Mountain Designer & Planner
Overview
SE Group is seeking a Mountain Designer & Planner to join our office in Salt Lake City. This is a unique opportunity to become part of a team of industry leaders that sets the standard for the design and planning of ski areas and mountain resorts around the world. One week you may be working on a lift expansion for a resort in Wyoming and the next drafting a plan for a new trail for a ski resort in Maine. Our site visits are days on your skis or board!
We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable drafting technical plans for site design (see: AutoCAD) and developing creative graphics that bring those plans to life (see: InDesign). If that’s you – and you are passionate about snow sports – please apply!
About SE Group
At SE Group, our work is grounded in the belief that outdoor recreational experiences are a powerful foundation for thriving communities. This belief is the driving force behind our passion for uncovering the unique potential of every place and space we serve.
SE Group has been the industry leader in the planning and design of mountain resorts since 1958. Over the years, our team has grown to include landscape architects, community planners, environmental analysts, and economic advisors that are pioneering how communities across the country think about recreation, tourism, and outdoor spaces. Whether it’s a multi-season mountain resort or a schoolyard playground, our clients trust us to lead them from first spark of inspiration to final phase of implementation.
With hubs in Utah, Colorado, and Vermont, we are lucky to live in the heart of some of the amazing recreational communities we serve. We all share a passion for getting outside (in its many diverse forms) and SE Group is committed to offering an exceptional employee experience that honors this, as well as one that promotes collaboration, mentorship, growth - and laughter!
Position Priorities
As part of our Mountain Planning team, this position will work with project managers and other team members to deliver the analysis, planning, and design-related tasks that are essential to ski area-related development projects.
The key responsibilities include:
- Development of technical plans for ski area design, including concept plans, site plans, and grading plans
- Preparation of graphic deliverables (maps, visualizations, fly-bys, etc.) that communicate our plans to clients and/or stakeholders
- Analysis of physical attributes and capacities of mountain resorts
- Translating mountain planning design deliverables and site plans into narrative descriptions and planning documents
- Travel to mountain resorts for site visits
Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in a field related to the job responsibilities – such as Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering, or Environmental Planning/Studies. This position is primarily intended for candidates that have 1 to 4 years of related professional experience.
Other required skills and experience include:
- Proficiency in AutoCAD – this is the primary software you will utilize to deliver concepts and site plans
- Demonstrated ability to utilize Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator) to express ideas graphically – we are also looking for someone with a creative streak
- Proficiency in other land planning and surveying software tools such as LiDAR, 3D modeling platforms, GIS, GPS, Infraworks, and Global Mapper – we don’t expect candidates to have mastered all of these programs, but some combination will give you a leg up
- Strong analytical skills – having the ability to translate a wide variety of data points from Excel or other sources into clear, compelling narratives is a plus
- An aptitude to learn quickly – Mountain Planning is a niche industry; you’ll have to learn a lot on the job
- Passion for snow sports – you don’t need to be an expert skier or snowboarder to get this job, but an understanding of what makes ski resorts tick will be essential
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks at once, often with varying scales/scopes – this work will require you to be highly organized
- Demonstrated ability to achieve high results in an independent work setting – key given our geographical diversity!
Location: we will be prioritizing candidates that can work full-time in our office in Salt Lake City, but remain open to other options for qualified applicants.
What You Can Expect from Us
- The anticipated salary range for this position is between $55,000 and $65,000, depending upon qualifications, experience, and location.
- 401k + 4% company match
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (premiums 100% covered for employees)
- Health Savings Account (HSA) program with $2,000 annual employer contribution
- Short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance coverage
- Paid Family Leave: we offer new parents paid family leave (for birth or adoption) through a variety of options
- Generous vacation policy that promotes wellness (we want you to you to be balanced!)
- Flexible work environment that supports active lifestyles (‘work hard, play hard’ is our ethos!)
- Paid subscription to Headspace app and numerous outdoor pro form deals
What’s next?
If you are interested in being considered for this position, please submit a letter of interest, resume, and relevant portfolio materials to cdeamer@segroup.com with "Mountain Designer & Planner” in the subject line. In your letter of interest, include a narrative snapshot of what inspires you and how you might fit into our team. No phone calls, please. Applications received by June 20, 2025 will be given full consideration.