
- Maintain effective relationships with Hakuba resort partners and local stakeholders.
- Work with Resort Relations to ensure resort requirements and affiliation conditions are understood and followed.
- Represent Rhythm professionally in operational discussions with resort partners.
Role Boundaries
- The Hakuba Location Manager owns the daily Hakuba operation, including private lessons, Guest Services and operational support.
- The Privates Assistant Manager supports instructor operations and leads the lesson operation during delegated manager cover.
- The Guest Services & Operations Assistant supports guest service, administration, transport and daily logistics.
- Hakuba does not operate backcountry guiding products under this role.
- National or head-office teams retain ownership of company-wide strategy, policy, pricing frameworks and specialist training standards.
Key Measures of Success
- Safe, compliant and effective daily Hakuba operations
- Achievement of Hakuba business, revenue and labour objectives
- High guest satisfaction and effective complaint resolution
- Strong instructor performance, engagement, development and retention
- Effective instructor allocation, utilisation and payroll accuracy
- Reliable coordination between instructors, Guest Services and operational support
- Consistent delivery of private lessons and resort tours to Rhythm standards
- Positive collaboration with internal teams, resort partners and local stakeholders
What You Need to Succeed:
Qualifications and Experience
- Management or senior supervisory 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, is preferred.
- Experience managing staff, daily allocations, guest issues and operational logistics.
- Experience with workforce planning, labour control, payroll, and business performance reporting.
- Strong knowledge of Hakuba 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.
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.
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