Ski Instructor - Zermatt, Switzerland

Ski Instructor – Zermatt, Switzerland

We are seeking professional, enthusiastic and motivated Ski Instructors to join our team in Zermatt for the winter season.

The Ski Instructor is responsible for delivering safe, high-quality ski instruction to adults, children, families and private groups. Lessons may range from complete beginners to advanced technical coaching depending on the instructor's qualifications and experience.

The successful candidate will combine excellent skiing and teaching ability with a high standard of customer service, creating a safe, enjoyable and memorable experience for every guest.

Main Responsibilities

• Deliver private and/or group ski lessons to adults and children.
• Assess guests' ability and establish appropriate learning objectives.
• Plan lessons suitable for each guest's age, ability and goals.
• Provide clear technical instruction, demonstrations and constructive feedback.
• Adapt teaching methods to different learning styles and confidence levels.
• Select appropriate terrain according to ability, weather, snow and piste conditions.
• Maintain effective supervision and group management.
• Monitor guest safety and wellbeing.
• Deliver engaging, age-appropriate lessons for children.
• Provide advanced coaching where appropriate to qualification and experience.
• Deliver full-day ski lessons and mountain experiences.
• Communicate professionally with guests throughout lessons.
• Provide relevant information about the ski area, lifts and mountain facilities.
• Communicate booking changes or operational information to the office.
• Attend staff meetings, training and resort familiarisation where required.
• Support colleagues and contribute positively to the team.

Safety and Duty of Care

Safety is a fundamental responsibility. Instructors must exercise appropriate professional judgement and operate within the limits of their qualifications and applicable Swiss regulations.

Responsibilities include:

• Selecting terrain appropriate to guest ability and conditions.
• Monitoring weather, visibility, snow and piste conditions.
• Maintaining appropriate control and supervision of guests.
• Following company safety and emergency procedures.
• Responding appropriately to accidents or illness.
• Contacting piste rescue or emergency services where required.
• Providing first aid within the limits of current training.
• Reporting accidents, incidents and safeguarding concerns.
• Completing required accident or incident documentation.
• Ensuring children are appropriately supervised and returned to the agreed responsible adult.
• Never undertaking activities outside the instructor's qualification or legally permitted scope.

Guest Service

Excellent customer service is an important part of the position. Instructors contribute significantly to the guest's overall holiday experience and are expected to be friendly, approachable and professional.

Instructors should:

• Welcome guests professionally.
• Establish guests' objectives and previous skiing experience.
• Build positive professional relationships with guests and families.
• Be punctual and prepared for lessons.
• Adapt plans where weather, lift closures or other circumstances require.
• Provide appropriate local knowledge and assistance.
• Communicate professionally with parents regarding children's progress.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Represent the company positively throughout the resort.

Children's Instruction

Depending on operational requirements, instructors may work regularly with children.

Instructors must provide a safe, positive and age-appropriate learning environment. This includes using games and varied activities to encourage learning, maintaining effective supervision, monitoring children's wellbeing, managing appropriate breaks and communicating professionally with parents or guardians.

All company safeguarding and child-protection procedures must be followed. Previous experience teaching or working with children is highly desirable.

Professional Standards

Employees are expected to:

• Arrive punctually and prepared for lessons.
• Maintain a professional appearance and wear company uniform where required.
• Maintain personal ski equipment to a safe standard.
• Communicate respectfully with guests, colleagues and resort partners.
• Protect confidential guest and company information.
• Follow company policies and operational procedures.
• Respond promptly to operational communications.
• Inform management of issues affecting availability or attendance.
• Act professionally while representing the company.
• Contribute to a positive and collaborative working environment.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must hold an appropriate recognised ski instructor qualification enabling them to work within the scope of the position and in accordance with applicable Swiss requirements.

Applicants must provide evidence of qualifications and professional recognition where required.

Previous professional ski-teaching experience is preferred, particularly in:

• Private ski instruction.
• Children's ski instruction.
• Adult beginner instruction.
• Advanced technical coaching.
• Family ski lessons.
• International clientele.
• High-level customer service or hospitality.
• International ski resorts.

The required experience will depend on the candidate's qualification level and assigned duties.

Skills and Personal Qualities

Successful candidates should demonstrate:

• Excellent skiing ability appropriate to their qualification.
• Strong teaching and coaching skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A friendly and professional manner.
• Strong customer-service skills.
• Patience and ability to build rapport with adults and children.
• Good judgement and awareness of risk.
• Reliability and punctuality.
• Flexibility and adaptability.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Ability to remain calm when circumstances change.
• A positive approach to problem solving.

Languages

A high level of spoken English is required for positions working with international English-speaking guests.

Additional languages are highly desirable, particularly German and French. Applicants should state their languages and level of proficiency when applying.

Resort Knowledge

Previous experience skiing or working in Zermatt is advantageous but not essential.

Instructors must develop sufficient local knowledge to operate professionally, including the piste and lift network, meeting points, suitable terrain, mountain facilities and emergency procedures.

New instructors may be required to complete resort familiarisation before working independently.

Physical Requirements

Ski instruction is physically demanding and takes place outdoors in a winter mountain environment.

Applicants must have sufficient fitness to perform their duties safely. The position may involve skiing for several hours per day, consecutive working days, exposure to cold and changing weather and working at altitude.

Working Hours and Seasonality

Working hours vary according to bookings, seasonal demand, weather and operational requirements.

The role may include morning, afternoon and full-day lessons, weekends, public holidays and consecutive working days during peak periods.

Ski instruction is seasonal and demand-led, and lesson volumes may fluctuate. Exact working hours, employment percentage, remuneration and employment dates will be specified in the employment agreement.

Location and Equipment

The primary place of work is Zermatt, Canton Valais, Switzerland.

Instructors are normally expected to provide and maintain their own professional ski equipment unless otherwise agreed. Equipment must be safe, properly maintained and appropriate for the lessons being delivered.

Right to Work

Applicants must have, or be eligible to obtain, the legal right to work in Switzerland for the duration of their employment.

Applicants may be required to provide identity documentation, work or residence permit information, ski instructor certificates, evidence of professional recognition and relevant first-aid certification.

Employment is subject to applicable Swiss employment, immigration and professional recognition requirements.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a professionally qualified Ski Instructor who enjoys helping people improve their skiing and experience the mountains.

They will be reliable, personable and organised, take safety seriously and understand that excellent ski instruction combines technical coaching with outstanding customer service.

They should be comfortable working with international guests, able to adapt to different abilities and changing mountain conditions, and willing to work flexibly during busy periods.