Ranch Manager needed at Family-owned Working Ranch in New Mexico ~ $40k-$65k

Wheaton Creek Ranch

Email

[email protected]

Location

Ocate, NM

Job Type

Full Time, Year round

Salary

$40,000-$65,000

Date Posted

December 8, 2024

Housing Offered

Yes

Experience

5-10 yrs

How to Apply

https://wheatoncreekranch.applytojob.com/apply/lDU7dG4uKz/Ranch-Manager

Please submit application, resume, and cover letter via link above.

Job Title: Ranch Manager Revision Date: December 07, 2024
Reports to: Managing Director Position Status: Full-Time
Location: Ocate, NM Compensation Band: TBD

Who We Are

Wheaton Creek Ranch (WCR) is a family-owned working ranch that has been managed primarily for wildlife for more than thirty years. We offer our retreat facilities to the public as well as all-inclusive services for hunting for elk, deer, antelope, and bear. We care about sustainable ranching, ethical hunting, and thoughtful conservation.

After 35 years of managing the ranch, David Stanley, the Founder/Owner/Manager is looking to retire. We are searching for the right person to take his role as manager to carry on the responsibilities of nature conservation and ranch operations.

Our wild, natural habitat is situated in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Region of Northern New Mexico. The area teems with wildlife, stretching over 37,000 acres (15,000 private and 22,000 State Trust) in the Rocky Mountains.

Aside from the ranch’s vast beauty, we have facilities and cottage industries that support our community, including cattle ranching, hunting, forestry, lumber milling, lodge and room rentals, retreats, camping and more.

We are a community of people who value remote living in the natural world. We are committed to living in harmony with each other and the abundant plant and animal life here. Our values include, but are not limited to, Humility, Sustainability, Responsibility and Community. We are seeking folks who not only share these values but are also positive, hard-working, team players.

What You’ll Do as the Ranch Manager

We’re excited to welcome a new full-time Ranch Manager into our Wheaton Creek Ranch community!

As an experienced Ranch Manager, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing all aspects of ranch operations, aligning activities with the Managing Director’s vision and ensuring the achievement of long-term goals. This position requires, above all, excellent self-awareness in terms of skills and limitations, strategic thinking, operational expertise, organizational skills, financial acumen, team building and team management skills, a commitment to environmental stewardship, as well as a positive can-do attitude. When not overseeing ranch operations, you will work alongside your coworkers as a contributing team member on various projects as needed.

Key Responsibilities

Ensure all aspects of the ranch are running smoothly and efficiently, including but not limited to the following responsibilities:

Building Maintenance: Oversee all general building maintenance tasks, to ensure the property remains in good condition year-round.
Grounds-keeping: Oversee all general maintenance related to landscaping and irrigation, including lawns, gardens, pathways, ponds, etc.
Livestock: Manage and/or assist in the buying/selling, care, feeding, and handling of livestock, ensuring their health, well-being, and safety.
Fencing: Build, repair, and maintain fences and enclosures to contain livestock, delineate property boundaries, and manage wildlife access, using appropriate tools and techniques.
Equipment Maintenance: Make sure equipment and tools are kept in good running condition, taken care of, and kept organized.
Vehicle Maintenance: Ensure all ranch vehicles are kept in good running condition.
Trail Development and Maintenance: Develop and maintain trails and pathways used for hunting, hiking, and recreational activities, ensuring they are safe, accessible, and well-marked for guests.
Land Conservation: Monitor and manage pasture and rangeland resources, including rotational grazing, weed control, hay operations, and water distribution, to optimize forage production and maintain ecosystem health, as well as National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and other agencies contracts.
Water Conservation: Manage water sources such as stream restoration, wells, ponds, and irrigation systems, to ensure adequate supply for livestock, wildlife, and vegetation, as well as for guest amenities and recreational activities.
Environmental Sustainability: Implement sustainable practices to minimize the environmental impact of the ranch’s operations, including habitat conservation and wildlife management.
Team Building: Recruit, train, and supervise staff and volunteers to assist in the above responsibilities and build and maintain functional operations, ensuring the staff and volunteers embody the values and standards set by the founder.

Who You Are

You’re excited to live on the ranch as a positive and cooperative member of our Wheaton Creek Ranch community.
You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships and effectively lead a diverse team.
You have proven experience in a leadership role overseeing a team of staff to carry out ranching operations.
You have extensive knowledge of or know enough to hire for ranching, cattle management, and environmental conservation practices.
You’re familiar with relevant laws, regulations, and permits related to ranching, hunting, and environmental stewardship, or able to learn quickly.
You represent Wheaton Creek Ranch and its founder, David Stanley, positively, promoting the ranch’s mission and values.
You work for the greater good of our collective community, lending a helping hand around the ranch when needed.
You’re able to meet the physical and environmental demands of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Qualifications

5+ years experience managing a ranch
3+ years experience managing a team of staff
Proficient financial acumen
Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical-thinking skills
Exceptional organizational skills
Clean driving record and valid driver’s license
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
Construction and construction management knowledge and experience, preferred
Experience in livestock management, preferred

Living on the Ranch

With access to 37,000 acres of wilderness, we see living at the ranch as a privilege. As part of our team, you’ll get:
Year-round quality housing and utilities, including high-speed internet
Access to the wilderness for personal recreation, including mountain biking, hiking, camping, etc.
Possible hunting and/or guiding opportunities

Please note that we operate as a drug free/smoke free workplace. Smoking is not allowed on the job and we ask that “off the job” smoking or vaping be done discreetly, never in front of guests/clients and not in ranch buildings or vehicles. While we have vehicles for the ranch, employees must have their own personal vehicle to travel from the ranch to the local town for personal needs.