Barn Manager - Full Time, Year Round

Socket.dev; Harrison (ID); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Horse Mountain Ranch is seeking a Barn Manager to lead and train the Wrangler/Guide team, ensure top-tier guest experiences, and oversee daily barn operations.

You will manage horses, activities, hiring, and schedules while maintaining budgetary discipline and safety standards across all barn functions.

Qualifications

• Experience leading and training a barn team.
• Proven ability to manage budget and operations.
• Strong guest service focus and safety standards.
• Ability to coordinate cross-departmental activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and train the Wrangler/Guide team using the department manuals and job descriptions.
• Uphold mission, vision, and core values; model leadership and provide constructive feedback.
• Oversee barn, horses, activities, hiring, and scheduling to ensure smooth operations.
• Manage inventory, budget, and documentation; coordinate with Ranch Manager on issues.
• Ensure guest safety and create authentic, memorable experiences for guests.

Skills

Leadership

Team Management

Guest Experience

Training & Development

Budgeting

Conflict Resolution

Job description

The Barn Manager

• Is the department leader of the Herd Manager and Wrangler/Guide team members and a very important part of the leadership and direction of Red Horse Mountain Ranch

• Oversees all aspects of a healthy, well functioning barn department

• Takes care of the guests and their overall experience and sets the bar high for others to do the same

• Runs the continual training of team members on daily operations and procedures

• Upholds and trains their team on the Core Values, Purpose, Mission, and Vision of Red Horse Mountain Ranch

• Oversees the Barn Department budget

The Responsibilities Include:

Lead and Train the Wrangler/Guide Team Members

• Train on procedures, policies, and what it looks like to be a successful team member at Red Horse using the department manual and Herd Manager, Wrangler and Kids Program Job Descriptions

• Use the Ranch’s Mission, Vision, and Purpose Statements and Core Values to lead your team

• Be the example of what you want them to be

• Identify if extra training is needed and coordinate the scheduling of the additional training

• Run meetings - Come prepared with high energy for meetings with notes of what you would like to share to insure a productive meeting that helps the function the ranch

• Provide useful feedback throughout the season to all team members to help them grow and succeed at their positions

• Schedule meetings with individual team members to see how they are doing, what they need to improve on, and what you need to improve on. This is followed by making corrections and fixing problems

• Upon the end of a season, barn staff will have been spoken to enough about their progress that it will be clear to them and the Barn Manager on the status of their rehire

• All barn staff issues will be addressed in a timely manner

• Mediate conflict amongst staff members, bringing serious or repeat issues to the attention of the Ranch Manager

• Document correction given to your team in the feedback form

• Receive feedback from your team on how you can improve as a leader and how your department systems and procedures can improve

• Grow yourself as a leader so you can better understand how to lead your team

• Schedule meetings with other managers on any topics you may need guidance on or need to figure out to make the ranch operate smoothly between departments

• Create and protect unity within your department and other departments

Guest Experience

• Welcome and talk with guests

• Set a positive example for treating our guests with respect and never talking poorly about them

• Help guests connect to the simple joys of life

• Uphold our high standards as a world class dude ranch the guests are expecting to see and experience

• Create harmonious environments in facilities that make guests feel at ease, comfortable, safe, and welcomed

• Create authentic and memorable life moments for guests

• Watch for social cues to see if a guest is not having a good experience and go above and beyond to correct the issue

• Accommodate special requests made by guests

• Predict and exceed expectations

• Handle all conflicts with grace and respect

• Take other guest requests to appropriate team leader to be fulfilled

• Make sure all buildings and spaces leading up to buildings are beautiful and well kept. Reporting anything affecting the guest experience outside of your department to the appropriate department leader.

Horses

• Manage and communicate with the Herd Manager to assure the herd is healthy and adequate for supporting the barn operations of both guests and staff

• Aid in the final approval of which horses meet the criteria to be added to the guest string

• Aid in the decisions of which horses can be moved into advanced, scenic, or kids program riding programs and informing management of horse purchase needs within these programs

• Aid in the research and purchasing of horses, complying with all state and federal laws pertaining to the sale of a horse, transporting them across state lines, providing receipts to Ranch Manager, and bill of sales

Barn

• Day to day operations of the barn, signing off on completed checklists, assigning projects and following up until done, and punctual start times to the day

• General maintenance, cleanliness, and upkeep of both property, trails, and equipment related to the barn and outdoor activities

• Chores and projects are done in a timely manner. That systems in place are adhered to by all staff as found in the barn manual

• Safety of guests and guides

• Inventory of barn items (tack, boots, helmets…)

Activities

• Oversee daily guided activities on ranch (including horseback riding, sporting clays, kids program, kayaking, archery course, hiking, etc).

• Insure safety in all activities

• Participate as a guide in activities

• Get barn and guided activities organized and set up for the season, overseeing the upkeep and restocking during the season, and coordinating the break down and winterizing of these activities at the season’s close

• Punctual start times of all guided activities

• Assigning appropriate guide staff to activities (horseback riding, sporting clays, kids program, kayaking, archery course, hiking, etc)

• Final approval of which guests are able to participate in advanced riding must go through the barn manager. Final approval of which guides can lead must go through the barn manager

• Any changes that need to be made to the guest schedule needs to be approved by the Ranch Manager

Hiring

• Quickly processing applications that come in and punctual communications

• Scheduling phone calls

• Reading applications

• Documenting your notes on hiring platform

• Scheduling interviews

• Conducting interviews

• Calling references

• Offering jobs

• Building a bench of people to call if someone does not work out

• Collect proper employment information from them

• Documenting start and end dates on Calendar and in Staff Google Sheet

• Background checks

• Arranging for arrivals

• Scheduling arrival tour of lodge and housing

• On going communication with the team even before they arrive

Schedules

• Schedules pertaining to the barn team and working with other department managers if any cross over between staff in other departments

• Evening entertainment help such as bar backing and roping

• Helping other departments

• Start and end dates

• Busy weeks vs not busy weeks and taking extra days off

• Using ranch time wisely and sending folks home early if you can

Inventory and Budget

• Inventory of all barn department items

• Enter data from inventory into Barn Inventory, Budget, and Projects in Google Drive

• Compile inventory and pull out information on what needs to be purchased

• List in order of importance to set priorities

• Research and add prices to items to get a picture of what your budget needs will be for the following season

• Purchase all needed items to get through the season

• Continually checking budget report

• Red flagging any purchase you did not approve

• Work with other departments to see how to afford important purchases

Other Items

• Must complete and pass the Wilderness First Responder certification through NOLS in first year of hire - paid for by Red Horse Mountain Ranch

• Must complete the Horse Safety class through the Dude Ranch Foundation upon hire - paid for by Red Horse Mountain Ranch

• Responding to emergencies and help facilitate the plan of action

• Responsible for all receipts related to barn budget

• Use shared notes for discussion with ranch managers at weekly meeting

• Maintaining good relationships with all barn related vendors

• Healthy balance of working alongside team and administrative duties

• Follow shut down and deep clean procedures for the barn

• Focus on long term planning for the barn

• Create list of projects needing to be accomplished throughout winter for maintenance and for barn

• Organize various work stations and create systems to improve flow, efficiency, and tidiness

• Schedule outside contractors for needed services

• Aiding the Herd Manager on a feeding and vetting schedule

• Completing daily checklists

• Assigning projects and seeing that they are completed in a timely manner

• Help in other departments as needed

• Update Manuals with improved procedures and policies

• Work with other managers in how to improve systems and communication

• Attend and actively participate in weekly and annual meetings

• Represent the ranch core values and help drive the purpose, vision, and mission of Red Horse Mountain Ranch forward

• A passion and a gift to lead others and help them grow

• An attitude of solving problems vs complaining about them

• Continue to learn how to be a better leader and to be coached by others

• Must be able to have difficult conversations with guests and staff

• You need both good speaking skills to provide information effectively and good listening skills to understand. A willingness to learn and grow in this area

• Experience guiding in the outdoor adventure industry

• Experience with handling emergency situations

• Must be at least 21 years of age

• Must be physically fit and capable of all Guide/Wrangler activities

• Must be a US Citizen or possess a current and appropriate working visa

• Must have skills in Western riding and horsemanship and experience in working with a herd

• Experience in leading horseback rides, giving horseback instruction, and vetting

• Ability to lift 75 pounds multiple times and work long hours

• Must have a Valid Driver’s License and clean driving record

• Must be willing to wear proper western attire including a cowboy hat, boots, western long sleeve shirt and be presentable in a good western image in dress and behavior

• Must be able to show strong safety for riders and horses

• Must be able to show proof of First Aid / CPR certification or pass certification on arrival

• Must be able to communicate kindly and professionally with team members, community members, and guests

• Exhibit a patient and positive attitude with animals and people

• This position also completes the tasks required in the job description of a Wrangler (see Wrangler job description)