Colorado Dude Ranch Jobs

Thank you for your interest in working at one of our all-inclusive Colorado Dude & Guest Ranches!

The dude and guest ranch members of our Association collectively hire 800 to 1,000 employees each summer. Our staff members are an important part of the guest ranch experience. Ranch staff members provide exceptional guest services and Western hospitality that make our ranches some of the best in the West.

  • Cooking and Kitchen Staff
  • Wait Staff, Housekeeping, and Maintenance
  • Horse Care and Wrangling
  • Babysitters, Kids Counselors, Teen Counselors
  • Office and Marketing positions

These ranches offer good jobs, good pay and great places to meet new people, not to mention a wonderful place to spend the summer. Our ranches typically do most of their hiring for summer employment December-March.

So What’s Next?

  • We encourage you to contact the ranches that interest you directly as soon as possible.  Request a brochure with contact and web information of all 27 of our ranches,
  • Once you have narrowed down your search, the next step would be to contact the individual ranch and request an application. (Some ranches even have an application you can download online!)
  • Each ranch has a slightly different application process. So be sure you have all the information necessary to apply with your ranch(s) of choice.

a. What kind of interview would the ranch prefer to do? Phone? In Person?
b. What information needs to be sent back to the ranch along with the application itself?
c. What are the ranches deadlines for seasonal hiring and be sure to ask when you can expect to hear back from them on their final decisions.

We wish you the best in your search for a ranch position that is just the right fit for you! If you have any additional questions, please email the office at office@coloradoranch.com.

Current Ranch Position Openings: 2020

Rawah Ranch
(updated 12/11/2020)

Winter Wrangler – Full Time Permanent

This position starts as winter wrangler, with potential for promotion to management of the barn. Get more details:

Email office@rawahranch.com to apply:

Wrangler:

Job Duties:

The Wrangler will work together and with head wrangler and ranch management, to provide the highest quality of horse care and guest experience. He/she will be responsible for helping a team of up to five wranglers. The daily operations of cleaning corrals, doctoring, providing care for a string of approx. 60 horses and maintaining a neat and orderly barn/corral.

 

In addition to the above, regular tasks include, but are not limited to:

  • Lead twice daily guest rides with professionalism and positivity
  • Help with managing the rotation and irrigation of pastures
  • Track time spent on Wilderness and Natural Forest Land
  • Lead and participate in weekly special riding events (overnight camping trip rides, cowboy breakfast rides, evening rides, etc.), including set-up, tear down and event hosting
  • Provide general ranch maintenance (fencing, trail clearing, new trail construction, etc.)
  • Ability to perform any additional barn/ranch projects as assigned by ranch management
  • Must be comfortable in the saddle; walk, trot, lope. As well as helping run horses in by horseback.

 

Activities Guide:

Job Duties:

  • Organize, schedule, and facilitate daily offered ranch activities for ranch guests, including but not limited to:
    • Fishing at the pond
    • Trap/target shooting
    • Archery
    • Hiking, camping/backpacking
    • Mountain biking
    • Stand up paddle boarding, flat bottom boat and paddle boats
    • Wildlife observation
    • Games with guests
  • Survey guests every evening and ensure all guests are signed up for their desired activities for the following day
  • Communicate with Management and appropriate staff members so that entire team is aware of the daily/weekly schedule and desired guest activities for the following day
  • Cross-train in other ranch departments to assist with operations on the ranch as needed (I.e., serving/hospitality, Kids Program, front desk, etc.)

 

Housekeeper:

Job Duties:

Housekeeping:

  • Provide excellent service consistent with the property’s core service standards and brand attributes.
  • Provide a clean, well-maintained ranch: lodge, guest cabins and game room.
  • Monitor the responses of customer comment cards, identifying problem areas and formulate solutions.
  • Communicative
  • Take ownership of all requests and complaints; resolve issues immediately and follow up to ensure guest’s satisfaction.
  • Identify and report defects throughout the property; notify the proper staff immediately of any hazards or unsafe conditions.
  • Proficiency in knowledge of all room types, room positions, current rates, and all facilities and services within the Ranch.
  • File all paperwork within established guidelines.
  • Maintain work area and guest areas in a neat and tidy manner.
  • Personally, inspect all rooms.
  • Confirm all special requests are completed prior to guest arrival.

Server/Kitchen Team Member:

Job Duties:

The server/lodge team member may alternate between the server/kitchen staff and hospitality teams throughout the season (I.e., one week on, one week off) to allow some differentiation in responsibilities.

Server/Kitchen Staff:

  • Play key role as member of the service staff in providing the highest quality guest dining experience for cocktail hour and daily meals
  • Prepare and deliver accurate daily coffee service to guest cabins as requested
  • Keep accurate inventory of liquor, beer, and wine products sold to guests in addition to all-inclusive beverages and reflect accurate sales on final guest bills at check-out
  • Control all aspects of the service flow as a team and work cooperatively with kitchen staff to complete all cocktail hour and meal-related tasks (table settings, lodge prep, service, dish washing, etc.)
  • Gain comprehensive knowledge of ranch food and beverage menus, ingredients, appearance and food preparation
  • Manage dining area set-up, cleaning, and re-sets before/after each meal
  • Work with your team mates to clean and maintain orderly lodge bathrooms, staff lounge, kitchen/dishwashing station, guest dining area, and lodge.

 

Elk Mountain Ranch
(updated 11-10-20)

Elk Mountain Ranch – Now accepting applications for the 2021 season.

Open Positions: Maintenance/Sports/Utility, Assistant Cook/Swing, Cook, Children’s Counselor, Team Player (Housekeeper/Wait staff/Dish Washer/Food Preparation), Wrangler

If you have a ready smile, are honest and willing to work hard, love the outdoors and enjoy working with people, we may have a very special dude ranch employment opportunity for you! Elk Mountain Ranch is a first-class guest ranch with off-the-beaten-path charm.

Applicants for employment must be at least 18 years of age and willing to live on the ranch. Modest housing and meals are supplied as part of our employment package. Please expect to have roommates. No smoking or drug use is allowed. A neat, clean appearance is necessary. We search for staff who are mature self-starters, who have strong communication skills and are team players.  We are looking for employees who are available for employment from mid-May to the end of August. Some positions extend through the end of September. Tips are prorated among the staff based on the number of days worked. Average compensation is approximately $3000 per month plus room and board.

Please see our employment pages at http://elkmtn.com/the-ranch/employment/