Interested in working for Craigieburn? – We are a small ski area that also runs several lodges for guests. We pay competitively and provide accommodation, meals and ski pass for a six day work week. The season is from approximately early July till late September / early October subject to snow and demand. Candidates need to be able to work in a team and have a professional, positive and enthusiastic attitude. As the team is small you need to be flexible to cover for other staff on their day off & help out when things get really busy. You should be a competent skier or boarder as Craigieburn is a challenging off-piste ski area.
Accommodation is on the mountain (avoid the expensive and tedious commuting each day) in the main base area set amongst picturesque New Zealand native forest, in basic staff quarters with small private rooms and a staff living building nearby. There is internet access and laundry facilities. Staff are strongly encouraged to get off the hill on their day off to keep refreshed.
While working at Craigieburn is a fantastic experience and great fun it is also hard work, sometimes requiring long hours. You will get to ski, board and party if you want, but this is secondary to doing your job properly and effectively. We only employ people who can make a commitment for the entire season.
Please read the basic position descriptions below. We do not employ any grooming staff, housekeeping or a dedicated snowboard instructor. We do however usually employ someone with snowboard instruction qualifications and prior experience in another role which can be beneficial to that application.
Bar Person: Operating lodge bar in the evenings – requires a friendly, enthusiastic & honest person with extensive cafe or bar experience including stock management. Minimum qualifications: Host responsibility course & bar manager’s license an advantage.
Cook: Sole-charge Chef/ Cook with 3 years experience in all areas of cooking/baking, organising/ordering. Creating hearty, good quality breakfasts & 3 course dinners for around 50-80 people. Minimum qualifications: Qualified Chef / Cook or extensive experience in similar position.
Day Lodge: Prepare/Cook lunches, sell coffee & food, cleaning & managing the high alpine day lodge. Candidate needs to be a friendly, enthusiastic & honest person with Cafe & cooking experience. Minimum qualifications: food hygiene & prep course completed. Chef / cook qualifications an advantage.
Assistant: Unpaid position cleaning the base area & day lodge, assisting field staff as required & generally helping out part time in exchange for ski pass/food/accommodation.
Base Area Manager: This position involves overall management of the base area and some staff including Cook, Barperson, Day Lodge and Ticket Office. The ideal candidate would have some cash handling and retail experience as they will make weekly reports to the treasurer. The position also involves some guest service and organisational skills. This position is usually in conjunction with the ticket office position.
Snow Safety Officer:Extensive patrol & forecasting experience, assisting field staff. Minimum qualifications: NZ or Canadian avalanche level 2, advanced first aid, explosives certificate.
Ticket office: ski pass sales, taking bookings and providing guidance to both day visitors and lodge guests. Also assists in the Day Lodge when required (see below). Requires excellent computer (Excel & Word), administrative & customer service skills.
Field Staff: All on mountain operations including ski patrol, lift operations (rope tows), snow safety, customer service. Minimum qualifications: NZ or Canadian avalanche level 1 recommended, first aid certificate, explosives certificate.
Field Staff / Mechanical: As above and including driving a tractor, motor maintenance. Minimum qualifications: First aid certificate, competent tractor driver, have mechanical knowledge of diesel engines and general mechanical skills (avalanche/explosives skills useful).
Ski Instructors: Ski instructors for lodge guests and day visitors (on request). Minimum qualifications: NZ or Canadian ski instructor level 3. Snowboard and/or Telemark instruction an advantage.
We do employ non-New Zealanders but they need to look after their own work permits. Some Canadians may be eligible for an exchange scheme Craigieburn has with some Canadian Ski areas such as Sunshine Village.
Citizens of the following countries can apply for a 12 month working holiday visa: UK, Japan, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy ,Sweden, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Argentina, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Malta, Taiwan, USA and Uruguay. The visas can be applied for through the New Zealand Embassy of your country. Note that the visa must be applied for in your home country – working holiday visas are not issued once you are in New Zealand. For further information on visas for New Zealand please refer to the New Zealand Immigration Service website www.immigration.govt.nz
All of the above information is provisional & subject to final contracts & change.