Guide Safety Officer [Niseko]

Job Description

Guide Safety Officer- Rhythm Rides

Location: Niseko

Dates: November through to March

Wages:

From ¥2,640 per hour to ¥2,850 per hour

Monthly ¥516,425 to ¥557,197

Guide hourly rate will apply separately when delivering backcountry tours

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

Travel Allowance ¥100,000 reimbursed on actual flight cost

Position Type: Hybrid Role: This role will split shifts between the GSO position & backcountry guide role

Seasonal Hourly Position, hours variable depending on business, between 30 and 40 hours per week

Reports to: Furano Rides Location Manager

Direct Reports: None

Technical Direction: Furano guides, for technical and safety matters

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 Guide Safety Officer - Furano provides daily, field-based technical safety leadership for Rhythm Rides' Furano guide operation. This is primarily an on-snow role. The Guide Safety Officer gathers current snowpack, weather, terrain and operational information by guiding guests, assessing conditions, training staff and supporting guides in the field.

The role applies the policies, terrain framework and operating standards set by the National Guide Technical Lead and makes the daily local decisions required to operate safely.

The Guide Safety Officer holds final local technical authority over daily terrain availability, operating limits and safety-related changes or cancellations. The Furano Location Manager remains accountable for operational delivery and implements these decisions through staffing, guest communication and logistics.

Individual guides must remain within the approved operating parameters and may always make a more conservative decision for their group.

The Guide Safety Officer is accountable for:

Current field observations of snowpack, weather, terrain and hazards

Clear and conservative daily operating parameters

Effective technical briefings and communication of changing conditions

On-snow support, coaching and development of Furano guides

Technical emergency readiness and incident leadership

Timely escalation of technical risks and recommended improvements

• This is a Hybrid Role:
• The Guide Safety Officer duties are the priority of this role. When operationally appropriate, the Guide Safety Officer may also deliver backcountry tours for guests and will be paid the applicable guide rate.
• On the Location Manager's day off, the Guide Safety Officer will oversee daily operations and will not be assigned to guest tours. Safety, team and operational responsibilities will always take priority over guest guiding.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

Technical Framework and Reporting

Work within the policies, procedures, approved terrain and operating standards set by the National Guide Technical Lead.

Maintain regular communication with the National Guide Technical Lead about conditions, emerging risks, guide capability and local technical needs.

Provide local observations and recommendations for terrain, route, procedure and training reviews.

Escalate decisions outside approved terrain, products or procedures to the National Guide Technical Lead.

Work with the Furano Location Manager to ensure technical standards are understood and implemented locally.

Daily Assessment and Operating Decisions

Review forecasts, avalanche information, field observations, guide logbooks and unresolved technical concerns before operations begin.

Assess the weather, snowpack, terrain, hazards and human factors affecting the day's operation.

Set the daily approved zones, terrain limits, closures, product restrictions and other technical controls.

Identify conservative alternatives when conditions or forecast uncertainty require flexibility.

Modify, restrict, suspend or cancel an individual plan, product or the wider guide operation when risk cannot be managed within acceptable limits.

Require a guide allocation change where qualifications, experience, readiness or fatigue create an unacceptable technical risk.

On-Snow Delivery and Guide Support

Be on snow on operating days wherever practical through guest guiding, field assessment, training, mentoring or direct guide support.

Plan field activity to gather information needed for current and next-day decisions.

Monitor changing weather, snowpack, terrain, access and operational conditions throughout the day.

Maintain current knowledge of approved terrain, access points, hazards, emergency routes and operating limitations.

Support guides with technical questions and additional field assessment when required.

Update operating parameters promptly when conditions require a more conservative approach.

When guiding guests, model conservative decision-making, professional guest care and strong technical standards.

Ensure an authorised technical delegate and clear escalation process are in place when field duties limit availability.

Briefings and Field Information

Lead the technical component of the daily guide briefing with the Furano Location Manager.

Communicate the daily hazard assessment, approved terrain, operating limits and safety priorities.

Review each group's proposed terrain, alternatives, guest factors and communication plan.

Confirm guides understand the operating limits and escalation requirements.

Lead or coordinate the technical component of the end-of-day debrief.

Review field observations and logbook information to identify emerging hazards, uncertainty and priorities for the following day.

Provide the Furano Location Manager and National Guide Technical Lead with a summary of significant technical matters when required.

Guide Standards and Development

Provide technical direction to guides on terrain, snow safety, risk management, communication and emergency procedures.

Observe guide performance in the field and provide practical coaching, mentoring and feedback.

Intervene immediately where activity falls outside approved limits or presents an unacceptable risk.

Assess guide suitability for specific terrain, products and conditions and advise the Furano Location Manager.

Recommend training, mentoring, supervision or temporary restrictions where development is required.

Assess guide progression within the authority delegated under Rhythm's guide sign-off framework.

Deliver or support preseason onboarding, terrain orientation, technical refreshers, rescue practice and scenario training.

Emergency Readiness and Technical Equipment

Maintain current knowledge of local emergency procedures, rescue resources, access and evacuation options.

Define the technical content required for emergency drills and scenario training.

Confirm the technical requirements for guide rescue, first-aid and communication equipment.

Identify unsafe or unsuitable technical equipment and require it to be removed from service.

Provide technical leadership during guide-related incidents until responsibility transfers to the appropriate emergency service or senior authority.

Review the technical factors involved in incidents, hazards and near misses and recommend actions to reduce recurrence.

Escalate significant technical, safety, legal or reputational risks without delay.

Collaboration and Role Boundaries

Work closely with the Furano Location Manager to ensure technical decisions are implemented across guides, Guest Services, Store Operations and logistics.

Explain technical decisions clearly, including their operational impact and any conditions required for activity to continue