Ranch Hand – Private Ranch Estate

Ranch Hand – Private Ranch Estate

Aspen, Colorado

Salary: $60,000 DOE | Full Benefits | Live-out

A spectacular 200+ acre private ranch estate in Aspen, Colorado is seeking a hardworking, resourceful, and motivated Ranch Hand to join a small, highly capable team responsible for the year-round care and maintenance of this exceptional mountain property.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who has foundational ranch, grounds, landscaping, agricultural, construction, or equipment experience and wants to continue developing their skills while working alongside an experienced Ranch Manager and Senior Ranch Hand.

The position is extremely hands-on and involves a significant amount of outdoor and physical work. The successful candidate should genuinely enjoy working outside, operating equipment, learning new skills, solving problems, and taking pride in maintaining a beautiful property.

The family is not looking for someone concerned with titles or hierarchy. They are looking for an intelligent, dependable, hardworking team member with no ego who is willing to roll up their sleeves and help wherever needed.

Ranch & Property Maintenance

The Ranch Hand will assist with the daily care and maintenance of the 200+ acre property, including:

• Assist the Ranch Manager and Senior Ranch Hand with daily ranch operations.
• Perform routine property walkthroughs and report maintenance issues or concerns.
• Maintain ranch roads, trails, pastures, landscaped areas, courtyards, and outdoor spaces.
• Keep trails clear of weeds, grass, fallen branches, rocks, and debris.
• Assist with mowing, trimming, weed control, mulching, raking, planting, and general grounds maintenance.
• Maintain gravel areas, driveways, drainage areas, and access roads.
• Assist with irrigation and sprinkler systems.
• Walk irrigation ditches and drainage areas and remove debris or obstructions.
• Monitor ponds, streams, and water features and assist with routine maintenance.
• Assist with fence installation, inspection, and repairs.
• Help maintain gates, ranch structures, outbuildings, and exterior property features.
• Assist with brush clearing, small tree removal, log splitting, and forest cleanup.
• Collect and dispose of branches, leaves, slash, and other natural debris.
• Assist with pasture and forest management.
• Support seasonal property opening, closing, and preparation projects.
• Maintain the ranch to the exceptional standards expected of a private estate.

Equipment & Machinery

The Ranch Hand should have some experience operating equipment and a strong willingness to learn additional machinery under the direction of the Ranch Manager.

Equipment may include:

• Tractors
• Utility vehicles and Gators
• Kubota equipment
• Commercial mowers
• Skid steers
• Trailers
• Snow blowers and snow-removal equipment
• Chainsaws
• Log splitters
• Wood chippers
• String trimmers and landscaping equipment
• General hand and power tools

Responsibilities will also include:

• Washing, fueling, and preparing equipment for use.
• Performing basic daily equipment inspections.
• Keeping tools, vehicles, machinery, barns, garages, and work areas clean and organized.
• Reporting mechanical issues promptly.
• Assisting with preventative maintenance.
• Learning the safe operation and proper care of additional ranch equipment.

Experience with farm implements, backhoes, hay equipment, or other heavy machinery is a plus but not required for the right candidate who is willing and capable of learning.

Winter & Mountain Property Maintenance

This is a year-round position in a high-altitude mountain environment, and candidates must be comfortable working outdoors in changing and sometimes challenging weather conditions.

Winter responsibilities will include:

• Snow removal from walkways, driveways, roads, entrances, and working areas.
• Shoveling and clearing snow and ice.
• Operating appropriate snow-removal equipment after training.
• Keeping entrances, gates, utility areas, hydrants, and essential access points clear.
• Monitoring the property following storms.
• Assisting with fallen trees and branches.
• Preparing equipment and property areas for freezing temperatures.
• Helping maintain safe access throughout the ranch.

Aspen receives substantial snowfall, making snow and ice management a meaningful part of maintaining a private property during winter.

Grounds, Forest & Water Management

The Ranch Hand will assist the team in caring for the natural environment surrounding the residence.

Responsibilities may include:

• Trail maintenance.
• Weed and brush control.
• Tree and limb cleanup.
• Log splitting.
• Chipper operation.
• Basic chainsaw work after appropriate training.
• Fence and gate maintenance.
• Pasture maintenance.
• Irrigation monitoring.
• Ditch and drainage maintenance.
• Pond and stream cleanup.
• General forest maintenance.
• Monitoring for wildlife-related property damage.
• Supporting wildfire mitigation and property cleanup projects as directed.

Projects & Event Support

The ranch periodically hosts principals, family, guests, special events, contractors, and outside work crews.

The Ranch Hand should be comfortable assisting with:

• Preparing outdoor spaces before principal and guest arrivals.
• Setting up and breaking down outdoor areas for events.
• Moving tables, furniture, equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Preparing utility vehicles and equipment for contractors or visiting crews.
• Assisting with deliveries and loading or unloading materials.
• Protecting roads, lawns, courtyards, and other surfaces during projects.
• Supporting landscaping, construction, art installation, and maintenance crews.
• Cleaning and restoring property areas following projects or events.
• Removing temporary materials, gravel, mulch, plywood, crating, and debris.
• Helping wherever needed to return the ranch to its normal presentation quickly and efficiently.

Basic Repairs & General Maintenance

Candidates with general handyman abilities are particularly encouraged to apply.

Depending upon experience, the Ranch Hand may assist with:

• Basic carpentry.
• Fence and gate repairs.
• Painting and staining.
• Minor building repairs.
• Basic irrigation repairs.
• Replacing hardware and fixtures.
• Power washing.
• Equipment troubleshooting.
• General preventative maintenance.

Advanced expertise is not expected in every area. More important is a candidate who is mechanically minded, curious, willing to learn, and knows when to ask for assistance.

Livestock & Animals

There is currently no livestock on the property; however, livestock may return in the future.

Experience with horses, cattle, longhorn cattle, or other livestock is therefore a plus but is not required.

The successful candidate must be extremely dog-friendly and comfortable interacting with family pets.

The Ideal Candidate

The family is seeking someone who is:

• Hardworking, reliable, and physically capable.
• Intelligent and eager to learn.
• Resourceful and solutions-oriented.
• Naturally observant and attentive to their surroundings.
• Comfortable taking direction from the Ranch Manager and Senior Ranch Hand.
• Able to eventually complete routine assignments independently.
• A genuine team player with no ego.
• Comfortable working outdoors throughout the year.
• Interested in developing skills in ranch and estate maintenance.
• Comfortable using hand and power tools.
• Familiar with basic equipment operation.
• Mechanically inclined.
• Professional and discreet around principals and guests.
• Able to communicate clearly in English.
• Flexible when daily priorities change.
• Willing to help with tasks outside a traditional job description when necessary.

Candidates with approximately 1–3 years of relevant experience in ranching, farming, landscaping, groundskeeping, construction, property maintenance, forestry, agriculture, or a similar hands-on environment are encouraged to apply.

A candidate with less direct ranch experience may also be considered if they demonstrate a strong work ethic, mechanical aptitude, common sense, and genuine willingness to learn.

Candidates must be able to safely lift 50+ pounds and perform strenuous physical work for extended periods.

Local Knowledge & Location

Candidates already living in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, or elsewhere within the Roaring Fork Valley are highly desirable.

Familiarity with the local mountain environment, winter driving, high-altitude conditions, wildlife, snow, water management, and the seasonal demands of the Aspen area would be particularly valuable.

Schedule & Flexibility

This is a full-time, year-round position.

The ranch operates with a small team, making dependability, flexibility, communication, and teamwork extremely important.

The Ranch Hand will work directly under the Ranch Manager and alongside the Senior Ranch Hand, with responsibilities and skills expected to develop over time.

The successful candidate must be willing to work occasional weekends, holidays, early mornings, evenings, and special hours when the principals are in residence, during significant weather events, or when the needs of the property require additional coverage.

Schedules will be coordinated amongst the team to provide appropriate coverage and reasonable time off.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $60,000 annually, depending on experience
• Full medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Two weeks paid vacation
• One week paid sick leave
• Daily commute to the Aspen ranch
• Full-time, year-round employment
• Long-term opportunity with room to learn, develop, and take on greater responsibility

Certification

CPR and AED/defibrillator certification are preferred but are not required at the time of hire.

Candidates who are not currently certified must be willing to obtain certification.

An Opportunity to Grow

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to build a long-term career in private ranch and estate management while learning from experienced professionals.

The right candidate does not need to know everything on day one. What matters most is a strong work ethic, intelligence, reliability, common sense, physical capability, and a genuine desire to learn.

For someone who enjoys being outdoors, working with their hands, operating equipment, learning new skills, and seeing the tangible results of a hard day's work, this could be an exceptional long-term opportunity in one of Colorado's most beautiful mountain environments.

APPLY FOR THIS POSITION