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Mountain Sky Guest Ranch

Summer Ranch Jobs In Montana

For over 80 years, Mountain Sky has offered guests and staff Montana’s majestic natural setting and a chance to reconnect with the land – and each other.

Just 30 scenic miles north of Yellowstone National Park in Montana’s beautiful Paradise Valley, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch is the perfect place for the outdoor enthusiast. Horseback riders, hikers, mountain bikers, kayakers, fly-fisher folk, whitewater rafters, rock climbers and naturalists all find themselves drawn here season after season, along with the individuals who simply seek to live and work in a peaceful mountain setting in the heart of Yellowstone Country.

Fun at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch

While the ranch opens May 1 and closes at the end of October, the bulk of our 70+ staff members work during our family season, which runs early-June through August. If you are a seasonal worker we encourage you to apply early as we are always looking for individuals who can work our expanding 6 month season. We have many positions available for those college students and others who are looking for 3 months of summer work, or a possible internship.

Our Jobs

Guest Services - This entry-level position features great variety, and rotates primarily through our kids program, dining room, and housekeeping departments.

Wranglers - Wranglers must demonstrate excellent horsemanship skills, and are responsible for leading guest rides, grooming and tacking the horses, gathering the herd in the mornings, and fence and trail maintenance. Participants unable to do a live riding interview will be required to submit a riding video.

Grounds Crew - Responsible for grooming and maintaining lawns, flowerbeds, gates, outdoor patios, and recreational areas. Daily maintenance of pool/spa facility, organization and disposal of ranch waste and recyclables, and light maintenance duties as assigned.

Children’s Program Assistant - Will work directly with the Children’s Program Director in the planning and organizing of creative and entertaining activities for morning, afternoon, and evening children’s programs.

Dining Room Assistant - Will work directly with the Dining Room Manager to help manage and direct staff in putting out guest and staff meals, communicate guest needs to the kitchen staff, and to organize and maintain the guest dining room, staff dining room, related storage areas, and the kitchen. Full Time/Seasonal.

Teen Program Director - Will work directly with the Activities Director and Kids Program Director to develop programming and activities to keep children ages 13-18 entertained and engaged.

Prep Cook / Line Cook - Assist the Executive chef in all aspects of kitchen operations, including preparation of hot and cold foods, receiving of food orders, and maintaining the highest in food and sanitation standards.

Head of Housekeeping - Manage staff and communicate with guests in order to provide organized, efficient, and quality housekeeping service for our guests at a 4-Diamond luxury resort ranch. Previous experience required, must be available for work April 1 to November 1. Monthly salary based on experience, room and board provided.

Our Ideal Candidate...

Mountain Sky boasts an 80% guest return rate year after year, and staff interaction with our guests is the single most important ingredient to our success. We’re looking for people who understand the importance of a friendly smile and a kind word. Our guests aren’t here to be served by a staff that is ‘seen but not heard’… they want to hear your story, share a laugh, and experience true western hospitality at its finest. Our staff members are personable, adventurous, hard-working, honest, and are willing to pitch in when they see that a helping hand is needed. Finally, we’re looking for people with a desire and a willingness to learn. Rather than departmentalize, we give our entry-level “all-around” staff the opportunity to work a variety of jobs in order to gain a better understanding of the operation as a whole, and to better prepare them for whatever may come in the future.

Riding on the Ranch

Sleep and Eat

Room and board is provided to all Mountain Sky staff members. Staff housing is a mixture of shared and individual cabins, dorm-style cabins, and a staff lodge. Staff accommodations are mostly communal (shared cabins) with private accommodations reserved for returning senior employees or elder staff members. Mountain Sky provides linens, comforters, pillows, and towels for staff members. There is sufficient storage space on the ranch for personal belongings. There are two staff lounges on ranch which include laundry facilities, computers with internet access, telephone access, TV with VCR/DVD, and recreation space. Staff members are allowed to respectfully use all ranch facilities including our workout room, sauna, swimming pool, and Jacuzzi.

Staff meals are provided 3 times per day in our staff dining room. Our hearty staff buffets are very comparable to what our guests receive. Breakfasts are an assortment of eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, fruit, oatmeal, cold cereals, juices, and a specialty item like breakfast burritos, fruit pancakes, or French toast. The lunch and dinner buffet is always well balanced with choices of fruits, vegetables, salads, side dishes, and a main dish. A refrigerator is kept fully stocked with food in the dining area for snacks or missed meals, and the coffee pots are kept full around the clock.

Other Perks

Not only do employees have access to the full facility, but they are also encouraged to participate in guest activities – so long as there is availability. Horseback rides, guided hikes, fly-fishing instruction, and whitewater rafting trips are just a few of the activities you’ll have the opportunity to experience.

A competitive seasonal salary (starting at $1,375/mo), free room and board, a beautiful mountain environment, access to Yellowstone National Park, use of our world-class facilities and activities, and the opportunity to mingle with our amazing guests and staff from all over the world… who could ask for anything more? The friendships you make, the skills you learn, and the memories you’ll form will last you a lifetime.

Hiking by Mountain Sky Guest Ranch

Getting Here and Getting Around

Most staff members staying for the 3 month summer season choose to fly to Montana. The closest airport to Mountain Sky is in Bozeman, Montana (BZN), and we will provide ground transportation from the Bozeman airport to Mountain Sky once we have your flight details. The main airlines that fly into Bozeman, Montana are NWA, United, Delta, and Alaska/Horizon.

If you are staying with us for the entire six months, or are a very independent person, bringing a car to the ranch is the best option. Having your own vehicle allows you to explore the natural beauty of the areas in close proximity to Mountain Sky.

You can find driving directions to Mountain Sky at the following link with a small map: http://www.mtnsky.com/planning/travel.aspx

For Fun

There are plenty of opportunities for adventure in the heart of Yellowstone Country. The Gallatin National Forest (just a 10 minute walk from our lodge), Yellowstone National Park, the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains, the Crazy Mountains, the Bridger Mountains, and the Gallatin Canyon area all provide excellent opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, and camping. Big Creek and the mighty Yellowstone River offer fishing, rafting, and kayaking opportunities. Livingston is a 45 minute drive, and offers a quaint downtown with great restaurants and a surprisingly vibrant artistic community. Bozeman is an hour drive, and is home to Montana State University and the Museum of the Rockies, as well as a great variety of coffee shops, stores, restaurants and bars. Local haunts like the Pine Creek Lodge, The Old Saloon in Emigrant, and Chico Hot Springs are always staff favorites, and feature live music and great food without the long drive.

Wranglers at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch