Ranch Managing Director Couple
Ocate, NM
Full Time
Senior Manager/Supervisor
| Job Title: Managing Director Couple | Revision Date: December 07, 2024 |
| Reports to: Owner | Position Status: Full-Time |
| Location: Ocate, NM | Compensation Band: TBD |
Who We Are
Wheaton Creek Ranch (WCR) is a family-owned working ranch that has been managed primarily for wildlife for more than thirty years. We offer our retreat facilities to the public as well as all-inclusive services for hunting for elk, deer, antelope, and bear. We care about sustainable ranching, ethical hunting, and thoughtful conservation.
After 35 years of managing the ranch, David Stanley, the Founder/Owner/Manager is looking to retire. We are searching for the right person to take his role as manager to carry on the responsibilities of nature conservation and ranch operations.
Our wild, natural habitat is situated in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Region of Northern New Mexico. The area teems with wildlife, stretching over 37,000 acres (15,000 private and 22,000 State Trust) in the Rocky Mountains.
Aside from the ranch's vast beauty, we have facilities and cottage industries that support our community, including cattle ranching, hunting, forestry, lumber milling, lodge and room rentals, retreats, camping and more.
We are a community of people who value remote living in the natural world. We are committed to living in harmony with each other and the abundant plant and animal life here. Our values include, but are not limited to, Humility, Sustainability, Responsibility and Community. We are seeking folks who not only share these values but are also positive, hard-working, team players.
What You’ll Do as the Managing Director Couple
We’re excited to welcome a new full-time Managing Director Couple into our Wheaton Creek Ranch community!
As a couple, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing all aspects of our operations, aligning activities with the founder's vision and ensuring the achievement of long-term goals. This position requires, above all, excellent self-awareness in terms of skills and limitations, strategic thinking, operational expertise, financial acumen, team building and team management skills, a commitment to environmental stewardship and guest satisfaction, as well as a positive can-do attitude. When not overseeing operations, you will work alongside your coworkers as a contributing team member on various projects as needed.
Key Responsibilities
Given each of your unique skills, experience, strengths, and interest, you will work together as a team-couple to fulfill your responsibilities. Together, you will delineate responsibilities to ensure all aspects of the business are running smoothly and efficiently. You will also be responsible for ensuring that the community living and working on the ranch are thriving and functioning in a constructive manner. Your responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
- Collaborate with Owner/Founder: Implement the owner’s vision, values, and priorities throughout the organization.
- Hunting Business: The ranch has a long-standing vibrant hunting business with many return clients. The majority of hunts take place during September through January. In the “off-season” there are few spring turkey and prairie dog hunts to manage. The Managing Director Couple will be responsible to preserve and develop as needed, business operations, which includes excellent hiring and management of hospitality staff (chef and housekeeping).
- Retreat Business: During hunting “off-season” (February through August) the Managing Director Couple will be responsible to develop a thriving retreat business, which includes marketing, booking, staffing, and running the operations to ensure successful retreats.
- Ranch Management: Oversee, collaborate with, and hold accountable our Ranch Manager and his/her responsibilities.
- Team Building: Recruit, train, and supervise staff and volunteers to ensure a healthy, happy, functional team that enjoys living and working on the ranch. Ensure the staff and volunteers embody the values and standards set by the owner/founder.
- You’re excited to live on the ranch as a positive and cooperative member of our Wheaton Creek Ranch community.
- You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships and effectively lead a diverse team.
- You have proven experience in a leadership role overseeing a team of staff to carry out business operations, preferably in the ranching, outdoor recreation industry, or development of property and/or businesses.
- You represent Wheaton Creek Ranch and its founder, David Stanley, positively, promoting the ranch’s mission and values.
- You work for the greater good of our collective community, lending a helping hand around the ranch when needed.
- You’re able to meet the physical and environmental demands of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- 5+ years experience managing effective teams
- 5+ years experience managing successful business operations
- Proficient financial acumen
- Excellent problem-solving, analytical, strategic, and critical-thinking skills
- Exceptional organizational skills
- Clean driving record and valid driver’s license
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Construction and construction management knowledge and experience, preferred
- Experience in livestock management, preferred
With access to 37,000 acres of wilderness, we see living at the ranch as a privilege. As part of our team, you’ll get:
- Year-round quality housing and utilities, including high-speed internet
- Access to the wilderness for personal recreation, including mountain biking, hiking, camping, etc.
- Possible hunting and/or guiding opportunities
Please note that we operate as a drug free/smoke free workplace. Smoking is not allowed on the job and we ask that “off the job” smoking or vaping be done discreetly, never in front of guests/clients and not in ranch buildings or vehicles. While we have vehicles for the ranch, employees must have their own personal vehicle to travel from the ranch to the local town for personal needs.
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