Company: River Bend Ranch
Location: Durango, CO
Job Type: Part-Time / Seasonal with Year-Round Potential
Pay: $25–$30 per hour, depending on experience and skill set
Expected Hours: 10–25 hours per week, depending on season, events, weather, and project needs
About River Bend Ranch
River Bend Ranch is a wedding, lodging, and event venue in Durango, Colorado. We host weddings, private events, nonprofit events, lodging stays, and special celebrations in a beautiful ranch setting.
We are looking for a reliable, hands-on Ranch Operations & Maintenance Lead to help keep the property clean, functional, attractive, safe, and event-ready.
Position Summary
The Ranch Operations & Maintenance Lead is responsible for helping maintain the physical property at River Bend Ranch. This includes grounds, landscaping, irrigation, sprinklers, roads, parking areas, trees, brush, outdoor spaces, small repairs, seasonal prep, equipment care, and event-readiness projects.
This is a hands-on property operations role. The right person is practical, reliable, self-directed, good with tools, comfortable working outdoors, and able to notice what needs to be fixed before guests arrive.
This is not a wedding planning or sales role. The focus is keeping the ranch looking great and operating smoothly before tours, lodging stays, weddings, and events.
Responsibilities
Grounds and Property Readiness
Keep the property clean, organized, and presentable before tours, lodging stays, weddings, and events
Prepare guest-facing areas including ceremony sites, barn surroundings, River House areas, cabin areas, RV areas, driveways, walkways, parking areas, and outdoor gathering spaces
Pick up branches, debris, trash, and visible messes around the property
Weed, trim, blow, rake, clean, and touch up areas as needed
Help place wood chips, mulch, dirt, gravel, and landscaping materials where needed
Check outdoor areas before events and flag anything unsafe, messy, unfinished, or not guest-ready
Sprinklers, Irrigation, and Water-Related Support
Inspect and help fix broken sprinkler heads and basic irrigation issues
Monitor dry spots, wet spots, leaks, puddling, drainage issues, and lawn problems
Assist with basic water filters and water-system maintenance as assigned
Help with lawn-watering and irrigation needs as trained and approved
Assist with pump-related tasks when trained and approved
Report larger water, septic, pump, well, or irrigation issues quickly to ownership
Landscaping, Trees, Brush, and Weed Control
Remove or cut back willows, brush, dead branches, weeds, and overgrowth around event areas, buildings, paths, RV areas, and water features
Help keep tree lines, fence lines, paths, and guest-facing areas clean and maintained
Assist with removing unwanted growth and keeping the property looking clean and intentional
Help maintain wood chip areas, flower beds, tree bases, and landscaped areas
Assist with firewood cutting, stacking, and cleanup when appropriate
Road, Driveway, and Parking Maintenance
Add dirt, gravel, or fill to low spots in driveways and parking areas as directed
Help reduce puddles, ruts, soft spots, and drainage problems
Monitor roads, parking areas, and guest traffic areas before and after events
Report major grading, erosion, mud, snow, or access issues to ownership
Equipment Operation and Care
The ideal candidate should be comfortable using or willing to be trained on ranch and property maintenance equipment, including:
Bobcat
John Deere equipment
EGO mower
Diesel tank
Pump systems
Equipment attachments
Basic hand tools
Basic power tools
Landscaping tools
Mowing, trimming, blowing, raking, and cleanup equipment
Pressure washer and basic cleaning equipment when needed
This role may include operating equipment for mowing, property cleanup, moving materials, driveway/parking maintenance, brush cleanup, landscaping support, and event-readiness projects.
Only trained and approved team members may operate equipment. Safe, careful, and responsible equipment use is required.
Equipment Maintenance
Help keep ranch equipment clean, fueled, organized, and ready for use
Assist with basic equipment checks and maintenance
Monitor oil, filters, tire pressure, fluids, battery condition, and operating hours as trained
Help with seasonal equipment storage and winterization
Report broken, unsafe, missing, or poorly functioning tools and equipment
Help keep sheds, work areas, and storage areas organized
Use tools and equipment responsibly and safely
Small Repairs and Projects
Perform basic maintenance and repair tasks as assigned
Assist with sanding, staining, sealing, painting, building, touch-up work, minor carpentry, and small improvement projects
Help with cabin, barn, shed, deck, outdoor, and guest-facing improvement projects as assigned
Build or repair basic ranch items such as shelves, tables, benches, storage improvements, covers, and property features when within skill set
Identify when a job requires a licensed professional or outside contractor
Pest, Wildlife, and Property Protection
Help monitor and address voles, moles, mice, and other pest issues
Watch for animal damage, burrows, chewed trees, nests, or areas guests may notice
Help protect lawns, landscaping, trees, docks, sheds, buildings, and venue areas from avoidable damage
Report hazards, damage, or recurring problems early
Seasonal Prep and Shutdown
Assist with spring cleanup and pre-season property preparation
Help prepare the ranch before peak wedding season
Assist with fall cleanup, winterization, and end-of-season storage
Help protect outdoor furniture, tools, hoses, irrigation components, pumps, docks, sheds, and equipment from weather damage
Support month-by-month maintenance priorities based on season and event schedule
Event and Vendor Support
Assist with property-related event prep when needed
Help make sure vendor access areas, parking areas, paths, and load-in areas are clean and functional
Support event staff with property-related needs before or after events
Help with post-event property checks and cleanup support when needed
Communicate any property damage, trash issues, broken items, lawn damage, or vendor-related problems after events
Ideal Candidate
The ideal person for this role is:
Reliable and punctual
Self-directed and able to work independently
Hands-on and practical
Comfortable working outdoors
Good with tools and basic repairs
Comfortable operating or learning ranch/property equipment
Able to prioritize around weddings and events
Detail-oriented enough to notice what guests will see
Comfortable with physical work
Good at communicating problems early
Respectful of the property, guests, vendors, and event staff
Willing to do both important small tasks and larger property projects
Qualifications
Preferred experience includes:
Ranch, farm, landscaping, maintenance, or property-management experience
Experience operating Bobcat, John Deere, mower, tractor, skid steer, or similar equipment
Irrigation or sprinkler repair experience
Basic carpentry or handyman skills
Equipment and tool experience
Groundskeeping experience
Event venue, hospitality, or guest-facing property experience
Physical Requirements
Ability to work outside in changing weather
Ability to walk large areas of the property
Ability to lift, carry, bend, rake, shovel, trim, weed, clean, and move materials
Ability to safely use basic hand tools, power tools, and property maintenance equipment when trained
Ability to work around uneven ground, water areas, sheds, barns, trees, and outdoor ranch conditions
Schedule
This is a part-time role with hours that vary based on season, weather, event schedule, and project needs.
Expected hours are typically 10–25 hours per week.
Peak wedding and event season may require more availability, especially before weddings, tours, lodging stays, and major events.
Some short-notice availability is helpful for urgent maintenance or property issues.
Compensation
$25–$30 per hour depending on experience, reliability, skill set, equipment ability, and ability to handle ranch/property maintenance work independently.
To Apply
Please submit your resume and a short note about your maintenance, landscaping, ranch, equipment, handyman, or property-care experience.
Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
