Kids Program Manager

Job Description

Kids Program Manager - Rhythm Rides

Location: Niseko

Dates: 1st November 2026 to 12th April 2027

Salary Range:

Monthly from ¥522,095 to ¥623,475 per month

Seasonal from ¥3,132,570 to ¥3,740,850

Plus performance-based incentives

Please note that the actual amount will vary depending on the actual number of working days, hours, and shift conditions.

Travel Allowance: Up to ¥150,000, reimbursed on actual flight cost

Position Type: Seasonal Fixed Term Salary

Reports to: Niseko Operations Manager

Direct Reports: Futures Supervisor, Kids Lesson Instructors

Program Scope: Kids Multi-Day Programs (6 days per week); Futures Seasonal Program (1 day per week)

About us:

Rhythm is about creating epic experiences for our customers, which starts with our people. We live by our values and put people first. We take pride in creating working and living environments that foster innovation, adventure, and balance. Working at Rhythm is more than a job; it's an experience you will have forever.

The Role:

The Kids Programs Manager - Niseko is responsible for the leadership, operation and performance of Rhythm Rides' children's snowsports programs, including the Kids Multi-Day Programs and Futures Seasonal Program.

The role owns program staffing, delivery, child safety, parent experience, team performance and business performance. It works closely with Private Lessons, Guest Services, Training, Operations Logistics and People & Culture to deliver safe, fun and high-quality programs.

Programs operate across seven days each week. The Futures Program Supervisor provides primary operational support and manager cover. The Head Alpine Trainer or an approved Lead Hand may also provide delegated coverage when required.

The Kids Programs Manager reports to the Niseko Operations Manager and is expected to independently lead the department within approved budgets, policies and operating standards. Matters outside delegated authority or requiring location-wide decisions are escalated to the Niseko Operations Manager.

The Kids Programs Manager - Niseko is accountable for:

• A positive, professional and child-focused team culture
• Safe, consistent and high-quality kids program delivery
• Effective staffing, group ratios and workforce performance
• Exceptional child and parent experiences
• Strong staff development, feedback and performance management
• Appropriate supervisory and management coverage across the seven-day operation
• Accurate payroll, operational records and delivery within approved labour targets
  
  

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

Team Leadership and Culture

• Lead, support and develop the Futures Program Supervisor and kids instructor and coaching team.
• Build a positive, inclusive and accountable culture that is professional, child-focused and aligned with Rhythm values.
• Set clear expectations, communicate daily priorities and maintain strong communication across instructors, coaches and support roles.
• Provide regular coaching, feedback, recognition and performance reviews.
• Own staff performance, conduct, wellbeing and development matters within the department, working with People & Culture and escalating significant issues to the Niseko Operations Manager when required.

Daily Operations and Program Delivery

• Own the daily delivery of the Kids Multi-Day Programs and Futures Seasonal Program.
• Review bookings, participant needs, staff availability, qualifications, group ratios and operational constraints.
• Allocate instructors and coaches based on participant needs, program requirements, staff skills and availability.
• Monitor group ratios, capacity and staffing and make daily adjustments to maintain quality, safety and labour targets.
• Ensure appropriate supervisory and management coverage across the seven-day operation.
• Provide clear delegated responsibilities to the Futures Program Supervisor, Head Alpine Trainer or approved Lead Hand when covering the Manager's absence.
• Ensure attendance, lesson records, schedule changes, payroll inputs and operational information are accurate and complete.

Child Safety and Wellbeing

• Maintain a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for children on and off snow.
• Ensure staff follow approved child-safety procedures, supervision requirements, equipment checks and program safety standards.
• Monitor participant wellbeing, ability, fatigue and suitability for the planned group and terrain.
• Maintain clear attendance, child handover and parent/guardian collection procedures.
• Ensure incidents, injuries, hazards and near misses are reported and managed through the appropriate process.

Parent Experience and Program Quality

• Maintain consistent service, coaching and instructional standards across all kids programs.
• Ensure parents receive clear information about program expectations, schedules, meeting points and children's progress.
• Work with Guest Services to resolve parent concerns and complaints, taking ownership of matters relating to program delivery.
• Support serious or complex guest matters and escalate when they sit outside delegated authority.
• Monitor parent, child and staff feedback and implement practical improvements within the department.

Workforce and Performance Management

• Manage rosters and work allocation in line with bookings, program ratios, staff skills, availability and approved labour plans.
• Monitor staff workload, utilisation, fatigue, engagement and team wellbeing.
• Ensure work is allocated fairly and according to qualifications, child needs, program requirements and business demand.
• Complete and document staff performance feedback and seasonal reviews in line with company requirements.
• Own department recruitment, onboarding and return-staff planning in collaboration with the Niseko Operations Manager and People & Culture.
• Review payroll accuracy and resolve routine pay or scheduling discrepancies within required deadlines.

Training and Staff Development

• Ensure instructors and coaches complete required onboarding, program training and safety briefings.
• Work with Training leadership to identify and deliver staff-development priorities for the department.
• Provide on-snow coaching, observation and feedback to maintain program quality and support staff progression.
• Ensure development supports both the Multi-Day Program and the specialist coaching needs of the Futures Seasonal Program.

Business Performance and Program Improvement

• Monitor enrolments, revenue, wages, group ratios, staff utilisation, payroll accuracy and program performance.
• Manage daily staffing and operational decisions within approved labour, ratio and service targets.
• Identify opportunities to improve capacity, efficiency, program quality and family experience.
• Own department-level product, process and service improvements and provide recommendations to the Niseko Operations Manager on significant changes.
• Support the implementation of approved product changes, procedures and seasonal priorities.

Cross-Department Staff Leadership

• Instructors and guides may be rostered across different Rides departments according to business demand, qualifications and operational requirements.
• The Kids Programs Manager is the Primary Manager for staff allocated to Kids Programs and retains overall responsibility for their seasonal experience, performance, wellbeing, development and formal reviews.
• When a staff member works in another department, the Receiving Manager has operational authority for that shift or product delivery, including briefing, task allocation, safety requirements, product standards and immediate feedback.
• The Kids Programs Manager actively gathers feedback from Receiving Managers and includes relevant cross-department performance in coaching, development and formal reviews.
• Significant or recurring performance, conduct, wellbeing or development matters remain with the Primary Manager, with input from managers who have supervised the employee in other departments.
• Managers are expected to resolve routine cross-department staffing matters directly and escalate significant resource or priority conflicts to the Niseko Operations Manager.
• Staff must have clear communication about their Primary Manager and who holds operational authority for each assigned shift.

Collaboration and Role Boundaries

• Work closely with the Private Lessons Manager, Guest Services, Reservations, Training, Logistics, People & Culture and the Niseko Operations Manager.
• The Kids Programs Manager owns department staffing, rosters, staff allocation, program delivery, child and parent outcomes, people leadership and business performance.
• The Futures Program Supervisor provides primary daily supervisory support and manager cover; the Head Alpine Trainer or approved Lead Hand may provide delegated cover when assigned.
• The Niseko Operations Manager owns location-wide priorities, significant cross-department resource decisions and escalated matters outside the Kids Programs Manager's delegated authority.
• Product strategy, significant policy changes and location-wide decisions remain with senior leadership and the appropriate management function.
  
  

Key Measures of Success:

• Strong team culture, engagement and staff retention
• Safe, consistent and high-quality kids program delivery
• Child and parent satisfaction and effective complaint resolution
• Appropriate staffing, group ratios, labour and payroll performance
• Reliable management coverage across the seven-day operation
• Effective staff coaching, development and performance management
• Strong collaboration across Rides departments and effective cross-department staff leadership
  
  

What you need to succeed:

Qualifications and Experience

• Management or supervisory experience within a snowsports school or comparable children's program operation.
• Strong experience leading and developing ski or snowboard instructors and coaches.
• Significant experience in children's snowsports instruction, coaching or seasonal club programs.
• Strong understanding of child development, group management and age-appropriate teaching practices.
• Minimum Level 3 (ISIA Stamp) ski or snowboard instructor qualification, or equivalent (preferred)
• First Aid certification and a valid Japanese or recognised international driver licence.

Skills and Attributes

• Strong people leadership and the ability to build a positive, child-focused and accountable team culture.
• Confident managing daily operations, staff allocation, group ratios and coverage across a seven-day program.
• Excellent communication with children, parents and staff, including conflict and complaint resolution.
• Strong judgement with the ability to balance child safety, guest experience, team wellbeing and business performance.
• Organised, proactive and comfortable with booking, scheduling, payroll and performance systems.
• Flexible, collaborative and comfortable working in a fast-paced seasonal operation.
  
  

Key Measures of Success:

• Strong team culture, engagement and staff retention
• Safe, consistent and high-quality kids program delivery
• Child and parent satisfaction and effective complaint resolution
• Appropriate staffing, group ratios, labour and payroll performance
• Reliable management coverage across the seven-day operation
• Effective staff coaching, development and performance management
• Strong collaboration across the Lessons Department and Guest Services
  
  

What you need to succeed:

Qualifications and Experience

• Management or supervisory experience within a snowsports school or comparable children's program operation.
• Strong experience leading and developing ski or snowboard instructors and coaches.
• Significant experience in children's snowsports instruction, coaching or seasonal club programs.
• Strong understanding of child development, group management and age-appropriate teaching practices.
• Minimum Level 2 (ISIA Stamp) ski or snowboard instructor qualification, or equivalent.
• First Aid certification and a valid Japanese or recognised international driver licence.

Skills and Attributes

• Strong people leadership and the ability to build a positive, child-focused and accountable team culture.
• Confident managing daily operations, staff allocation, group ratios and coverage across a seven-day program.
• Excellent communication with children, parents and staff, including conflict and complaint resolution.
• Strong judgement with the ability to balance child safety, guest experience, team wellbeing and business performance.
• Organised, proactive and comfortable with booking, scheduling, payroll and performance systems.
• Flexible, collaborative and comfortable working in a fast-paced seasonal operation.
  
  

The Perks and Benefits:

As a Rhythm employee, you’ll experience the same legendary hospitality we extend to our guests. We’re passionate about looking after our crew, and here are just a few of the perks you’ll enjoy when you join our team:

• Live, Work, and Play in Paradise: Immerse yourself in one of the world’s top mountain resorts.
• Work with a Legendary Crew: Join a team that’s passionate, fun-loving, and deeply connected to the industry.
• Subsidised Staff Accommodation: Affordable housing options and housing assistance to help you settle in.
• Epic Social Scene: From team ride days and department dinners to staff parties, events, and day trips, our social calendar is packed with opportunities to connect and unwind.
• Wellness and Lifestyle Benefits: Access the Rhythm Wellness program, enjoy free snowsports or bike demos, and take advantage of generous store discounts for you, your friends, and your family.

At Rhythm, we work hard, but we play even harder. If you know anyone who’s worked with us before, they’ll tell you this isn’t just a job- it’s an experience of a lifetime. Our fun, supportive culture is the heart of everything we do because people like you make Rhythm what it is