Social Media Manager at Far East Snowsports

📍 Niseko, Japan Start 1 Aug 2026 Social media + snowsport instructing This is a real job Challenge the norm

See the feed you'd be running → @far_east_snowsports

Paula, who has run Far East's social for three seasons

Found your way here from one of our posts? Good sign. This is the role Paula has run for three seasons, now opening up. Here's the full picture: what the job is, who we're looking for, and the deal.

Why this exists

What we're actually doing

We do this so people can enjoy snowsports for the next 50 to 100 years, and beyond. That means treating snowsports instructing as a real job, helping the snow keep falling, looking after the community we live in, and bringing the next generation through.

Everything we post should carry a bit of that weight. The feed isn't a highlight reel. It's how a small school in Niseko tells a long story, season after season, to the people who'll care about it.

The Far East Snowsports team together at the mountain base in Niseko, with Kuma the dog

Read these before you apply

They tell you more about us than any job advert can.

Our Philosophy → How we hire →

The job, honestly

What you'd actually do

The best content out here doesn't come from behind a desk.

You'll own how Far East shows up online. Some days that's a content calendar and a caption that genuinely sounds like us. Other days it's clicking into your boots to film a lesson on a powder morning.

You'll plan, create, schedule and publish across Instagram, Facebook and Rednote, keep our voice consistent so the community comes to recognise it, and tell us each month what's working and what isn't.

FES skier carving a stylish turn through powder under blue sky in Niseko

The shape we'd love

The ideal person runs our social media and can teach on snow through the busy weeks. If that's you, even better. If it isn't, that's a conversation, not a dealbreaker.

FES

far_east_snowsports

Niseko, Hokkaido

•••

Kuma, the Far East Snowsports mascot dog, in the snow

Liked by the whole team and everyone who's ever met him

far_east_snowsports Oh, and yes: you're allowed to post the dog. Kuma is our mascot, and he's been with us since the day he was born. #kuma #fareastsnowsports #niseko

What you bring & grow into

Who we're looking for

You feel our voice

Specific, warm, no hype, but fun, playful and witty. If you got this far, that's a promising sign.

Real hands-on experience

Some genuine social media experience already, and the appetite to own the rest.

You can get up the mountain

Ski or ride well enough to get up there and catch the real thing on camera.

In it for the long game

You take ownership, you finish what you start, and you're thinking in seasons, not weeks.

What you'll grow into

We don't expect all of this on day one. We also don't expect you to coast. Over the season you'll pick up:

Paid advertising across platforms, not just Meta
Performance analytics and benchmarking
Scheduling and analytics tools (Hootsuite or similar)
Sharper photo and video editing

If your default setting is "haven't done that yet, but I'll work it out", you'll fit right in. That stretch is the job. It's where the growth lives.

Who this probably isn't for

Let's be straight, so you don't waste your time or ours.

You'll get a framework to work within, and it's a wide one. Inside it you have real freedom to decide what to make and how, and that freedom is the point. It also means some days you'll feel a little lost, with nobody handing you the next task. Finding your own way through those moments is part of the job, not a flaw in it.

So if you want every step ordered for you, or a tidy corporate role with a fixed description to follow, this isn't your role, and that's completely fine. But if the freedom to build something nobody asked you to build sounds like the best part rather than the scary part, you'll feel right at home.

Paula on the slopes with Mt. Yotei behind her in Niseko

That's Paula, out where the best content actually happens, Mt. Yotei and all. Three seasons running this feed. Your turn?

"FES socials has been my baby for three years. To keep it growing, it needs someone on the spot, catching the pow turns, the team trips, the moments as they happen. If that sounds like you, I'd love to hand it over."
Paula · outgoing FES social media manager

The practical bits

The deal

Based in Niseko, on snow. English. Start date 1 August. Here's how the engagement works and what's on the table.

How we work

Everyone at Far East works as a contractor (業務委託), not an employee. Social and instructing together is our default shape, but the exact blend is a conversation, not a fixed box. Tell us what shape works for you.

Sample pay

Monthly base

from ¥50,000

Fixed monthly retainer for the social media work.

Performance
from ¥50,000
Earned on top, tied to how the channels perform.

A starting structure for the trial period, tax included. It grows from there as the role and the results do. If you also teach on snow, instructing days are agreed and paid separately at our standard instructor rates.

The term

1 August 2026

Start. You're in.

August to October 2026

Three-month trial. We both find out if it fits.

November 2026 to end of August 2027

First full term, through the winter season and beyond.

From September 2027

Renews in 12-month terms. The longer you stay, the more it's worth.

What comes with it

Pro-deals

Access to our pro-deal pricing on gear and apparel.

Season mountain access

On the hill all winter, which is also where the content lives.

Accommodation support

Priority on staff housing to help you land in Niseko.

Training & development

The paid-ads and analytics growth path, plus our wider support programme.

Far East Snowsports instructors smiling and waving at the village base in Niseko

Keen? We'd like to hear from you.

Tell us who you are, show us something you've made, and write us one caption that sounds like Far East. That's the whole test.

Apply now

Takes about ten minutes. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis through July.

A few quick answers

FAQ

The role & the work

What does a week look like in peak season vs the quiet months?

Two very different rhythms. Peak weeks are fast and on snow: long, tiring days catching it as it happens. The quiet months open right up. That's your time to chase the ideas you've wanted to make, and to get out and discover the area. Far East wants to be deeply rooted in the community here, so we actively encourage you to go find the local spots.

Do I own the content strategy, or follow a set plan?

You own the strategy, with one condition: it aligns with what we believe. We hold strong beliefs about who Far East is. Stay aligned with those and it's yours to run; drift from them and we'll push back hard.

What gear do I need, and is any provided?

You bring your own gear, and it doesn't need to be fancy. Paula ran the whole feed on an iPhone 17 Pro. Once a season we also run a professional photographer session, and that one's yours to plan: you brief the photographer to get the exact shots your content needs.

Whose moments can I capture?

Yours to capture, out on the hill. We also run official shoot sessions through the season, and you can always plan and propose your own ideas. The best ones usually start as "what if we…".

Do I run Rednote too? Do I need Mandarin?

No Mandarin needed. You mirror what you make for Instagram over to Rednote. Same content, second home.

On snow & instructing

Do I have to be a strong skier or rider?

No need to be a pro. You need to ski or ride well enough to get up the mountain comfortably and film the real thing without it being a mission. If you can do that, you're good.

Do I have to teach as well?

Our favourite version of this role runs the social media and teaches through the busy weeks. The reason is simple: when you teach, you really understand what we do, the ins and outs of it, and that understanding is what lets you deliver the right message into our community. If you're skilled enough to grasp that and deliver it without teaching, then no, it isn't a must. But it makes the whole thing a lot easier, and that's our honest preference.

If I'm a qualified instructor, how's the time split between social and teaching?

We keep it open. There's no fixed ratio: it comes down to you and what you prefer. Tell us the shape you want and we'll build it together.

Can I do this remotely?

Through the season, no. From the start to the end of winter you need to be here on the ground with us, because the best content comes from being on snow with the team. Over the summer and off-season, working remotely is fine if that suits you.

Pay & contract

How is the performance pay measured?

Yes, there's performance pay, and it's based on measures we agree together up front. No vague goalposts.

If I instruct too, how am I paid for it?

Teaching is paid on top, on a separate instructor structure. Social work and instructing are two different things, paid two different ways.

What does the three-month trial involve?

A real run at the job from 1 August, paid at the starting rate, so we both find out whether it fits before committing to the full term. No surprises either way.

What happens after the first term?

We're always intending to renew. We believe the longer you run this, the better you understand Far East, and the better the content gets. We want you to stay.

How does pay work through the quiet off-season?

The social side keeps going, so you keep creating and you keep getting paid. The one thing that's day-by-day is instructing: if you teach, you're paid for the days you teach, not the days you don't.

Do you help with the contractor side (invoicing, Japanese tax)?

Yes. We run workshops on becoming a sole trader in Japan and help you get invoicing and tax set up. You won't be figuring it out alone.

Living in Niseko

Do you help with accommodation, and what does it cost?

Yes, with honesty up front. Our staff accommodation is basic, roughly ¥85,000 to ¥100,000 a month plus utilities for your own room. If you want exactly the life you picture, you may be happier finding your own place. But for a first season it's a great way to land right in the middle of the circle and settle in fast, as long as there's a room free. It's first come, first served, so it isn't a guarantee. If we can't house you, we'll still support you: helping you find somewhere and pointing you in the right direction.

Do I need a car or a licence in Niseko?

A driver's licence is a must, and having your own car makes life here a lot easier. We also have a company car you may be able to use when it isn't needed for work.

What visa do I need?

Usually a working holiday visa. Depending on your qualifications and degrees there may be other options, so let's talk it through.

Is a season lift pass included?

Yes. A season lift pass is included.

When does the season start and end?

It starts late November and runs to mid or late April, depending how long you want to stay. The one fixed point is staying through our last event, Meet The Team, in early April. After that it's up to you, though spring skiing here is genuinely good, so we'd love you to hang around. If you fancy staying through summer, we have accommodation and a few summer projects quietly in the works.

Do I need to speak Japanese?

Not to start. It's great if you pick some up along the way, but it isn't a requirement on day one.

Can my partner come to Niseko?

Yes, your partner is welcome, and we can help them find work. One honest caveat: staff housing priority goes to our team first, not partners, for business reasons. Sorry about that.

Growth & fit

I haven't done paid ads or analytics before. Is that a problem?

Not at all. Those are things you'll grow into over the season. We're looking for someone whose instinct is "haven't done that yet, but I'll work it out".

Can this grow into a bigger marketing role?

Yes, and we'd love that. Beyond the feed there's the whole company: relationship events, our printed magazine, merch, the Adventure Map and bottles, and more in the pipeline. The long game is someone who grows to look after marketing, PR and strategy across all of it, as a proper full-time role. It takes time, and we're honest about that. We're not slotting you into a fixed job; we're looking for someone who paves their own path as their skills grow.

What kind of person thrives at Far East?

Someone who paves their own path with the tools and education we provide, takes initiative, and acts. We fully back people who take ownership of their own growth. That's who does well here.