Small Ruminant Ranch Hand

POSITION PURPOSE

• Help care for our herd of 250 Spanish cashmere goats by building fence, maintaining and repairing equipment, transporting materials, and hauling livestock.
• Develop and build your technical skills in regenerative ranching.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

• Appreciate hard work in tough outdoor environments
• Ability to problem solve, willingness to ask for help
• Ability to work independently and on a team
• Good sense of humor, cool under pressure
• Attention to detail, organized
• Respectful communicator
• Punctual

JOB RELATED AND ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Overview:

TomKat’s Small Ruminant Team practices adaptive management using goats as an ecological tool in conjunction with cattle grazing and prescribed fire. We aim to enhance biodiversity, promote wildlife habitat, and increase wildfire resiliency while supporting rural economies, participating in scientific trials, collaborating with land managers, and cultivating a culture of transhumance.

Field-related duties:

The Ranch Hand is primarily a field position, including 10+ hour days (as needed) in all outdoor conditions; significant physical effort to fence and herd daily in and around poison oak, hike on steep terrain, stoop, crouch, climb, and lift; exposure to dust, noise, heat, cold, and ticks; ability to recognize and work safely around hazards associated with ranching; ability to travel to different sites and locations.

Duties described below are examples and not meant to be an exhaustive or all-inclusive list:

• 50%-75% of time spent fencing: Setting up and taking down temporary electric net fence on steep terrain and through dense brush including poison oak
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and repair equipment
• Haul livestock
• Assist with corral work and herding
• Assist with vet care for small ruminants and working dogs

Basic Skills:

• Experience fence building
• Competent with hand and power tools
• Experience with trailers

• Commitment to proper stockmanship, including low-stress livestock handling
• Willingness to utilize mapping software, task management apps, and Google Suite
• Proficient in English

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with electrical and water systems
• Experience with chainsaws
• Experienced ATV rider
• Experience in animal husbandry
• Conversational Spanish or better

Essential Attributes:

• Maintain high standards of efficient, ethical, and professional operation for the well being of the Ranch’s staff, facilities, land, animals, and resources
• Establish and maintain positive, cooperative, effective relationships with high energy team
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing to colleagues and visitors
• Possess a Class C California Driver’s License in good standing

DETAILS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Report to Small Ruminant Coordinator or their delegate.
• Schedule option A: Work 5 days/week, approx. 45 hours/week. Includes Saturday/Sunday. 2 days/week off (consecutive). Occasionally asked to work early/late or a sixth day.

• Schedule option B: Work 4 days/week, approx. 45 hours/week.  Includes Saturday/Sunday. 3 days/week off (not necessarily consecutive). Occasionally asked to work early/late or a fifth day.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Hourly wage commensurate with experience
• Pay scale is $20-$25 per hour; expected pay is $23 per hour
• Schedule option A: Paid overtime after 8 hours/day and after 40 hours/week
• Schedule option B: Paid overtime after 10 hours/day and after 40 hours/week
• Up to 4 weeks paid vacation depending on hours worked
• Paid sick days – 1 hour/30 hours worked
• Paid holidays
• 401K with 3% match from employer
• Insurance – health, dental, vision, life
• Discounted meat for employees
• $100/month self care stipend
• Cell phone reimbursement

If interested, please send Cover Letter and Resume to stephanie@tomkatranch.org.

Position open until filled.