Employment
General Information for all Employees:
At 9,200ft, the Allen's Diamond 4 Ranch is the highest mountain ranch in Wyoming. Jim and Mary Allen, with their three daughters, have owned and operated this wilderness outfit since 1973. Youngest daughter Jessie has been managing the business since 2015 and is now the primary operator.
We raise, train and use our own horses, and we have built each log cabin and barn in this beautiful alpine location. Without electricity or luxuries typical of a resort, this is a classic, rustic, wilderness horse ranch. Scenic vistas and the only outfitting access to a 100,000 acre wilderness area make the long days worthwhile. We strive to make guests and employees feel like a part of our tight-knit ranch family.
If you are looking for a unique ranch experience in some of the most rugged and breathtaking mountains in the lower 48, the Allen's Diamond 4 Ranch may be a good fit for you. If you are a motivated self-starter who enjoys hard work and keeps a great attitude while leading people, you may be a good fit for us!
Ranch work can be physically and emotionally demanding. Please remember, working at a high-mountain wilderness guest ranch is not a summer vacation - it is strenuous, physical work requiring long hours. Ranching is a lifestyle, not a 9-5 job. Days are long, weather is severe, and socializing with guests is an all-day job - even if it's been an exhausting day. Employees need to maintain composure and a positive attitude even under the most difficult circumstances. Our staff consists of 10-15 employees who work and live together on a 24-hour basis, which isn't always easy. This type of communal living requires respect for co-workers and an easy-going, helpful attitude.
Our number one goal is to provide every client a safe vacation that exceeds their expectations. Applicants must be willing to go the extra mile. Our employees need to be efficient, knowledgeable, courteous, enthusiastic, and neat in personal appearance and habits.
Our Mission:
The Diamond 4 Ranch’s mission is to help our guests unplug from the stress of the modern lifestyle, and reconnect with the natural world, their loved ones, and their true self through horseback riding, hiking, fishing, hunting, and wellness-focused activities.
What We Do:
The Diamond 4 Ranch is located at 9,200 feet in Shoshone National Forest in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. Given our elevation, the ranch only hosts guests in the summer and fall seasons. We operate in a remote area and are mostly off-grid. We offer guests from around the country and the world several different types of trips. During the summer, guests can choose cabin-based vacations (Mountain Ranch Vacations or “MRV”s), drop camp services (Spot Pack Trips), Guided Pack Trips, and our Specialty Trips that focus on wellness and wilderness education. In the fall, we offer elk, pronghorn, deer, and moose hunts. Our summertime staff consists of about 12-14 wranglers, 1 cook and 1-2 cabin staff positions. We also hire one ranch hand/irrigator to live and work at our home ranch, which is just outside Lander.
WRANGLERS
Summer Season: early-June to August 31
Fall Season: September 1 - October 25
*Applicants that can work both summer and fall will be given hiring priority.
Qualifications
Have at least a high school diploma
A citizen of the United States or show work visa
Strong horse experience
Strong leadership and communication skills
First Aid and CPR Certification
Must be physically fit; this includes being able to carry 65lb hay bales and lift 70lb panniers onto a horse by yourself and having strong stamina to be physically active all day at high elevation.
Preference will be given to those who can drive a one-ton, manual transmission pickup pulling a loaded 20ft gooseneck horse trailer
Cooking experience is a plus!
Job Description
Wranglers start between 5:00-6:00am each day. A ranch setting, by nature, involves primitive living conditions and requires physical labor. Saddling up to 50 horses before breakfast, carrying water in buckets to heat for dishes (while on packtrips), cutting firewood with a handsaw or axe, getting out of bed at midnight to check nervous horses while camping, and all of the other hard work we do to please our guests seems minor compared to the experience of riding over rugged mountain passes and through glacial valleys leading a string of horses; not to mention the fun we have while doing it!
Wranglers are on the trail most days, but they are also required to take care of day-to-day ranch work like stacking hay, preparing for pack trips, fixing broken tack or machinery, chopping firewood, repairing cabins and corrals, and taking turns cooking, cleaning, and washing dishes. Your home is the ranch bunkhouse, but some nights are spent camping alongside horses during pack trips; these nights involve more work but are an incredible experience. When wranglers aren't working, they are socializing with the guests; most of the time, they're doing both!
RANCH COOK
Summer Season: mid-June to August 31 Fall Season: September 1 - October 25
*Applicants that can work both summer and fall will be given hiring priority.
Qualifications
Applicants must have at least a high school diploma
Must be a citizen of the United States or show work visa
Experience working with people
Cooking experience is necessary, but creativity and enthusiasm for the job are just as important.
Ability to run a clean kitchen and delegate responsibilities to cabin staff
Have a valid driver's license and ability to drive manual transmission.
First Aid and CPR Certification is a plus
Job Description
The ranch cook is responsible for providing three meals per day - 7:00am breakfast (with coffee by 5:30am), sack lunches, and 6:00pm dinner. Meals are hearty, ranch-style, with variety and excellent presentation. Cookies, juice, and coffee should be available throughout the day.
A fair amount of planning is involved in feeding the ranch guests and crew each day. The cook plans a weekly menu and grocery list for a once-a-week grocery shopping trip. There may be between 10-50 mouths to feed on any given day, and the menu must be planned so that fresh food doesn't spoil by the end of the week.
A clean kitchen is imperative, and the dining room should always be presentable. The ranch cook also needs the leadership capacity to delegate responsibilities to the cabin staff. These two should work as a team to present clean, welcoming facilities to our guests.
Welcoming guests is a daily task for which a friendly attitude is indispensable. Socializing with the guests during meals or after their rides is a must to make their dining and overall ranch experience the best it can be!
CABIN STAFF/COOK ASSISTANT
Dates of employment: mid-June to August 31 (or later into the fall season, if possible)
Qualifications
Applicants must have at least a high school diploma
Must be a citizen of the United States or show work visa
Must have valid driver’s license
Experience in customer service
Attention to detail, strong work ethic, willingness to do any task needed
Cooking experience
CPR and First Aid Certification is a plus
Ability to drive a manual transmission pickup is a very strong plus
Job Description
Cabin staff is responsible for the cleanliness and presentability of the ranch. This includes thorough cleaning of shower houses and outhouses on a daily basis, cleaning guest cabins between guests, and adding an extra touch to enhance presentation (wildflowers in the cabins when possible, etc.) and maintaining a great personality to contribute to a positive ranch atmosphere!
As cleaning takes only part of the day, your assistance is also needed in the kitchen. You will be under direct supervision of the ranch cook, and kitchen duties will include washing dishes, making sack lunches, cleaning the dining room, and helping prep meals. You will also be solely responsible for cooking about once per week while the ranch cook is in town buying groceries.
A large part of your responsibility is socializing with and taking care of guests, especially when they first arrive. A cheerful attitude and dedication to great service is the first thing our ranch guests should encounter when they arrive!
OTHER INFORMATION FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
Monthly salaries vary.
In addition to majestic vistas and an authentic mountain ranch experience, benefits of the job include worker's comp, tips, and free housing and meals. Returning employees get a raise each year.
To ensure the safest experience for our guests, the following will not be permitted:
- No dogs (Sorry! They present liability, wildlife harassment and cleanliness issues. Many folks ask to bring their dogs, and we need to stay consistent and fair to everyone. Thanks for your understanding.)
- No smoking or illegal drugs.
- No underage drinking or drinking on the job. We have a zero tolerance policy if drinking affects job performance.Those considering either the ranch cook or cabin staff position may consider applying with a friend (if you work well together) to share cooking and cabin duties.
HOW TO APPLY FOR EMPLOYMENT
Email your cover letter, resume, photo(s) of you on a horse, and two letters of recommendation to ian@diamond4ranch.com.
We also accept applications by mail and email. You can find the printable version of the application here. Please direct any questions to us by emailing Ian Zerbe at ian@diamond4ranch.com.