Position Title: Central Area Ranch Manager Position
Name of Ranch/Business: Petty Group, LLP
Location: Yancey, Texas
Number of Full Time Employees Supervised: 3
Position: Petty Group seeks an experienced Ranch Manager to be responsible for the operation, improvement, maintenance and security of the Central Area, including the improvements, equipment and tools on the ranch, as well as management of all ranch employees and laborers. The Ranch Manager will report to Scott Petty, Jr. and Scott James Petty, and will be responsive to the needs of all of the Petty family members. The Ranch Manager will have the back-office support of the Petty Family office and work closely with its management and staff. The Ranch Manager, together with other employees, will prepare for and guide hunts, including weekends during hunting season.
About Us: Petty Group, LLP is a single-family office located in San Antonio, Texas serving three generations of the Petty family. The mission of Petty Group is to produce superior returns from ranch, oil and gas, investment, foundation, and other assets to support the personal, professional, and philanthropic interests of family members and future generations. The Petty family feels a deep sense of responsibility to care for the land, wildlife, resources and people, and their ranching properties and operations are an integral part of that devotion to stewardship.
Central Area: The Central Area covers approximately 7,400 acres consisting of Los Amigos Ranch, the Heart Bar Farm and the Dirsksen Farm near the town of Yancey in Medina County, and La Paloma Ranch near the town of Bigfoot in Frio and Atascosa Counties. The properties are level to hilly land with soils ranging from gravel ridges to red sand bottoms. Portions of the properties include water features, and there are a number of water wells, pivots and tanks. There are many improvements including houses, sheds, barns, outbuildings and coolers, as well as equipment and tools. Vegetation differs but contains a good diversity of native brush. The main land uses are agriculture, hunting and recreation, including irrigated farmland. The perimeters are fenced and generally have access via public roads with interior roads including all-weather caliche roads and some standard ranch roads.
Competencies: An effective Ranch Manager should have a preference for living and working in the country in a rural setting and possesses the following skills or competencies:
- Farming & Ranching Background: Experience working on a working ranch or active farming operation. Understanding of irrigation and experience using center pivot irrigation.
- Equipment, Firearms: Able to operate and maintain farm and ranch equipment, including heavy equipment, and safely shoot and handle firearms.
- Safety & Availability: Ability to consider safety in all decisions, clearly communicate Petty Ranch Rules and safety protocols to anyone on the property and instill a culture of safety among all employees. Ability to be available 24 hours per day (on call for questions, emergencies, etc.), including some weekends.
- Attention to Detail: Does not let important details slip through the cracks.
- Organization and Planning: Able to keep up with multiple, diverse tasks of differing priorities and prioritize among commitments.
- Independence and Collaboration: Able to carry out tasks autonomously and collaboratively.
- Communication: Must be a team player and possess excellent communication skills, including the ability to identify and communicate about issues as they arise. Ability to establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships with Petty family members across all generations, as well as their guests, the employees who report to him,the management and staff of the Petty family office with whom he’ll work closely, the vendors, contractors and other third parties who provide goods and services to the ranch and neighbors and the local community.
- Honesty, Integrity & Professionalism: Earns trust and maintains confidences. Conduct himself at all times to enhance the reputation of owners and their organization for high moral character and integrity. Represent the Petty family and the Central Area ranches in a professional manner at all times.
Responsibilities:
- Operations: Farming
- Direct crop operations including planning, tilling, planting, fertilizing, cultivating, spraying and harvesting, including (i) managing hay field that requires fertilization and weed control aeration, (ii) farming approximately 660 acres of cotton and corn, and (iii) planting 130 acres of irrigated oats and 100 acres of dry land.
- Monitor irrigation, chemical applications to obtain the best yield based on the costs of operations and prices of crops. Maintain and monitor water system for leaks, repair and replacement of broken water lines.
- Market and sell corn, cotton and other crops.
- Ranch Maintenance
- Build and maintain ranch infrastructures such as fences, pivots, gates, deer blinds and feeders.
- Build and maintain ranch roads, including making recommendations and overseeing any road construction.
- Maintain and operate ranch vehicles, tractors, bulldozer, backhoe, dump truck and other equipment, and maintain that equipment in excellent working condition, continually assessing the condition of the equipment to determine if it is in need of replacement or repair. Tractors generally require changing oil, hydraulic fluids and basic repair. -Manage tanks for fish and weed control, including keeping area mowed and cleaned, repairing boat docks and keeping sealer on the docks.
- Maintain all facilities -Clear and spray brush.
- Management of Employees, Laborers and Contractors
- Manage ranch staff including hiring, training, supervising, and firing based on company policies.
- Establish and maintain a division of labor between foreman, laborers, H2A workers and any other employees.
- Coordinate with Petty family office staff and ranch staff to purchase necessary supplies and stock facilities throughout the year, especially during hunting season.
- Manage vendors and contractors who perform services or provide goods to the ranch including road construction contractors, construction contractors, irrigation companies and others.
- Maintain all dwellings and ranch homes, including yard maintenance, maid service and any remodeling or new construction.
- Check water supply for all operations and make sure sources and systems are in proper working order.
- Operations: Wildlife & Cattle
- Ensure all animals have access to water and food
- Verify and ensure all feeders are properly filled and maintained
- Identify and determine proper treatment for sick animals
- Leads and supervises hunts during appropriate seasons, including management of Heart Bar Hunting Services
- Manage properties leased to third party hunters including maintaining houses, water wells and storage facilities.
- Maintain high standards of animal welfare.
- Conducts Annual Wildlife Survey in conjunction with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Managed Lands Permit held by Petty Ranch. Submit survey results and proper inventory of harvest from the previous year on a timely basis.
- Ability to clean, cape, and quarter wildlife
- Monitor cattle herd by performing visual inspections of the cattle, food, and water sources -Develop an annual cattle plan specifically around pasture rotation, breeding and calving cycles, buying and selling, including: Monitoring pasture conditions; Corral animals for vaccinations or branding; Transport animals to market; Identify and determine proper treatment for sick animals; and Maintain high standards of animal welfare.
- Help maintain ALL records for hunting and cattle operations
- Relationships and Reporting
- Cultivate good relations with game wardens, neighbors and the local community. Have a knowledge of local, state and federal laws and regulations regarding hunting.
- Keep informed on current developments in ranching, farming and pasture maintenance, irrigation, domestic water, and all wildlife potential for the ranch by close cooperation with county agents, conservation and game management services, etc. and make appropriate recommendations to the owners.
- Work with San Antonio office to ensure that all operations or hazards are properly covered by insurance and all employees are schooled and trained in safety in their jobs.
- See that proper accounts are kept of all activities.
- Prepare operating plan and budget at the beginning of each year with the assistance of the San Antonio office.
- Report to Petty family on operations and activity on a monthly basis and otherwise as needed or requested.
- Ensure that all guests are treated with courtesy and respect and are provided with an exceptional experience on the ranch.
Compensation:
- Salary based on experience and qualifications
- Employer furnished work vehicle at no cost for use for ranch business
- Employer furnished tools, supplies and all farm and ranch equipment
- Employer provided housing is negotiable
- Health, Dental and Vision Insurance available
- 401k plan with employer match after 12 months
- Long Term Care/Disability Insurance/Life & Supplemental Insurance
To Apply: Please contact Keith Solbrig, Petty Group, LLP
Ranch Contact Name:
Keith Solbrig
caranch@pettyco.com