Hakuba Assistant Manager - Rhythm Rides

Job Description

Hakuba Assistant Manager - Rhythm Rides

Location: Hakuba

Dates: November through to April

Reports to: Hakuba Location Manager - Rhythm Rides

Travel Allowance: Up to ¥150,000, reimbursed on actual flight cost

Direct Reports: None

Daily Team Leadership: Private Instructors - Hakuba; local team during delegated Location Manager cover

Department Scope: Private Lessons, Resort Guiding and delegated Hakuba operational management

Position Type: Seasonal Fixed Term, Salaried Position

Salary Range: From ¥522,095 to ¥626,514 per month or ¥3,654,670 to ¥4,364,330 per season plus performance based incentives & travel allowance
Please note that the actual amount will vary depending on the actual number of working days, hours, and shift conditions.

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 Assistant Manager - Hakuba supports the Hakuba Location Manager with the daily leadership and delivery of Rhythm Rides' private lesson and resort-guiding operation.

The role has a primary focus on instructor operations, including daily staffing, lesson allocation, team support and delivery standards. The Assistant Manager will also deliver Private Lessons, Resort Guiding or staff training when required to support operational needs. It works closely with Guest Services, the Resort Coordinator and operational support roles to ensure guests and instructors are set up for a safe, efficient and high-quality day.

The Assistant Manager also provides delegated Location Manager coverage during rostered days off or other absences. When covering, the role is responsible for leading the daily Hakuba operation, resolving routine staffing, guest, compliance and operational issues within delegated authority, and ensuring approved resort requirements and company procedures are followed.

Matters outside delegated authority that are not urgent should be held for the Hakuba Location Manager's return. Urgent safety, legal, compliance or significant reputational matters must follow the appropriate company escalation process.

The Assistant Manager - Hakuba is accountable for:

• Safe, consistent and compliant private lesson and resort-guiding delivery
• Effective instructor allocation, utilisation and day-of operations
• Strong daily leadership and support for the Hakuba instructor team
• Reliable Location Manager coverage and operational decision-making within delegated authority
• Exceptional guest experiences and professional issue resolution
• Accurate operational records, payroll inputs and manager handovers

Responsibilities and Duties:

Lesson Operations and Instructor Allocation

• Support and, when delegated, lead the daily delivery of Private Lessons and Resort Guiding.
• Review bookings, guest needs, instructor availability, qualifications and operational constraints.
• Allocate instructors based on guest goals, instructor skills, language requirements, requests and availability.
• Monitor capacity, workload and utilisation and make day-of adjustments to support guest delivery and operational efficiency.
• Lead instructor line-up, briefings, departures and daily operational communication.
• Ensure lesson notes, schedule changes, payroll inputs and other required operational records are accurate.
  
  

Instructor Leadership and Team Culture

• Provide daily leadership, coaching and support to the Hakuba instructor team.
• Build a positive, professional and accountable culture that reflects Rhythm values.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence and provide timely feedback, recognition and practical support.
• Support onboarding, training, on-snow coaching and instructor development in line with approved priorities.
• Address routine staff performance, conduct or wellbeing concerns and escalate formal or complex matters to the Hakuba Location Manager.
  
  

Location Manager Coverage

• Act as the delegated operational lead for Hakuba when the Location Manager is off duty or otherwise absent.
• Maintain oversight of lessons, Guest Services and daily operational support to ensure the location continues to operate safely and effectively.
• Coordinate priorities across instructors, the Guest Services & Operations Assistant and Resort Coordinator during manager coverage.
• Resolve routine staffing, guest, compliance and operational issues within delegated authority.
• Ensure approved resort requirements, company policies and operating procedures are followed.
• Provide a clear handover of significant decisions, issues and required follow-up when the Location Manager returns.
  
  

Lesson Delivery & Instructor Training

• Delivering Private Lessons and Resort Guiding to support guest demand, staffing coverage or operational needs.
• Delivering instructor training, clinics and on-snow development sessions when required and within the Assistant Manager’s qualifications.
  
  

Guest Experience and Service Quality

• Maintain consistent lesson and service standards across Private Lessons and Resort Guiding.
• Ensure guest goals, preferences and special requirements are understood and communicated to instructors.
• Work with Guest Services to resolve lesson-delivery issues and complaints within delegated authority.
• Support significant day-of guest issues when covering the Location Manager and escalate matters outside authority when required.
• Monitor recurring guest or delivery issues and provide feedback to the Hakuba Location Manager.
  
  

Safety and Compliance

• Ensure lesson operations follow Rhythm policies, approved resort requirements, lesson procedures and relevant safety standards.
• Ensure instructors receive and follow current operating information and approved restrictions.
• Respond to incidents, hazards and operational issues within the role's training and authority and ensure required reporting is completed.
• Work with the Resort Coordinator on local resort information and bilingual communication when required.
• Escalate serious safety, compliance, legal or reputational concerns through the appropriate management process.
  
  

Workforce and Business Support

• Support the Hakuba Location Manager with staffing plans, rosters and instructor work allocation.
• Monitor instructor workload, utilisation, fatigue and team wellbeing.
• Review payroll and scheduling information and resolve routine discrepancies within delegated authority.
• Support daily labour and utilisation targets and identify opportunities to improve capacity and operational efficiency.
• Provide operational input into seasonal planning, product delivery and service improvements.
  
  

Collaboration and Role Boundaries

• Work closely with the Hakuba Location Manager, Guest Services & Operations Assistant, Resort Coordinator, Guest Services Leadership, Training and People and Culture.
• The Hakuba Location Manager owns overall location performance, long-term workforce planning, budgets, formal performance management, significant guest decisions and location strategy.
• The Assistant Manager owns delegated day-of lesson operations and provides Location Manager coverage within agreed authority.
• The Resort Coordinator owns local bilingual resort liaison and supports communication of approved resort requirements.
• Guest Services Leadership owns Guest Services procedures, sales standards and systems.
• Product strategy, company policy, significant commercial decisions and matters outside delegated authority remain with the appropriate senior management function

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.

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.