FEATURED JOB OPENING: Facilities Ranch Manager (or Couple) - Ramona, CA

We are a 350 acre full service equestrian boarding, training and event facility located in a pristine rural valley an hour northeast of San Diego.

We are the largest equestrian facility in the east county and have independent trainers that work from the ranch in dressage, western dressage, reining, reined cow horse, western, arena/trail obstacles and trails.  We hold many varied shows and events, including parties and weddings at the facility year round. 

We currenly board 65 horses and have room for up to 75 and include dry pasture, mare motel and barn boarding options. 

We are seeking an individual or couple to join our team of dedicated and passionate horse lovers as our facilities manager.   It is a full time long term position starting asap.

Facilities Manager: 

• Individual or couple, children possible
• 45-54 hours per week (Mondays off, Sundays off when no events).
• Working hands on supervisory position.
• Must have valid driver’s licenses, clean driving record, no criminal record or outstanding warrants, be non smokers, drug free and pass an in-depth background investigation.
• Will provide housing on property (comfortable 1 bd + loft/1 ba bunkhouse), truck for use on ranch business, and salary.  Benefits negotiable.
• Must be available for after hours work in emergencies.
• Reports to ranch owner/general manager.

• Desired Attributes:
  • Speaks and fluent English and speaks, at minimum, enough Spanish to supervise Spanish speaking staff.
  • Thrives working outdoors, hands-on, alongside staff, providing a good working example to motivate employees.
  • Fit, healthy and hardworking.
  • Experienced, competent and compassionate horse person.
  • Minimum 4 years horse ranch management and supervisory experience.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Competent conflict resolution skills with a steady and calm disposition.
  • Works well in a team environment with a positive and outgoing temperament.
  • Strong customer service skills.  Attentive to staff, trainer, and client needs.
  • Must be self-starter, show initiative, high motivation, flexibility and able to work unsupervised.
  • Ability to complete tasks with an eye toward detail and ensure finished work looks visually appealing.
  • Experienced with large farm equipment operation (tractors, water truck, dump truck, ATV, golf cart, etc.) and their care and maintenance.
  • Excellent project planning and execution skills, identifying needed maintenance and repairs and efficiently allocating staff to complete them in a timely manner.
  • Good carpentry and mechanical skills, basic plumbing/irrigation and electrical repair skills and ability to perform occasional heavy manual labor.
  • Acknowledges limits of skills and knowledge, asking for help or needed resources, as necessary.
  • Maintains a neat and clean working and living environment, taking pride in the ranch, home and self.
  • Able to handle and prioritize conflicting demands and multiple tasks in a timely manner.
  • Must “take ownership” of CHR facilities, and be an advocate for their care and improvement.
  • Must be creative and resourceful; able to develop and implement new ideas and improvements.

• Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Supervise ranch hands.
•  Develop and maintain ranch hand job descriptions and work schedules providing adequate staff coverage and completion of facility labor needs, as currently existing and, as needed, in the future.
  • Arena watering, dragging and footing maintenance
  • Pen/stall cleaning, addition of shavings/bedding 
  • Animal feeding and watering and moving.
  • Filling and cleaning of water troughs and cleaning and maintenance of automatic waterers, water faucets and feeders.
  • Stable services (turn in/out, blanketing, etc.)
  • Ranch maintenance and repair project participation
  • New construction participation, and event participation
  • Fence repair, replacement and painting (wood rail and post, iron pipe)
  • Shelters and outbuilding repair
  • Weed abatement (mowing, weed-whacking, manual weeding, manual brush trimming/cutting)
  • Rain erosion control (manually filling in eroded areas and holes in driveways & horse pens, keeping drainage ditches clear)
  • Trimming tree branches, picking up fallen debris and other landscape care
  • Other duties as common and necessary on a horse ranch
• Produce staff assignments/resource allocation for weekly events and projects.
• Hire and fire ranch hands, as necessary, after discussing with owner.
  • Any positions vacated to be filled by like persons, as needed, and directed by owner. 

• Manage facility, including maintenance/repairs of ranch structures and infrastructure
• Manage 350 acres:  open space, trails, horse facilities, structures, and grounds including houses, barns, paddocks, arenas, fencing, wells, electrical, water, landscaping, roads and equipment, etc., including repairs and maintenance at CHR expense, via use of CHR direct staff and outside contractors, as necessary.
  • Hire and supervise additional outside 3^rd party offsite contractors/professionals, as needed, and directed by owner.
  • Management & coordination of all suppliers, service vendors & outside contractors related to property and facilities (electric utility, propane, fuel, trash pick-up, etc)
  • Work within a budget, while keeping accurate, detailed records 

• Project management of new construction:  With owner’s direction, using CHR staff and outside contractors, as necessary.

• Maintenance/repair of vehicles, tractors, equipment and tools
• Develop and implement vehicle, equipment and tool maintenance schedules.
• Develop and maintain inventory of major tools and track use and return. 

• Manage feed/hay and equipment storage and shop:  Maintain organized and clean equipment storage area and shop.  

• Trainer Liaison with Operations/Office Manager:  Maintain communication with independent trainers to ensure their needs are met and notify them of ranch maintenance/repairs/construction that may interfere with their regular training schedules, checking for possible conflicts.

• Manage Boarding with Operations/Office Manager
• Client Relations –  tours, check-in and out, questions/concerns
• Manage Horse Care - ensure correct feeding/supplements, turn-out, blanketing, health and safety, etc.
• Communication of boarding and feeding changes to staff
• Maintain accurate client activity sheet with Office Manager 

• Manage Events with Operations/Office Manager
• Evaluate and schedule onsite event CHR staffing needs
• Coordinate set-up/preparation and clean up 
• Coordinate unforeseen event issues (parking, attendee needs
• Event security, as needed.

• Compensation package:

1. Salary negotiable, depending on experience and references
2. 2 week paid vacation
3. Benefits negotiable
4. Verizon smart phone:  Must stay within allotted group data plan.  Any excessive overage charges caused by individual to be reimbursed to CHR.  Only applicable if already using Verizon service or expired contract with other carrier.  Owner will not pay to buy out existing contract from alternate carrier.
5. Exclusive occupation of existing 1 bd + loft/1 bath bunk house, including utilities (electricity, water, propane):

1. Pasture boarding for 1 horse included (one additional at $175/month).
2. One dog, owned by manager will be allowed, must be people and dog/horse friendly and easily manageable.
3. One indoor cat or up to three barn cats ok.
4. No smoking allowed in house or on property.