How to find Nemo to run your ski program

By Published On: June 18th, 2016Comments Off on How to find Nemo to run your ski program

Job hunters know what it’s like to be just another fish in the sea – a goldfish in a sea of goldfish. Meanwhile, employers are trying to find Nemo, a fish that has earned its stripes and is uniquely qualified for the open position.

In the world of ski teams and academies, Nemos for high-level positions are few and far between. This spring, a few organizations have been able to fill major roles like Sugar Bowl Ski Team and Academy (SBSTA), which recently hired Eric Harlow as the director of alpine programs. Tracy Keller, the head of SBSTA, notes that while they were able to fill the position relatively quickly – in four weeks – the process was not without its challenges.

“A lot of the candidates who inquired about the position are individuals with experience coaching at various levels,” Keller explains. “There were a limited number of candidates who really understood the Sugar Bowl Ski Team and Academy’s mission and vision. Additionally, we were looking for an individual who had the leadership skills and experience to build a strong cohesive team of alpine coaches able to take our program to the next level.”

SB_AthletesBlizzard
Sugar Bowl Ski Team (Facebook)

For Harlow, Sugar Bowl is the next frontier after years as the Eastern Region Development Director with USSA and time as a head coach with Burke Mountain Academy and Stratton Mountain School. With a résumé like that, he is clearly qualified for the role.

On the east coast, Mt. Snow Academy Head of School Todd Ormiston views moves like Harlow’s as one of the challenges in hiring qualified candidates for eastern academies.

“I don’t know necessarily if that’s a higher trend than it has been in the past, but it seems like there’s been a lot of crossover east to west,” he says, indicating that some job candidates appear equally willing to stay within region or move across the country.

Beyond that, Ormiston says that some of the hiring challenges are closer to home.

“I think that the concentration of the academies does lead to folks moving back and forth through the academies,” he reasons. “There’s terrific programs out west as well and I think people are trying to find a job that is appropriate for their aspirations and also quality of life, especially for the people who are seeking administrative roles. They often have a family as well, so how the local schools and the local economy fits into their decision making is really important, too.”

“Younger coaches who think they may have interest in organizational leadership later in their career should consider seeking to take on administrative roles.”

Keller saw similar trends when it came to location. SBSTA is situated in sunny California, and even the temptation of vitamin D isn’t enough for every candidate.

“A number of people we spoke with were quite happy in their current positions and unwilling to make a geographic move at this time in their lives,” she notes.

So, what are coaches to do when they want to jump to leadership roles but perhaps lack the experience on a CV to make the jump?

Ormiston and his team are at the tail end of the search process for a director of athletics and recruitment at the school, and he has some advice for candidates seeking similar jobs.

“Younger coaches who think they may have interest in organizational leadership later in their career should consider seeking to take on administrative roles,” he suggests. “Just by having event, fundraising or strategic experience at any level will prepare them for eventual management of a whole program.”

Padding a résumé with smaller leadership experiences can help candidates stand out from a pool of 20 or more goldfish all vying for the same job. Ormiston finds there are many young coaches who simply haven’t had the opportunity to hone leadership skills that are needed for high-level roles, especially with more established ski teams and academies.

He also indicates that applicants need a few other qualifications to make the cut – and that’s not just having a passion for winter sports.

SBST
Sugar Bowl Ski Team (Facebook)

“I think they really have to love working with kids to start,” Ormiston says. “I think working in education at any level or any aspect of the education industry, you have to be passionate about working with kids, working with families. And, certainly, it’s a small industry, so reputation isn’t hard to track down as well.”

Looking for a new gig in the ski industry? Check out our Classifieds page, updated regularly with new opportunities around the world.

Share This Article

About the Author: Gabbi Hall

A California native, Gabbi moved to Vermont to ski on the NCAA circuit for St. Michael’s College, where she served as team captain and studied journalism. Before joining Ski Racing, she worked as a broadcast TV producer and social media manager in higher education. She can be reached via email at gabbi@skiracing.com