Retail & Rental Associate

About the Role

The Retail & Rental Associate helps Saddleback guests enjoy a safe, positive mountain experience by providing friendly and efficient service in the retail shop and rental areas. This position assists guests with product selection, rental reservations, equipment sizing and fitting, transactions, and rental returns. Associates also help maintain merchandise and equipment inventory, keep work areas organized, and support daily department operations.

The ideal candidate is dependable, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Previous retail or customer-service experience is helpful but not required; training is provided.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to provide friendly, professional service to guests.
• Basic math skills and ability to accurately process payments.
• Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Willingness and ability to learn rental-equipment fitting and safety procedures.
• Ability to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak vacation periods.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and lift or carry up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Required equipment certifications must be obtained and maintained before performing regulated or specialized adjustments.

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Previous retail, rental, hospitality, ski-shop, or customer-service experience.
• Basic knowledge of skiing, snowboarding, and winter equipment.
• Experience with point-of-sale, inventory, or rental-management systems.
• Familiarity with merchandise handling, cash handling, or inventory counts.

Responsibilities

• Welcome guests and help them select retail merchandise and rental equipment based on their needs, experience, and preferences.
• Explain rental packages, products, pricing, shop policies, rental procedures, and return requirements.
• Process rental reservations, walk-in rentals, exchanges, and returns; accurately enter guest information and confirm required agreements and waivers are complete.
• Select and fit skis, snowboards, boots, poles, and helmets according to established procedures and training.
• Adjust bindings or other equipment only when properly trained, certified, and authorized.
• Explain basic equipment use, care, and return requirements.
• Inspect returned equipment; report damage, missing components, or safety concerns promptly and remove unsafe equipment from rental inventory until it is inspected or repaired.
• Clean, dry, sanitize, organize, and return rental equipment to the correct storage areas.
• Process retail sales, exchanges, returns, discounts, gift cards, and approved payment methods according to company procedures.
• Restock, tag, price, fold, and display merchandise; help maintain clean, attractive, and guest-ready retail areas.
• Assist with receiving, unpacking, labeling, storing, and counting merchandise and rental equipment.
• Monitor product levels and report reordering needs, inventory discrepancies, or suspected theft to a supervisor.
• Follow cash-handling, point-of-sale, and payment-security procedures; report discrepancies promptly.
• Follow opening and closing checklists, maintain an orderly workspace, and keep walkways and fitting areas clear of hazards.
• Follow company safety procedures, use required protective equipment, and report injuries, unsafe conditions, property damage, and near misses.
• Work cooperatively with Retail, Rentals, Ski School, Guest Services, Mountain Operations, and other resort departments.
• Assist with group rentals, school programs, special events, busy reservation periods, and other retail or rental locations when assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

The Retail & Rental Associate uses strong communication and interpersonal skills to understand guest needs and clearly explain products, rental terms, and procedures. Attention to detail is essential when entering guest information, processing payments, fitting equipment, and tracking inventory. The associate uses sound judgment to recognize damaged or potentially unsafe equipment and knows when to involve a supervisor. Organization and time management help keep work areas clean while balancing guest needs and department tasks. Teamwork, dependability, patience, and adaptability are important during busy periods and as seasonal business needs change.

This role is primarily based in retail stores, rental shops, fitting areas, and equipment-storage spaces. It may involve wet floors, sharp equipment edges, cleaning products, crowded areas, changing temperatures, and travel between resort buildings in snow, ice, wind, or extreme cold. Seasonal schedule flexibility is required, especially on weekends, holidays, and during peak winter periods.