The administrator is the glue that holds the operation together out in resort. These roles are often found within small to medium sized companies. You liaise with the office in the UK and ensure that all the information necessary to the smooth running of the chalets is distributed to relevant staff. So, anything from who is arriving when, transfer plans, chef numbers, room allocation etc. You'll need to be good at list making and extremely organised! This is one of the most important jobs in the resort and you can gain a huge wealth of experience from it.
The administrator is based normally in a chalet/hotel and would help out with general duties around the chalet. This may involve helping to run the bar, clearing the bar area at breakfast time and helping tidy the main areas post breakfast and generally being part of the team in a chalet/hotel. You may also take part in the ski guiding and help out with airport transfers.
However, resort administration is your main priority. It includes:
The administrator will also handle anything requiring language skills (for example, discussions with plumbers or other suppliers.)
In the main, as with other chalet staff, you would work mornings and evenings with afternoons off to free ski. There would be weekly meetings with chalet managers to explain the plan for the week – which guests are arriving/departing when and therefore which rooms need to be cleaned first etc. and to explain the transfer plan and ensure the drivers know what they’re doing.
You need to have great computer skills and be able to create and maintain your own spreadsheets. You need to have good foreign language skills – especially when trying to discuss internet problems over the phone! You need to be super-organised, good at problem solving and a real team player.
Really rewarding and great fun. As the administrator you get a lot of job satisfaction. If you take pride in a job well done then this is a job for you. Getting a large number of people to and from a resort every week is no mean feat and it is something that will give you a sound footing for the future as well as being very enjoyable in the present.
But of course, you’re not really doing a season just for the job, it’s for the skiing. You get so much opportunity to ski whether as part of the ski guiding programme or free skiing with your mates. Your ski experiences and adventures will become long stories you tell for the rest of your life. It is hard work but there are so many great times. The people you work with will become life long friends and it will be a fabulous experience that you never forget.
To stand out I would expect to see a well written, nicely presented CV that would portray an enthusiastic, friendly individual who is looking for a challenge. A must would be a good level of French or German depending on the resort you are applying for either at A-level or preferably gained through working/living in the country. You would need to be able to show excellent computer skills and experience using them in a work environment either in administration roles or other areas. You may also need a clean driving licence. Other than that, a real desire to work in the mountains and a love for skiing/boarding is always a good sign!
"Your ski experiences and adventures will become long stories you tell for the rest of your life!"
Written by Elizabeth at Stanford Skiing, a small, friendly, family run company based in the picturesque resort of Megeve, France.