Ranch Hand in Olympia, WA

BENEFITS INCLUDE: Excellent health care coverage for employee, including dental and vision; 401k contribution from the Tribe, even if you don’t contribute; 15+ paid holidays a year; Life insurance for employee, spouse, and children provided by the Tribe (employees have the option to purchase more); EAP and more!

NATURE OF WORK: This position is responsible for performing repair, maintenance and cleaning to ranch buildings, fences, and grounds along with caring for and working with horses.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Install and repair ranch facilities and grounds including fencing, barns and outbuildings.
• Maintain fences, roads, and water systems.
• Perform a variety of general building maintenance repairs and services.
• Paint interior and exterior of facilities and other structures.
• Assist with preparation, setup, and teardown for events and meetings.
• Repair and service equipment.
• Perform grounds keeping such as brush clearing, mowing, weed eating, pruning, and watering.
• Clean horse stalls and other areas of the ranch grounds and facilities.
• Monitor herd and ensure animals have access to food, water, and shelter.
• Groom and feed horses, monitor each horse’s nutritional needs and diet and record eating habits; work closely with veterinarians to ensure a horse is getting proper nutrition.
• Assist with exercise regiments, training, assessing and correcting problematic behaviors and evaluating horse health and injuries.
• Work with troubled youth and other non-violent offenders participating in rehabilitation programs; teach participants to ride and take care of horses.
• Attend tribal and cultural events with horses including Huckleberry Camp.
• Work cooperatively with law enforcement to create mounted units.
• Assist during manmade and natural disasters to relocate tribal people, animals, and assets.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of general ranch work.
• Knowledge of horsemanship.
• Knowledge of farm equipment such as tractors, animal feeders, and brush mowers.
• Knowledge of equine care and needs.
• Knowledge of ranch operations.
• Ability to ride and handle horses independently.
• Ability to perform detailed work as assigned.
• Ability to lift up to 75lbs and to lift heavy materials and equipment.
• Ability to maintain courteous and effective working relationships and to work with a diverse group of people.
• Ability to use a variety of tools.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2 years’ of recent experience performing related farm, ranch or animal husbandry work.

OR a comparable combination of approved education and/or recent related work experience.

• Must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable under the Tribe’s insurance policy.
• Must be able to handle horses unsupervised.
• Must be willing to learn and attend horse clinics and other related training.
• Must be willing to work in all weather, during odd hours, and travel as needed.