Bison Ranch Hand

Dec 16

COMPANY: REDCO – Rosebud Farm Company

POSITION: Bison Ranch Hand

REPORT: Agricultural Manager

CLASSIFICATION: Salary/Exempt

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Bison Ranch Hand will play an integral role in creating and managing the largest Native American-owned buffalo herd in the world. The Wolakota Ranch Hand will perform daily operations and maintenance for a herd of about 1,300 bison on 28,000-acre ranch owned by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get in at the ground floor of a historic project that will create regenerative Sicangu prosperity. The Wolakota herd will strengthen food sovereignty, provide cultural and ceremonial opportunities, and increase investment in Rosebud. Additionally, restoring bison to the prairie will strengthen the land. The Wolakota Ranch Hand is a hard-working, on-the-ground individual who helps make the project possible.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:

The Ranch Hand will be responsible for all day-to-day duties of the ranch. These include ensuring perimeter fence is secure, adding and removing interior fences, equipment maintenance, daily care of the buffalo, and other general ranch duties. The Ranch Hand will be expected to use the best agriculture and land management practices to enact daily operations of the Wolakota Buffalo Range to meet identified cultural, environmental, and revenue goals. The position requires a strong work ethic, willingness to work in difficult conditions, and an utmost respect and appreciation for bison – recognizing that they are a close relative to the Sicangu Oyate.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Ensures the perimeter fencing is secure and continuously maintained
Performs daily assessments of the health of the bison herd and surrounding ecosystems, updating databases as needed
Moves and handles bison using humane, low stress methods
Safely operates and maintains ATV’s, trucks, tractors, and other heavy equipment
Monitors fire danger and fights fire, if necessary
Provides basic veterinary care and animal processing, such as vaccinations, injections, and tagging
Ensures infrastructure, equipment, and tools are in good working order and perform maintenance as necessary on the property, including but not limited to wells, fencing, corrals, roads, trucks, ATVs, and tractors
Keeps accurate records including, but not limited to maintenance logs and range activities
Maintains regular and effective communication with supervisor and other relevant parties on progress, opportunities, and risks
Help coordinate and supervise seasonal or day labor as necessary depending on workload
Other duties as assigned.

NOTE: Daily work hours will vary depending on necessary duties. We encourage all employees to maintain work-life balance and do our best to ensure they can do so. However, given the nature of this position some after-hours commitments may be required, and weekly workload may vary depending on seasonal and project-based timelines

QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicable ranching experience (does[MV1]not need to be specific to buffalo)
Possess mechanical abilities that allow for general maintenance and small repairs of ranch equipment.
Level of physical fitness sufficient to stand or walk for long periods, lift or move up to 75 pounds, dig holes, sit on an ATV for extended periods of time over rough terrain, climb ladders or fences, crouch or crawl, and other duties as required
Valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation, with CDL preferred
Appreciation and respect for Lakota knowledge, lifeways, and culture
Demonstrated ability to operate small farm machinery and ATV’s on rough terrain
Strong communication skills
Ability to effectively work in a team setting and to be self-motivated while working alone
Strong workplace ethic and values
Willingness to work in a remote location in all weather conditions
Willingness to live on-site in provided housing

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

A salary up to $42,000 based on education, qualifications, and experience. The position is classified as Agricultural Workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics wage scale and our salary is about twice the industry average.
Annual leave: 19.5 days of paid vacation, 13 paid sicks days, and 11 paid holidays
3% 401(k) match
Full Health insurance coverage for employee, paid by the employer; Employee will be responsible for covering health insurance for dependents and spouse.
Life Insurance; partially paid by employer
Vision and Dental insurance; partially paid by employer
Rent-free housing! On-site housing is provided, which also covers electricity and water. Assistant covers costs of home maintenance, satellite TV and landline phone.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $38,000.00 - $45,000.00 per year

Benefits: