Ranch Manager & Product Owner

701x; Dickinson (ND); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site housing

Early access to 701x tech

Job summary

701x seeks a live‑in ranch manager and product tester to operate the company’s North Dakota test ranch. You will care for a 150 head cow‑calf herd year‑round and actively test GPS ear tags and cattle management software, providing direct feedback to engineers from a rancher’s perspective.

You will work independently on the ranch, with engineers visiting for large cattle work and installation of new products. On‑site housing is provided; you’ll live in a remote setting year‑round.

Qualifications

• Experience raising beef cattle and managing cow‑calf operations.
• Knowledge of breeding, calving, and herd health management.
• Ability to identify health issues and respond appropriately.
• Pasture rotation and grass management knowledge.
• General ranch skills: feeding, fence repairs, shelter maintenance.
• Comfortable with daily smartphone/app use; quick to learn software.
• Strong documentation and clear verbal/written communication.
• Highly independent—able to manage a herd alone in remote setting.

Responsibilities

• Full day‑to‑day responsibility for the health, nutrition, and care of 150 cow‑calf pairs year‑round.
• Plan and supervise breeding and monitor open cows and reproductive issues.
• Care for newborn calves and intervene early when issues arise.
• Identify, record, and respond to disease and health problems across the herd.
• Manage pasture rotation and grass utilization throughout the season.
• Prepare animals for shipment; maintain shelters, pens, fencing.
• Work small groups of cattle (~5–15 head) for product installs and testing.
• Use 701x's cattle management app and hardware daily as a working rancher.
• Record observations and feedback clearly and consistently.
• Communicate feedback to engineers verbally and in writing.
• Serve as the primary 'voice of the rancher' in product development decisions.
• Test new products and provide structured feedback before public release.

Skills

Cattle management

Beef breeding

Herd health management

Pasture management

Independent work

Documentation & reporting

Tech familiarity

Remote living adaptability

Tools

GPS ear tags

Job description

LIVE-IN REQUIREMENT — PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING

This is an on-site, live-in position. Housing is provided at the 701x test ranch and residency is a requirement of the role. Candidates must be comfortable living and working independently in a remote, rural setting in the North Dakota Badlands.

ABOUT 701x

701x is a Fargo, North Dakota-based agricultural technology company building the only complete technology ecosystem designed exclusively for beef cattle producers — GPS smart ear tags, cattle management software, breed association tools, DNA genomics, and more. Our technology is built by engineers, but shaped by ranchers — and this role sits at the center of that.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a one-of-a-kind position that combines traditional ranch management with hands‑on agricultural technology product development. You will be the sole full‑time employee at 701x's test ranch, responsible for the full‑time care and management of a 150‑head cow‑calf herd in the North Dakota Badlands — and equally responsible for field‑testing 701x's GPS ear tags, cattle management software, and new products as they are developed, providing direct feedback to our engineering team from a working rancher's perspective.

You are not just a ranch manager and not just a product tester — you are both. Your daily observations and feedback will directly shape what 701x builds next. Engineers and 701x staff will come to the ranch periodically to assist with large cattle workings (fall pregnancy checks, spring vaccinations) and to install and test new products. Outside of those visits, you will manage the herd and conduct testing independently.

This is a rare opportunity to be the first person in the world to use 701x's latest technology in real ranch conditions — and to have your voice heard by the engineers building it.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Ranch Management:

Full day‑to‑day responsibility for the health, nutrition, and care of 150 cow‑calf pairs year‑round

Plan and supervise the breeding of livestock; monitor for open cows and reproductive issues

Provide care for newborn calves; monitor health and intervene early when issues arise

Identify, record, and respond to disease and health problems across the herd

Manage pasture rotation and grass utilization throughout the season

Prepare animals for shipment

Maintain shelters, pens, feeding systems, and fencing

Work small groups of cattle independently (~5–15 head) for product installs and testing

Product Testing & Feedback:

Use 701x's cattle management app and hardware products daily as a working rancher

Record observations, issues, and improvement ideas clearly and consistently

Communicate feedback to 701x's engineering team verbally and in writing

Serve as the primary "voice of the rancher" in product development decisions

Test new products as they are developed and provide structured feedback before public release

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Demonstrated experience raising and managing beef cattle, ideally in cow‑calf operations

Knowledge of livestock breeding, calving, and herd health management

Ability to identify and record animal health issues and respond appropriately

Pasture and grass management knowledge, including pasture rotation

General ranch skills: feeding, fence repair, pen and shelter maintenance

Comfortable with daily smartphone and app use; quick to learn new software

Strong documentation habits and clear verbal and written communication

Highly independent — able to make sound decisions and manage a herd alone

Comfortable living and working in a remote, rural environment year‑round

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience or genuine interest in agricultural technology or precision ranching tools

Familiarity with GPS ear tags, RFID, or other livestock monitoring technology

Experience working in the North Dakota Badlands or similar rugged ranching environments

Background providing structured feedback to improve tools, equipment, or processes

WHAT 701x PROVIDES

On‑site housing at the test ranch (included as part of the role)

First‑in‑the‑world access to 701x's latest hardware and software before public release

Support from 701x engineers and staff during large cattle workings and product installs

Competitive compensation

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

The ideal candidate is a proven cattle person who is genuinely excited about technology — not someone who tolerates apps, but someone who sees them as a tool that can make ranching better. You are independent, resourceful, and a clear communicator. You can work a calving barn at 2am and file a clear product feedback report the same morning. You take ownership of both the herd and the product you're helping to build.

If you're ready to help shape the future of ranching from a side‑by‑side in the North Dakota Badlands, we'd love to hear from you.