Ranch Technician

Employer: Turner Enterprises Management, LLC

Job Title: Ranch Technician

Location: Bad River Ranch – Ft. Pierre, SD

Type: Full-Time / Exempt / Benefits-Eligible

Housing: Yes

Do you enjoy wide open spaces, and do you have a passion for preserving them? Have you dreamed of being a part of the largest and most progressive bison operation in the world? At Turner Ranches, we’re dedicated to sustainable ranching and conservation, and we’re looking for talented, like-minded individuals to be a part of our growing team.

Bad River Ranch, a pristine, 148,000-acre bison ranch located in central South Dakota, is seeking an energetic Ranch Technician who is passionate about low-stress livestock handling and innovative grazing practices. Learn more about Bad River Ranch.

ABOUT THE POSITION
As a Ranch Technician, your primary duties will be centered around grazing and rangeland management, bison movement and processing, and infrastructure development and maintenance. You’ll assist in managing bison herds using adaptive grazing practices across the Ranch. The ability and skills to use ATVs/UTVs to perform ranch work, including moving bison, is required.

You will also be responsible for:

Operating and maintaining equipment, including farm machinery and construction equipment.
Utilizing technology, including temporary fencing in a range environment.
Assisting in the preparation of pastures (fences, water systems, forage inventory) ahead of the grazing rotation and ranch wide as needed.
Moving/Handling bison in the pasture and corrals using low stress techniques on foot, ATV or UTV.
Feeding bison (hay, cake, salt, and mineral).
Developing and maintaining fences, water sources, corrals, ranch buildings, and other ranch infrastructure.
Performing range monitoring and grazing planning as necessary and providing monthly reports to management.
Using a welder, plasma cutter, cutting torch, and other shop equipment safely.
Using herbicides as appropriate and assigned for weed management.
Watching for fires during storms, suppressing wildfires and assisting with prescribed fires as necessary.
Vaccinating livestock using syringes and hypodermic needles or other means.
Participating in Ranch safety programs, including safe operation of vehicles, equipment, and ATVs/UTVs.
Handling monthly reporting of grazing activity, range health, feeding and feed inventories, fuel and maintenance logs, capital project status updates, and conservation efforts.
Assisting with the development of plans for capital improvements.
All other duties as assigned.

What this isn’t:
Working on horseback.
A management or supervisory position

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
Essential:
A high school diploma or general education degree (GED)
Experience in livestock care and low-stress animal handling
Experience operating heavy equipment and ATVs/UTVs
Basic computer skills, including preparation of reports and spreadsheets
This position requires operation of vehicles, and you’ll need to possess a valid driver’s license or be able to obtain one within 30 days of employment. Your driving record will need to meet the standards and requirements of the Company and the Company’s insurance provider
You’ll need to present documentation establishing both identity and employment authorization within three days of hire pursuant to federal law

Preferred:
Relevant bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Natural Resources or a related field
Five years’ experience in production agriculture

YOUR QUALITIES
Extreme Ownership
Commitment to Mission and Team
Range Management / Management Intensive Grazing (MIG) Management
Stockmanship
Initiative and adaptability
Humility and ability to learn from others

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The Company offers full time employees an elite benefits package, including medical dental and vision insurance, basic life insurance, short term disability, 401(k) plan with matching contributions, paid time off and paid holidays.

ACCOMMODATIONS
On-ranch, single-family housing with basic utilities (power, water, propane) will be provided subject to a Company Housing Agreement and Company policies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT
On a regular basis, you can expect to:

Stand; sit; walk; move hands and fingers; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.
Lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.
Perform physical labor for extended periods of time.
On a frequent basis, you can expect to:

Ride an ATV/UTV for extended periods of time on uneven, rough terrain and occasionally on roads and flat terrain while performing ranch duties.
Climb ladders and pipe corrals, drag and place flood irrigation dams, climb in and out of irrigation ditches, and wade in thigh-deep flowing water.
Lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
On an occasional basis, you can expect to:

Lift and/or move more than 100 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

You will regularly be exposed to moving mechanical parts; outside weather conditions; extreme cold and extreme heat. You will frequently be exposed to high, precarious places and fumes or airborne particles. You will occasionally by exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, and the work environment characteristics are representative of those you may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Accommodation inquiries must be made to the Company’s Human Resources Department for consideration.

Turner Enterprises Management, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Smoke Free/Drug-Free Workplace.

For more information, visit www.tedturner.com.