Senior Ranch Hand – Private Ranch Estate - PLACED
Senior Ranch Hand – Private Ranch Estate
Aspen, Colorado
Salary: $75,000 - 80,000 DOE | Full Benefits | Private Bed and Bath Available
A spectacular 200+ acre private ranch estate in Aspen, Colorado is seeking an experienced, intelligent, resourceful, and highly hands-on Senior Ranch Hand to work alongside the Ranch Manager in the daily care, maintenance, and operation of this five-star mountain property.
This is a physically demanding, highly active position for someone who genuinely enjoys working outdoors, operating equipment, solving problems, and taking ownership of a beautifully maintained private ranch.
While the title is Senior Ranch Hand, this is not a traditional supervisory position. During the winter months, the ranch operates primarily as a two-person team, with additional support added during the summer season. The successful candidate must be someone without ego who is equally comfortable operating machinery, clearing trails, repairing irrigation, splitting logs, preparing the property for an event, shoveling snow, or handling whatever else the day may require.
The Ranch Manager is looking for a true partner in the daily operation of the property—someone who is observant, resourceful, hardworking, communicative, and capable of seeing what needs to be done without always being told.
Ranch & Property Maintenance
Responsibilities will include:
•Assist the Ranch Manager with the daily operation and maintenance of a 200+ acre private ranch.
•Perform regular property inspections and proactively identify maintenance needs.
•Maintain roads, trails, pastures, landscaped areas, ponds, streams, water features, and surrounding forest.
•Keep trails clear of weeds, grass, fallen limbs, debris, and other obstructions.
•Maintain trail surfaces, mulch, gravel, drainage areas, and access roads.
•Assist with pasture and forest management.
•Monitor and maintain irrigation and sprinkler systems throughout the property.
•Troubleshoot irrigation issues and coordinate with specialty contractors when necessary.
•Walk and maintain ditches, drainage systems, streams, and water channels.
•Maintain ponds and water features.
•Assist with tree removal, small tree cutting, brush clearing, log splitting, and general forest maintenance.
•Support fence construction and repairs.
•Assist with seasonal snow removal and winter property maintenance.
•Monitor the property for weather-related, wildlife, water, fire, and environmental concerns.
•Maintain the ranch to an exceptional standard appropriate for a high-end private estate.
Equipment & Machinery
The successful candidate must be comfortable operating and maintaining a variety of ranch equipment and machinery, including:
•Tractors
•Skid steers
•Large commercial mowers
•Utility vehicles and Gators
•Trailers
•Chainsaws
•Log splitters
•Wood chippers
•Snow-removal equipment
•General hand and power tools
Experience with agricultural and farm implements such as hay mowers, tow rakes, hay balers, backhoes, and related equipment is highly desirable.
The Ranch Hand will also be responsible for keeping equipment clean, fueled, maintained, properly stored, and ready for use.
Property Projects & Event Support
The ranch periodically hosts principals, guests, special events, contractors, artists, and outside work crews. The Senior Ranch Hand must be flexible and willing to assist wherever needed.
Responsibilities may include:
•Preparing roads, courtyards, lawns, gardens, and outdoor areas for events.
•Protecting surfaces during construction, installations, deliveries, or special projects.
•Assisting outside contractors and specialty crews with property access and logistical needs.
•Preparing equipment and utility vehicles for visiting work crews.
•Assisting with loading, unloading, staging, and removal of materials.
•Supporting crane, sculpture, landscaping, construction, and installation projects.
•Restoring grounds following events or projects.
•Removing temporary gravel, mulch, plywood, protective materials, crating, and other materials.
•Assisting with post-event cleanup and returning the property to its normal condition.
The ideal candidate understands that on a private ranch, responsibilities can change quickly and everyone works together to accomplish what needs to be done.
Mountain & Seasonal Property Management
This position involves a high percentage of outdoor work in the elements at approximately 9,000 feet elevation.
Candidates should have experience or a strong understanding of mountain environments, including:
•Heavy snow and winter conditions.
•High-altitude working conditions.
•Irrigation and water management.
•Forest and wildfire awareness.
•Wildlife activity.
•Seasonal property preparation.
•Storm cleanup.
•Snow and ice management.
•Ponds, streams, ditches, and water features.
Experience working in the Aspen, Roaring Fork Valley, or similar Rocky Mountain environment is strongly preferred.
Additional Skills
Experience in any of the following areas would be considered a significant advantage:
•Carpentry and woodworking.
•Basic construction.
•Irrigation and sprinkler repair.
•Pool and spa maintenance.
•Fence construction and repair.
•Chainsaw operation.
•Tree cutting and forest management.
•Log splitting and chipper operation.
•Pasture management.
•Agricultural equipment.
•Basic mechanical troubleshooting.
•Snow removal.
•Landscaping and grounds maintenance.
Livestock & Animals
There is currently no livestock on the property; however, the ranch has the potential to support livestock again in the future.
Previous experience with horses, cattle, longhorn cattle, or general livestock management would therefore be highly valued.
Candidates must also be extremely dog-friendly and comfortable working around family pets.
The Ideal Candidate
We are seeking someone who is:
•An excellent English-speaking communicator.
•Intelligent, practical, and highly resourceful.
•Extremely hardworking and physically capable.
•Naturally observant and proactive.
•Comfortable working independently without constant supervision.
•A collaborative team player with no ego.
•Experienced working on a ranch, estate, farm, mountain property, or similar environment.
•Comfortable operating both light and heavy machinery.
•Mechanically inclined and capable of basic troubleshooting.
•Familiar with irrigation and sprinkler systems.
•Comfortable working outdoors year-round in changing weather conditions.
•Familiar with high-altitude environments.
•Knowledgeable about the Aspen and Roaring Fork Valley area is highly desirable.
•Flexible with responsibilities and willing to step in wherever needed.
•Professional and discreet when principals and guests are in residence.
A minimum of 3–5 years of relevant experience in a comparable ranch, estate, agricultural, or mountain property environment is preferred.
Candidates must be able to safely lift 50+ pounds and perform strenuous physical work throughout the day.
Schedule & Flexibility
•This is a full-time, year-round position.
•During the winter, the property is primarily maintained by the Ranch Manager and Senior Ranch Hand as a two-person team. An additional team member provides support during the busier summer season.
•Because of the small team environment, reliability, communication, teamwork, and flexibility are extremely important.
•successful candidate must be willing to work occasional nights, weekends, holidays, and special hours when the principals are in residence or when property needs require additional coverage.
This is not a position for someone focused on title or hierarchy. It is an opportunity for an experienced ranch professional who enjoys being part of a small, capable team where everyone works together and takes pride in getting the job done correctly.
Compensation & Benefits
•Salary: $75,000 - 80,000 DOE
•Full medical, dental, and vision benefits
•Two weeks paid vacation
•One week paid sick leave
•Private room and bathroom available in Basalt for the right candidate
•Daily commute from Basalt to the Aspen property
•Long-term, year-round opportunity
•Local candidates are highly desirable, particularly individuals already familiar with Aspen, Basalt, and the Roaring Fork Valley.
Certification Requirements
CPR and AED/defibrillator certification are preferred but are not prerequisites for consideration. Candidates who are not currently certified must be willing to complete the appropriate certification after joining the team.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a capable, hardworking, resourceful ranch professional who enjoys mountain life and takes genuine pride in maintaining a world-class private property.
The right person will understand that success in this role is not about managing from the sidelines—it is about working alongside the Ranch Manager, recognizing what needs attention, solving problems, and getting things done.
