Position Title: Family Farm and Ranch Manager
Name of Ranch/Business: Laurel Springs Retreat
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Position Description: Seeking a qualified On-Site Ranch Manager to manage the daily operations of a 160 acre ranch in Santa Barbara, CA. The ideal candidate is mature, reliable, flexible, hard-working, animal friendly, and team player who possesses detailed knowledge of managing all aspects of a ranch and its components. This full-time position will require residing on the ranch (housing will be provided).
The current ranch manager, who has been in this position for over 40 years, will transition from full time to part time in about a year. He has a detailed knowledge of every inch and system of the property and will share that knowledge during a transition period, and has committed to being involved for several years to come.
This is a hands-on position. The Ranch Manager will work closely alongside Ranch hands and other staff to get the job done, whatever that job may be.
The Ranch Manager works at the direction of the property owners and oversees four major areas of responsibility:
- Agriculture and Livestock Management
- Ranch Infrastructure and Asset Management
- Community Relations
- Personnel Management
Required Qualifications:
- Four-year degree in a related major preferred but not required in addition to six years of onsite direct management experience.
- Individual will have farm management (or related industry) experience including the supervision of labor and direct involvement in the business side of the industry.
- The successful candidate must have strong communication skills, be a self-starter and have ability to interact effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds.
- Must demonstrate strong work ethic with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs including Word and Excel. Willingness and desire to learn new technologies
- Must be available to work evenings and weekends as required.
- Position requires employee to work and be available for infrequent travel throughout Southern California as necessary.
- Bi-lingual English/Spanish required
- Must have a valid driver’s license with a clean DMV driving record.
- Must pass pre-placement drug/alcohol screen, physical, and functional capacity evaluation
Responsibilities:
- Responsibilities include management and supervision, with hands-on involvement of all farming activities, including irrigation system management, land preparation, planting, fertilization, and pesticide applications and harvesting.
- Operates heavy and light equipment- both agriculture and landscape, performs maintenance and repair. Equipment used to include but not limited to: truck, tractor, UTVs, lawn mower, chainsaw, hand tools, log splitter, sprayer, welder, weed trimmer.
- Supervision of and hands-on care for the wellbeing of all livestock (cows, chickens, ducks, geese, goats and dogs) including feeding and veterinary care when needed
- Fire prevention land clearance (cuts or trimming trees, removing brush through mowing and or chipping)
- Road infrastructure- build, maintain and improve internal ranch road infrastructure
- Responsible for collection and submission of production data and any other required crop information.
- Supervises workforce of Assistant Ranch Manager, Ranch Hands and Housekeepers.
- Ability to negotiate and effectively handle all vendors and contracts
- All other duties as directed by Owners.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to continuously work outdoors all day in various, and sometimes extreme, weather conditions. Ability to continuously work with product and equipment at ground level. Ability to work on uneven terrain both on foot and while aboard moving equipment. Ability to get on and off various stationary and moving equipment. Must wear corrective lenses if required/listed on driver’s license. Must be able to move items weighing up to 75 lbs.
Estimated Salary: Commensurate
Apply: Download the full job listing here. Contact Josh K at the below information for more directions on how to apply.
Josh K
jkaplb@gmail.com
(323) 638-9424