Ranch Hand II

Open Loop Energy; Safford (AZ); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite housing

Job summary

Open Loop Energy is seeking a Ranch Hand Level II to manage daily cattle care, feeding, handling, and property maintenance at our Safford, AZ operation. This full-time role reports to the Ranch Foreman and includes on-site housing.

You will perform routine livestock-care and equipment-maintenance tasks, help with health checks, and uphold safety and record-keeping standards in varying outdoor conditions.

Qualifications

• Prior livestock experience required.
• Mechanical aptitude and safety awareness.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
• Physical stamina for outdoor work in changing conditions.

Responsibilities

• Feed and water cattle according to schedules and nutritional needs.
• Monitor cattle for illness or distress and report concerns.
• Move, sort, weigh, and identify cattle.
• Assist with vaccinations, treatments, calving activities, and newborn care.
• Maintain humane handling, sanitation, and biosecurity practices.
• Inspect ranch grounds, barns, corrals, and water systems.
• Repair and maintain fences, gates, and cattle containment.
• Operate trucks, tractors, skid steers, loaders, and pumps.
• Perform routine equipment inspections and minor repairs.
• Keep work areas clean and organized and maintain records.

Skills

Livestock experience

Mechanical aptitude

Strong judgment

Dependability

Physical stamina

Independent work

Safety awareness

Problem-solving

Tools

Trucks

Tractors

Skid steers

Loaders

Pumps

Water systems

Job description

Ranch Hand Level - II

Salary Range: $50,000.00 To $50,000.00 Annually

Position Summary

The Ranch Hand Level - II is a mid-level ranch operations position responsible for the daily care, feeding, handling, and observation of cattle, along with the maintenance of ranch grounds, buildings, structures, fencing, water systems, vehicles, and support equipment.

Working under the general direction of the Ranch Foreman, this position independently completes routine livestock-care and property-maintenance assignments while assisting with more complex ranch operations and improvement projects. The Ranch Hand Level - II is expected to recognize animal-health concerns, identify unsafe or deteriorating conditions, complete routine repairs, operate equipment safely, maintain accurate records, and communicate issues requiring additional support.

The position requires practical livestock experience, mechanical aptitude, sound judgment, dependability, physical stamina, and the ability to work safely with limited supervision in changing outdoor conditions.

This is a full-time exempt position with a wage of $50,000.00 annually plus onsite housing.

Key Responsibilities

• Feed and water cattle according to established schedules, nutritional requirements, pasture conditions, and management direction.
• Monitor cattle for illness, injury, abnormal behavior, poor body condition, or distress and promptly report concerns.
• Safely move, sort, count, weigh, load, unload, restrain, and identify cattle.
• Assist with vaccinations, treatments, calving activities, newborn calf care, and other animal-health procedures when trained and authorized.
• Maintain humane livestock-handling, sanitation, biosecurity, and animal-welfare practices.
• Inspect and maintain ranch grounds, roads, drainage areas, pastures, barns, sheds, corrals, loading facilities, and livestock shelters.
• Repair and maintain fences, gates, posts, braces, cattle guards, temporary panels, and livestock-containment systems.
• Inspect, clean, and perform routine repairs to wells, pumps, pipelines, tanks, troughs, floats, and other livestock water systems.
• Operate trucks, tractors, skid steers, loaders, trailers, mowers, utility vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, pumps, generators, and approved hand and power tools.
• Conduct equipment inspections and perform routine preventive maintenance and minor mechanical repairs within demonstrated skill and authorization.
• Maintain clean, organized, and hazard-free work areas, storage locations, livestock facilities, and equipment.
• Complete feeding, treatment, livestock-movement, maintenance, inspection, fuel, supply, and equipment records as assigned.
• Prioritize work based on animal welfare, water availability, livestock containment, safety, and operational needs.
• Report animal concerns, equipment failures, material shortages, property damage, unsafe conditions, and incomplete work to the Ranch Foreman.
• Assist with emergency response involving escaped livestock, water interruptions, severe weather, fence failures, fire threats, and equipment breakdowns.
• Provide task-level guidance and practical assistance to less-experienced ranch hands without normally exercising formal supervisory authority.
• Follow all safety procedures, environmental requirements, chemical-handling practices, and personal protective equipment requirements.
• Perform other ranch-related duties consistent with the employee’s training, experience, and assigned level of responsibility.