Elkhorn Ranch Arizona

Profile Jobs

The hiking guide leads guest hikes ranging from less than an hour to all day, for people of all ages and abilities.  The hiking guide carries first aid supplies, extra provisions, and a radio to provide for a safe and pleasurable experience.  The hiking guide decides upon routes and pace to fit the experience to the group.   Hiking responsibilities vary according to the guests present; so this is used to fill gaps throughout the ranch operation as needed ~ whether they be in the dining room, office, groundskeeping/maintenance, or housekeeping.   This is a great job for someone who enjoys the outdoors and time with people and who likes learning new things and helping out wherever needed.

About Elkhorn Ranch

Live and work for the winter at Elkhorn Ranch ~ a family owned and operated guest ranch located in the Baboquivari Mountain Range about 50 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona.  Join a crew of 18 and the Miller family in providing gracious all-inclusive hospitality and an outdoor oriented wilderness vacation featuring guided horseback riding and hiking for 32 guests (on average).  All crew live and work on site and receive full room and board, including a private bedroom. The owners live and work on-site and strive to have guests and crew feel like part of the family.

Attributes of an Ideal Candidate

• Life and/or professional experience with hospitality and/or outdoor recreation.  
• Brings significant curiosity to the job and invests in learning about and sharing information about the Sonoran Desert and the ranch environment.  
• General comfort and competency outdoors coupled with physical strength and stamina and dexterity and ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable and willing to work independently; as well as with the overall ranch teamTidy and clean work habits and cares about work tools and work environment.
• Friendly, professional, positive attitude and team-oriented.
• Genuine dedication to hospitality and caring for people and the environmental where they live and work.  

Responsibilities

• During the first few weeks of pre-season opening, work with various ranch teams on groundskeeping, cabin, and/or trail clean up.  This hiking guide’s role during opening will depend, in part, on the nature of the team we bring together and where we need additional help.  Opening work involves outdoor strenuous physical work, with bending, stooping, and lifting.  
• During the guest season, monitor the hiking sign-up list and lead hikes appropriate to the group desires and abilities most morning and afternoons..
• Complete other daily, as-needed tasks , or projects assigned by ranch office, which could be in any aspect of the ranch operation.  These jobs could involve driving guests (primarily for airport/ranch transportation) or purchasing supplies.  
• Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
• Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and at ranch social events
• Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
• Read and respect information provided in Crew Notes 

Typical week and day

The hiking guide has morning duties either around the dining room or the office that provide a chance to talk with guests about hiking possibilities and monitor the hike sign-up sheet.  Hikes usually leave from the office at 9:30 and 2 pm, on the same schedule as the horseback rides.  Given the variability of the hiking program, the hiking guide is available to help out in other areas and do projects or fill in as needed.  The hiking guide / swing’s day would generally begin at 7:30 and wrap up around 4:30 pm; however, if engaged in covering tasks or roles in other departments, hours could vary.  There will be a “normal” schedule, but deviations from the schedule will be the norm for this job given that it helps cover holes.  The job is designed to take about 7 hours a day not including breaks and meals, on average.  The weekly salary is based on an average 42-hour work week.  All crew work a 6-day work week.  Crew are welcome to generally enjoy ranch amenities with the understanding that there can be times when workload or other situations may limit access. 

Attire

Elkhorn has guidelines for crew attire ~ some of which are job-specific and some apply to all crew members.  

For the Hiking Guide / Swing, Elkhorn requires that they wear comfortable long pants or long shorts, conservative t-shirt or button down or snap shirt, and sturdy closed toes shoes or boots.  A hat is highly recommended for sun protection.  This position will involve some work in the kitchen / dining room environment as well.  

All crew members must abide by the boot requirements when horseback riding (smooth sole, heel, and no laces).  In general, we ask that all crew exercise judgement with their attire when on ranch property.  Please abide by the following guidance:  

• Please fully cover under-arms, stomach, and bottom; 
• Avoid exposing under-garments;
• Wear clothing in good repair; 
• Do not wear stretch exercise leggings as your pants during work;
• The length of bottoms should be equal to or longer than your fingertips; and
• All kitchen and dining room crew wear clean aprons provided by ranch, closed toes shoes, and hair is contained (a cap may be worn to contain hair in the kitchen while working, but is not appropriate in the dining room).

When attending ranch social functions, please wear work clothes or better – exercise, leisure or sleeping clothing are not appropriate for ranch social events. 

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of professional work in hospitality and/or outdoor recreation.
• Valid drivers’ license, approved for addition to the Elkhorn Ranch insurance policy by ranch insurance agent.
• Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
• Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time

Compensation

• $2374 per month (4 weeks) primarily from employer paid wages and some crew fund (tip pool)
• Additional crew fund distributed throughout season and as a bonus at the end of the season, based on level of business
• Full room and board

Note that direct tipping is discouraged.

Apply Now

Two servers provide dining room service for ranch guests during breakfast, lunch and supper daily and perform related kitchen and dining room cleaning and prep chores, including washing dishes.  This is a great job for someone who enjoys living and working in a rural place, meeting and talking with people of all ages, and being part of a close-knit team.

About Elkhorn Ranch

Live and work for the winter at Elkhorn Ranch ~ a family owned and operated dude (guest) ranch located in the Baboquivari Mountain Range about 50 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona.  Join a crew of 18 and the Miller family in providing gracious all-inclusive hospitality and an outdoor oriented wilderness vacation featuring guided horseback riding and hiking for 32 guests (on average).  All crew live and work on site and receive full room and board, including a private bedroom.  The owners live and work on-site and strive to have guests and crew feel like part of the family.

Attributes of an Ideal Candidate

• Physical strength and stamina, ability to work quickly, ability to lift and bend and be on your feet throughout work-day
• Skills in the areas of organization, planning and time management, attention to detail and self-motivation
• Reliable, punctual and dedicated to completion of commitments
• Enjoy meeting and talking with people of all ages
• Ability to observe, care for, and take care of details to keep the indoor and outdoor communal dining room area clean, functional and aesthetically pleasing
• Tidy and clean work habits and care for work tools and work environment
• Friendly, professional, positive attitude and team-oriented
• Genuine dedication to hospitality and caring for people
• Must not be squeamish about dirty dishes or cleaning a bathroom.

Responsibilities

• During pre-season opening, work with team to do floor to ceiling cleaning (including refinishing floors) of ranch buildings and common areas, which includes strenuous physical work in hot weather and significant amounts of lifting and bending.
• Set up dining room buffet and tables, serve guests, and clean up for breakfast, lunch and supper shifts according to timing and work checklists provided by ranch
• Complete kitchen, dining room and outdoor furniture cleaning (including kitchen bathroom) and prep chores according to timing and work checklists provide by ranch
• Check that all furnishings in guest dining room and outdoor patio eating area, as well as the bookshelves, piano area and game cupboards are clean, tidy and positioned correctly for each meal
• Set lighting and fireplaces on or off for each meal according to ranch guidance regarding time of day and weather
• Rotate between front and back serving roles according to weekly schedule provided by ranch
• Learn guests’ first names and any special needs (provided by ranch office or informed upon arrival) and provide for the special needs throughout guests’ visits
• Update guest list meal count list daily according to information provided by office or learned from guests
• Keep track of supplies and add items to town list for weekly town run
• Learn and practice food and kitchen safety guidance provided by ranch, including handwashing and glove wearing
• Communicate questions and problems to chef and/or ranch office promptly
• Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
• Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and off hours
• Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
• Read and respect information provided in Crew Notes

 

Typical week and day

Guests generally arrive and depart on Sunday, for weeklong stays.  On a daily basis, the two-person serving team works during three different shifts that include each meal.  The job has a long day from beginning to end, but there is very predictable time off between shifts.  The breakfast shift begins at 6 with dining room buffet and table set up complete by 6:45, and the time for a hot breakfast before guest breakfast begins at 7:30.  During breakfast, one server works the “front” taking breakfast short orders, delivering food and clearing; and the other server works the “back” to make toast, provide support, wash dishes, and perform other back of the house daily chores. Following breakfast, each servers stays in their roles to complete a check list of front and back of the house cleaning and prep chores which should be done by 10 am.  The lunch shift lasts from 12:15 to 1:45 with both servers providing guest service and teaming up for table and buffet clearing, cleaning and dishes, such that servers should be done in time to join an afternoon ride at 2 if they choose.  The supper shift lasts from about a range of 5:15 – 6 to 8 pm (due to timing variations for nights where there are pre-dinner cocktail parties, plus the team may take turns coming in early).  It is important for servers to understand that they cannot eat lunch and supper with the crew as crew and guest meals times coincide.  The chef aims to make lunch and dinner available to crew 10-15 minutes ahead of guest meals such that a quick meal is possible, or servers hold their plates until after meal service.    

The job is designed to take about 7 hours a day not including breaks and meals, on average.  The weekly salary is based on an average 42-hour work week.  All crew work a 6-day work week.  Crew are welcome to join guest rides, hikes and generally enjoy ranch amenities with the understanding that there can be times when workload or other situations may limit access.

 

Attire

Elkhorn has guidelines for crew attire ~ some of which are job-specific and some apply to all crew members.

Servers should wear comfortable jeans, pants or shorts and short or long sleeve shirt.  At supper, a button or snap shirt should be worn (no t-shirts).  Please note that stretch exercise leggings are not appropriate during work.

All crew members must abide by the boot requirements when horseback riding (smooth sole, heel, and no laces).  In general, we ask that all crew exercise judgement with their attire when on ranch property.  Please abide by the following guidance:

• Please fully cover under-arms, stomach, and bottom;
• Avoid exposing under-garments;
• Wear clothing in good repair;
• Do not wear stretch exercise leggings as your pants during work;
• The length of bottoms should be equal to or longer than your fingertips; and
• All kitchen and dining room crew wear clean aprons provided by ranch, closed toes shoes, and hair is contained (a cap may be worn to contain hair in the kitchen while working, but is not appropriate in the dining room).

When attending ranch social functions, please wear work clothes or better – exercise, leisure or sleeping clothing are not appropriate for ranch social events.

Qualifications

• One year of work in hospitality, ideally including professional serving
• Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
• Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time

Compensation

• $2374 per month (4 weeks) primarily from employer paid wages and some crew fund (tip pool)
• Additional crew fund distributed throughout season and as a bonus at the end of the season, based on level of business
• Full room and board

Note that direct tipping is discouraged.

Apply Now

The Job

The Kitchen Assistant takes care of the crew dining room and performs daily and weekly kitchen cleaning and organizing chores, including washing pots and other kitchen tools that require hand washing.  This is a great job for someone who enjoys living and working in a rural place, enjoys working behind the scenes with less guest contact, and being part of a close-knit team.

About Elkhorn Ranch

Live and work for the winter at Elkhorn Ranch ~ a family owned and operated dude (guest) ranch located in the Baboquivari Mountain Range about 50 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona.  Join a crew of 18 and the Miller family in providing gracious all-inclusive hospitality and an outdoor oriented wilderness vacation featuring guided horseback riding and hiking for 32 guests (on average).  All crew live and work on site and receive full room and board, including a private bedroom.  The owners live and work on-site and strive to have guests and crew feel like part of the family.

Attributes of an Ideal Candidate

• Physical strength and stamina, ability to work quickly, ability to lift and bend and be on your feet throughout work-day
• Skills in the areas of organization, planning and time management, attention to detail and self-motivation
• Reliable, punctual and dedicated to completion of commitments
• Genuine interest in contributing to and learning about professional kitchen operations
• Tidy and clean work habits and care for work tools and work environment
• Friendly, professional, positive attitude and team-oriented
• Genuine dedication to hospitality and caring for people
• Must not be squeamish about dirty dishes or greasy kitchen tools.

Responsibilities

• During pre-season opening, work with team to do floor to ceiling cleaning (including refinishing floors) of ranch buildings and common areas, which includes strenuous physical work in hot weather and significant amounts of lifting and bending; and/or do portions of normal kitchen assistant role
• Ring meal bells according to ranch schedule
• For each meal in crew room, check that buffet and table clean and stocked with necessary tableware, napkins, condiments and clean up following meals
• Perform daily and weekly kitchen cleaning and hand washing of pots according to schedule provided by ranch
• Supply storage area organization, cleaning and rotation
• Serve from buffet according to weekly schedule and/or when needed
• Assist breakfast cook or chef as needed with food prep or projects
• Keep track of supplies and add items to town list for weekly town run
• Learn and practice food and kitchen safety guidance provided by ranch, including handwashing and glove wearing
• Communicate questions and problems to chef and/or ranch office promptly
• Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
• Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and off hours
• Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
• Read and respect information provided in Crew Notes

Typical week and day

The Kitchen Assistant day begins at 6:30 with set up for crew breakfast and ringing the first bell at 6:45, followed by time for short-ordered breakfast with the crew.  For each meal, the kitchen assistant rings the bell according to a schedule and sets up the crew room and cleans up after the meal.  Daily chores also involve sweeping outdoors, sweeping and mopping the kitchen floor, hand washing of pots from each meal, and additional chores described on a weekly schedule.  Organization and self-motivation make the job go much smoother.  The bulk of the daily and weekly chores are done during the morning breakfast shift between 6:30 – 10:30; then the kitchen assistant returns to lunchtime pots and crew room work between 12 – 1:30 and again for supper between 5:45 – 8.  The schedule changes for the Saturday picnic, and includes some afternoon work time on the day the food truck and Elkhorn supply run takes place.  The job has a long day from beginning to end, but enjoys predictable breaks and time to ride or hike most afternoons.  A kitchen assistant with interest and ambition is likely to have the opportunity to help with baking and/or other food prep and gain more work experience.

The job is designed to take about 7 hours a day not including breaks and meals, on average.  The weekly salary is based on an average 42-hour work week.  All crew work a 6-day work week.  Crew are welcome to join guest rides, hikes and generally enjoy ranch amenities with the understanding that there can be times when workload or other situations may limit access.

Attire

Elkhorn has guidelines for crew attire ~ some of which are job-specific and some apply to all crew members.

Servers should wear comfortable jeans, pants or shorts and short or long sleeve shirt.  At supper, a button or snap shirt should be worn (no t-shirts).  Please note that stretch exercise leggings are not appropriate during work.

All crew members must abide by the boot requirements when horseback riding (smooth sole, heel, and no laces).  In general, we ask that all crew exercise judgement with their attire when on ranch property.  Please abide by the following guidance:

• Please fully cover under-arms, stomach, and bottom;
• Avoid exposing under-garments;
• Wear clothing in good repair;
• Do not wear stretch exercise leggings as your pants during work;
• The length of bottoms should be equal to or longer than your fingertips; and
• All kitchen and dining room crew wear clean aprons provided by ranch, closed toes shoes, and hair is contained (a cap may be worn to contain hair in the kitchen while working, but is not appropriate in the dining room).

When attending ranch social functions, please wear work clothes or better – exercise, leisure or sleeping clothing are not appropriate for ranch social events.

Qualifications

• Willingness to work and learn ~ this is an entry level position.
• Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
• Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time

Compensation

• $2338 per month (4 weeks) primarily from employer paid wages and some crew fund (tip pool)
• Additional crew fund distributed throughout season and as a bonus at the end of the season, based on level of business
• Full room and board

Direct tipping is discouraged.

Apply Now

Two housekeepers provide daily housekeeping and laundry service for 20 guest cabins, ranch common spaces, staff laundry rooms and a staff/public bathroom.  This is a great job for someone who enjoys living and working in a rural place, being physically active while working, and being part of a close-knit team.  

About Elkhorn Ranch

Live and work for the winter at Elkhorn Ranch ~ a family-owned and operated dude (guest) ranch located in the Baboquivari Mountain Range about 50 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona.  Join a crew of 18 and the Miller family in providing gracious all-inclusive hospitality and an outdoor oriented wilderness vacation featuring guided horseback riding and hiking for 32 guests (on average).  All crew live and work on site and receive full room and board, including a private bedroom.  The owners live and work on-site and strive to have guests and crew feel like part of the family.  

Attributes of an Ideal Candidate

• Physical strength and stamina, ability to work quickly, ability to lift and bend throughout work-day
• Skills in the areas of organization, planning and time management, attention to detail and self-motivation
• Reliable, punctual and dedicated to completion of commitments
• Respect for confidentiality and personal boundaries in someone’s living space 
• Appreciation of and interest in caring for unique household furnishings and art
• Tidy and clean work habits and care for work tools and work environment
• Friendly, professional, positive attitude and team-oriented 
• Genuine dedication to hospitality and caring for people
• Must not be squeamish about dirt or human messes nor afraid of spiders, mice, insects or lizards

Responsibilities

• During pre-season opening, work with team to do floor to ceiling cleaning (including refinishing floors) of ranch buildings and common areas, which includes strenuous physical work in hot weather and significant amounts of lifting and bending.
• Plan and organize daily and weekly work using planning tools provided by ranch
• Track guest list changes and incorporate changes into daily and weekly work plans
• Communicate questions and problems to ranch office promptly, as well as work status on daily and weekly basis
• Complete daily housekeeping services for up to 20 guest cabins and ranch common spaces (portion of dining room, computer room) according to standards provided by ranch between 7:30 am – 12:00 pm
• Complete evening bed turn-downs, quick cocktail clean up, close curtains, and set lights during guest supper 
• Complete approximately weekly cleaning of two staff laundry rooms and a public/staff bath/restroom area
• Complete more extensive changeover cleaning according to standards provided by ranch between guest visits
• Provide laundry service for guests upon request within time parameters provided by ranch
• Complete ranch housekeeping and dining room laundry according to schedule provided by ranch
• Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
• Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and off hours
• Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
• Read and respect information provided in Crew Notes 

Attire

Elkhorn has guidelines for crew attire ~ some of which are job-specific and some apply to all crew members.  

Housekeepers should wear comfortable jeans, pants or shorts and short or long sleeve shirt.  Many people find that slip on/off shoes are useful for quick and clean trips in and out of cabins.  Please note that stretch exercise leggings are not appropriate during work.

For guides, Elkhorn requires that guides wear “western attire” consisting of:  Cowboy hat, tucked in button down or snap shirt, jeans in good repair, and western style cowboy boots (with smooth sole, heel, and no laces).  Also note that at Elkhorn, it is customary to remove hat and spurs indoors.  

All crew members must abide by the boot requirements when horseback riding (smooth sole, heel, and no laces).  In general, we ask that all crew exercise judgement with their attire when on ranch property.  Please abide by the following guidance:  

• Please fully cover under-arms, stomach, and bottom; 
• Avoid exposing under-garments;
• Wear clothing in good repair; 
• Do not wear stretch exercise leggings as your pants during work;
• The length of bottoms should be equal to or longer than your fingertips; and
• All kitchen and dining room crew wear clean aprons provided by ranch, closed toes shoes, and hair is contained (a cap may be worn to contain hair in the kitchen while working, but is not appropriate in the dining room).

When attending ranch social functions, please wear work clothes or better – exercise, leisure or sleeping clothing are not appropriate for ranch social events.  

Typical week and day

Guests generally arrive and depart on Sunday, for weeklong stays.  Sundays are the “changeover” days for deep cleaning between guests, and the housekeeping team is supplemented with at least one additional person (the Swing who covers days off).  Sunday can be a challenging day due to the workload and timing of guest arrivals and departures; thus good planning and prep is critical.  On a daily basis, the two-person housekeeping team works between 7:30 – 12 to do daily cleaning of guest cabins and common areas.  The afternoon schedule is variable depending on ranch and guest laundry and occasional mid-week changeovers.  During guest supper at 6:30, the team does the evening “turn-down” of each guest cabin which takes less than one hour.  The job is designed to take about 7 hours a day not including breaks and meals, on average.  Busy Sunday changeover days can be longer.  The weekly salary is based on an average 42-hour work week.  All crew work a 6-day work week.  Crew are welcome to join guest rides, hikes and generally enjoy ranch amenities with the understanding that there can be times when workload or other situations may limit access.  

Qualifications

• One year of work in hospitality, ideally including professional housekeeping
• Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
• Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time

Compensation

• $2374 per month (4 weeks) primarily from employer paid wages and some crew fund (tip pool)
• Additional crew fund distributed throughout season and as a bonus at the end of the season, based on level of business
• Full room and board

Note that direct tipping is discouraged.

Apply Now

The Job

The Swing position covers co-workers’ days for the housekeepers, servers and kitchen assistant and bolsters the housekeeping team for busy Sunday changeover day.  This is a great job for someone who enjoys variety, living and working in a rural place, being physically active while working, and being part of a close-knit team.

About Elkhorn Ranch

Live and work for the winter at Elkhorn Ranch ~ a family-owned and operated dude (guest) ranch located in the Baboquivari Mountain Range about 50 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona.  Join a crew of 18 and the Miller family in providing gracious all-inclusive hospitality and an outdoor oriented wilderness vacation featuring guided horseback riding and hiking for 32 guests (on average).  All crew live and work on site and receive full room and board, including a private bedroom.  The owners live and work on-site and strive to have guests and crew feel like part of the family.

Attributes of an Ideal Candidate

• Physical strength and stamina, ability to work quickly, ability to lift and bend throughout work-day
• Skills in the areas of organization, planning and time management, attention to detail and self-motivation
• Reliable, punctual and dedicated to completion of commitments
• Respect for confidentiality and personal boundaries in someone’s living space
• Appreciation of and interest in caring for unique household furnishings and art
• Ability to observe, care for, and take care of details to keep the indoor and outdoor communal dining room area clean, functional and aesthetically pleasing
• Tidy and clean work habits and care for work tools and work environment
• Friendly, professional, positive attitude and team-oriented
• Genuine dedication to hospitality and caring for people
• Must not be squeamish about dirt or human messes nor afraid of spiders, mice, insects or lizards

Responsibilities

• During pre-season opening, work with team to do floor to ceiling cleaning (including refinishing floors) of ranch buildings and common areas, which includes strenuous physical work in hot weather and significant amounts of lifting and bending.
• Complete job duties in 3 different work areas, namely housekeeping/laundry, serving and kitchen assistant role according to weekly and daily schedule and work checklists provided by ranch.
• Communicate questions and problems to ranch office promptly, as well as work status on daily and weekly basis
• Learn and practice food and kitchen safety guidance provided by ranch, including handwashing and glove wearing
• Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
• Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and off hours
• Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
• Read and respect information provided in Crew Notes

 

Attire

Elkhorn has guidelines for crew attire ~ some of which are job-specific and some apply to all crew members.

For housekeeping and kitchen assistant work, wear comfortable jeans, pants or shorts and short or long sleeve shirt.  Many people find that slip on/off shoes are useful for quick and clean trips in and out of cabins.  Servers should wear comfortable jeans, pants or shorts and short or long sleeve shirt.  At supper, a button or snap shirt should be worn (no t-shirts).  Please note that stretch exercise leggings are not appropriate during work.

All crew members must abide by the boot requirements when horseback riding (smooth sole, heel, and no laces).  In general, we ask that all crew exercise judgement with their attire when on ranch property.  Please abide by the following guidance:

• Please fully cover under-arms, stomach, and bottom;
• Avoid exposing under-garments;
• Wear clothing in good repair;
• Do not wear stretch exercise leggings as your pants during work;
• The length of bottoms should be equal to or longer than your fingertips; and
• All kitchen and dining room crew wear clean aprons provided by ranch, closed toes shoes, and hair is contained (a cap may be worn to contain hair in the kitchen while working, but is not appropriate in the dining room).

When attending ranch social functions, please wear work clothes or better – exercise, leisure or sleeping clothing are not appropriate for ranch social events.

Typical week and day

Guests generally arrive and depart on Sunday, for weeklong stays.  The swing role also has a weekly schedule.  Sundays are the “changeover” days for deep cleaning between guests the swing person joins the housekeeping crew for the day, and then helps in the kitchen/serving area at supper time.  Sunday can be a challenging day due to the workload and timing of guest arrivals and departures.  On Monday the swing covers the kitchen assistant job, which has three shifts surrounding meal-times.  For the rest of the week, the swing covers two days of serving and two days of housekeeping.  The job is designed to take about 7 hours a day not including breaks and meals, on average.  Busy Sunday changeover days can be longer.  The weekly salary is based on an average 42-hour work week.  All crew work a 6-day work week.  Crew are welcome to join guest rides, hikes and generally enjoy ranch amenities with the understanding that there can be times when workload or other situations may limit access.

Qualifications

• One year of work in hospitality
• Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
• Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time

Compensation

• $2374 per month (4 weeks) primarily from employer paid wages and some crew fund (tip pool)
• Additional crew fund distributed throughout season and as a bonus at the end of the season, based on level of business
• Full room and board

Note that direct tipping is discouraged.

Apply Now

Six horseback guides care for a herd of 100+ saddlehorses and breeding stock, guide horseback rides for ranch guests and do barnyard and ranch work to support the overall guest and ranch operation.  Horseshoeing and developing horses for guest use is part of the job as well.  This is a great job for someone who appreciates interesting, rugged country and the opportunity to spend many hours in the saddle.

About Elkhorn Ranch

Live and work for the winter at Elkhorn Ranch ~ a family owned and operated guest ranch located in the Baboquivari Mountain Range about 50 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona.  Join a crew of 18 and the Miller family in providing gracious all-inclusive hospitality and an outdoor oriented wilderness vacation featuring guided horseback riding and hiking for 32 guests (on average).  All crew live and work on site and receive full room and board, including a private bedroom. The owners live and work on-site and strive to have guests and crew feel like part of the family. 

Attributes of an Ideal Candidate

• Life and/or professional experience with livestock agriculture and/or horse related recreation
• Knowledge of horsemanship and ability to ride horseback using western tack for 6+ hours per day, at all gaits, and confidence in variable terrain including rocky trails with exposure to steep terrain
• Physical strength and stamina, ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and ability to lift heavy objects repeatedly such as saddles, feed and tools
• Skills in the areas of backcountry navigation, situational awareness, and general comfort and competency outdoors
• Observation skills regarding horse and rider composure and attitude, sources of potential risk in environment, and equipment 
• Skills and/or high interest in learning in the areas of horseshoeing, packing and overall horse and herd health and wellness
• Reliable, punctual and dedicated to completion of commitments
• Tidy and clean work habits and cares about work tools and work environment
• Friendly, professional, positive attitude and team-oriented 
• Genuine dedication to hospitality and caring for people and livestock
• Interest in learning about the ranch, its geography and natural history, etc and sharing information with guests
• Does not push limits of ranch rider weight requirement of less than 250 pounds.

Responsibilities

• During the first few weeks of pre-season opening, work with team to clear trails, which can include strenuous physical work in hot weather and significant amounts of time working on foot leading horse, and horseshoeing (with instruction and mentoring provided)
• Learn ranch trails, pastures and place names for use during morning wrangle, guiding guest rides and ranch work
• Learn saddlehorse names and gain familiarity with their traits and personalities
• Work as team to gather horses during the morning wrangle calmly and safely in timely fashion
• Catch saddlehorses with assigned bridle and the guest’s assigned saddle, and guide horse, and observe for health or lameness concerns, brush, saddle and check tack in time for ride departures
• Check tack again, adjust cinch and assist guests with mounting (from mounting block) and containing their gear (cameras, water bottles, jackets), provide coaching or brief instruction as appropriate, and maintain control of horse from ground until guest is settled in saddle and ready to assume control ~ request help from co-workers for difficult mounting situations
• Lead and maintain control of guest rides to assigned location at gait appropriate to terrain and instructions; provide guests with instruction as needed and upon request, with particular attention on guests’ first day riding; and contribute to guests’ enjoyment of their riding experience
• Take responsibility for horse and guest safety and any first aid or emergency situation, and use radio communication to ranch office to request support as appropriate
• Monitor and assist with guests’ dismount after ride, unsaddling, brushing and returning horses to corral
• Take responsibility for riding horses assigned to you to the best of your ability and ask questions and seek help developing the horses’ and your own skills
• Work as a team and as assigned on daily barnyard or ranch chores such as barnyard cleaning, feeding, doctoring, tack repair, horseshoeing, trail or fence work etc.
• Observe and report issues with horses, guests or ranch infrastructure (fencing, gates, water, trails, etc) as soon as possible 
• Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
• Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and at ranch social events
• Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
• Read and respect information provided in Crew Notes 

Typical week and day

Guests generally arrive and depart on Sunday which is a no-riding day, and the day off for horseback guides.  Half day rides are offered Monday through Friday, and all-days rides are an option 2 days per week (usually Weds and Fri); and the week ends with a Saturday desert picnic ride where everyone meets for an outdoor BBQ picnic. All day rides carry sack lunches or the guide takes a pack horse with gear to cook a hot lunch. Guides begin with early breakfast at 6 or 6:30 am and then do the morning wrangle to gather the saddle horses from pasture by 8:30 am.  Once everyone knows the routine, the crew rotates wrangle duties.  Then the guides catch, brush and saddle all guest and guide horses in time for the 9:30 am morning rides.  Guides check tack and assist guests with mounting.  Guides lead their assigned group of guests on an assigned route, with morning rides lasting 1 – 3 hours.  Guides are responsible for guest and horse safety and are the person in charge of any first aid situation.  Guests take saddles off, brush and return horses to pens with close guide supervision.  In the late morning, mid-day pellet feed is put out and horses are sorted and fed during the lunch hour (except on all-day ride days where feeding takes place at the end of the day).  Guides have a 45 – 60 minute lunch break, depending on the number of afternoon riders.  The catching and saddling routine is repeated for afternoon rides, which depart at 2 pm and last up to 2.5 hours.  When a guide returns from their ride or if they don’t have a ride, they do chores or projects such as barn clean up, feeding, tack repair, horseshoeing, doctoring, fence or trail work or riding project horses.  Horses are turned out at the end of the day.  Ideally, the workday wraps up around 4:30 pm.  The job is designed to take about 8 hours a day not including breaks and meals, on average.  The weekly salary is based on an average 48-hour work week.  All crewwork a 6-day work week.  Crew are welcome to generally enjoy ranch amenities with the understanding that there can be times when workload or other situations may limit access. 

Attire

Elkhorn has guidelines for crew attire ~ some of which are job-specific and some apply to all crew members.  

For guides, Elkhorn requires that guides wear “western attire” consisting of:  Cowboy hat, tucked in button down or snap shirt, jeans in good repair, and western style cowboy boots (with smooth sole, heel, and no laces).  Also note that at Elkhorn, it is customary to remove hat and spurs indoors.  

All crew members must abide by the boot requirements when horseback riding (smooth sole, heel, and no laces).  In general, we ask that all crew exercise judgement with their attire when on ranch property.  Please abide by the following guidance:  

• Please fully cover under-arms, stomach, and bottom; 
• Avoid exposing undergarments;
• Wear clothing in good repair; 
• Do not wear stretch exercise leggings as your pants during work;
• The length of bottoms should be equal to or longer than your fingertips; and
• All kitchen and dining room crew wear clean aprons provided by ranch, closed toes shoes, and hair is contained (a cap may be worn to contain hair in the kitchen while working, but is not appropriate in the dining room).

When attending ranch social functions, please wear work clothes or better – exercise, leisure or sleeping clothing are not appropriate for ranch social events.  

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of professional work in livestock agriculture or horse related recreation, ideally including professional guiding
• Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
• Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time

Compensation

Compensation

• $2800 per month (4 weeks) primarily from employer paid wages and some crew fund (tip pool)
• Additional crew fund distributed throughout season and as a bonus at the end of the season, based on level of business
• Full room and board
• Horseshoeing bonus of $25 per head

Note that direct tipping is discouraged.

 

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