Job Description
About Mountain Sky Guest Ranch
Just 30 scenic miles north of Yellowstone National Park in Montana’s beautiful Paradise Valley, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch is the perfect place for the outdoor enthusiast. Horseback riders, hikers, mountain bikers, kayakers, fly-fisher folk, whitewater rafters, rock climbers and naturalists all find themselves drawn here season after season, along with the individuals who simply seek to live and work in a peaceful mountain setting in the heart of Yellowstone Country.
While the ranch opens May 5 and closes at the end of October, many of our 100+ staff members work during our family season, which runs early-June through August. If you are a seasonal worker we encourage you to apply early as we are always looking for individuals who can work our expanding 6 month season. We have many positions available for those college students and others who are looking for 3 months of summer work, or a possible internship.
The Employee Experience
This is so much more than a job.
During the interview process, we try our best to describe the environment, the job, and the connections that staff form with guests, with their coworkers and with nature. Despite our best efforts, however, we eventually learn that this experience goes far beyond what our words can convey.
While you can read on in greater detail below, we'll summarize the experience with this: You will work hard, alongside fellow staff and the management team, as we tirelessly strive to provide our guests with the most incredible experience possible; you will play hard, getting to experience the endless recreational opportunities and natural wonders that Yellowstone country has to offer; and you will experience all of this with a group of adventurous, hard-working, personable and fun-loving people that will become lifelong friends.
Ideal Candidate
Last season, 80% of our families chose to re-book at the end of their stay, and staff interaction with our guests is the single most important ingredient to our success. We’re looking for people who understand the importance of a friendly smile and a kind word. Our guests aren’t here to be served by a staff that is ‘seen but not heard’… they want to hear your story, share a laugh, and experience true western hospitality at its finest.
Our staff members are personable, adventurous, hard-working, honest, and are willing to pitch in when they see that a helping hand is needed. Finally, we’re looking for people with a desire and a willingness to learn. Rather than departmentalize, we give our entry-level Guest Services staff the opportunity to work a variety of jobs in order to gain a better understanding of the operation as a whole and to better prepare them for whatever may come in the future..
Room and Board
Room and board is provided to all Mountain Sky staff members. Staff accommodations are mostly communal (shared cabins) with private accommodations reserved for managers, returning senior employees or elder staff members. Mountain Sky provides linens, comforters, pillows, and towels for staff members. There is sufficient storage space on the ranch for personal belongings. There are two staff lodges on the ranch which provide ample space for indoor recreation, along with a place to do laundry. Staff members are allowed to respectfully use all ranch facilities including our golf course, workout facility, sauna and steam room, swimming pool, and more.
Staff meals are provided 3 times per day in our staff dining room. Our hearty staff buffets provide a wide variety of options, and a refrigerator is kept fully stocked with food in the staff dining area for snacks, missed meals, and for the storage of specialty food items that staff members may purchase if they have strict dietary guidelines.
Employee Perks
Not only do employees have access to the full facility, but they are also encouraged to participate in guest activities free of charge – so long as there is availability. Horseback rides, guided hikes, fly-fishing instruction, golf and whitewater rafting trips are just a few of the activities you’ll have the opportunity to experience.
A competitive seasonal salary, free room and board, a beautiful mountain environment, access to Yellowstone National Park, use of our world-class facilities and activities, and the opportunity to mingle with our amazing guests and staff from all over the world… who could ask for anything more? The friendships you make, the skills you learn, and the memories you’ll form will last you a lifetime.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Many staff members staying for the 3 month summer season choose to fly to Montana. The closest airport to Mountain Sky is in Bozeman, Montana (BZN), and we will provide ground transportation from the Bozeman airport to Mountain Sky once we have your flight details.
If you are staying with us for the entire six months, or want a bit more independence to explore the area, bringing a car to the ranch is the best option. Many staff carpool to the ranch from all over the country – a great way to get to know your co-workers while saving some gas money!
For Fun
There are plenty of opportunities for adventure in the heart of Yellowstone Country. The Gallatin National Forest, Yellowstone National Park, the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains, the Crazy Mountains, the Bridger Mountains, and the Gallatin Canyon area all provide excellent opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, and camping. Big Creek and the mighty Yellowstone River offer fishing, rafting, and kayaking opportunities.
Livingston is a 45-minute drive and offers a quaint downtown with great restaurants and a vibrant artistic community. Bozeman is an hour's drive and is home to Montana State University and the Museum of the Rockies, as well as a great variety of coffee shops, stores, restaurants, and bars. Local haunts like the Pine Creek Lodge, The Old Saloon in Emigrant and Chico Hot Springs are always staff favorites and feature live music and great food without the long drive.
Job Description
The AMB West Challenge Course located on Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Emigrant, Montana was developed in 2015 to serve the needs of the guest ranch and its surrounding community. Built by Project Adventure, the Challenge Course was designed to support independent exploration with a continuous belay aerial course, as well as experiential learning and teambuilding with 8 other high ropes elements and 4 low ropes elements. Our staff create experiences that cater to the needs of each group it serves. Whether it’s leadership teams from West Creek Ranch looking for connection, guests from Mountain Sky seeking adventure or local non-profits learning about teamwork, we move through the day with safety and fun as our top priorities.
The Foundation’s Montana team is looking for a part-time, seasonal, Challenge Course Community Facilitator to support these efforts. As a key member of the Challenge Course team Community Facilitators will assist in operations of the AMB West Challenge Course for local non-profit partners and West Creek Ranch.
About the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation:
A renowned entrepreneur and co-founder of The Home Depot, Arthur M. Blank is now recognized for his values-based Blank Family of Businesses (BFOB) and as one of America’s leading philanthropists through the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. All his industry-leading businesses, including the foundation, operate on six core values: Put People First, Listen and Respond, Include Everyone, Innovate Continuously, Lead by Example and Give Back to Others.
After over 25 years and over $1 billion in giving, the foundation has committed to significantly escalating the impact of its philanthropy over the next 10+ years.
The foundation works across various programmatic areas, including Youth Development, Democracy, Environment, Atlanta’s Westside, and Mental Health and Well Being. The foundation also manages a large portfolio of founder-led initiatives, supporting the causes, institutions and relationships our founder holds dear.
About the Founder Initiatives work and team:
The foundation oversees a large portfolio of Founder Initiatives projects, programs, and grants. These efforts include West Creek Ranch, Basecamp and Challenge Course programming in Montana where this role is based.
This role is responsible for operation and implementation of Challenge Course activities including daily inspections, course set up and breakdown, and Challenge Course facilitation. The Community facilitator will deliver activities that are safe, fun, and appropriate to participants. A cite-specific Level One training course will be provided in early May to teach standard and local operations of the Challenge Course, completion and certification from this course are required to facilitate. Depending on availability and skillset this position may assist in group check-in and oversite at our Basecamp facility, as well as turning over of the property in between groups.
The schedule is part-time, seasonal May through Mid-October with varying work weeks. Weekend availability necessary.
Key Responsibilities:
- Follow standard and local operating procedures for all aspects of the Challenge Course
- Follow orientation and training on Local Operating Procedures provided during level one training
- Follow emergency response procedures, first aid & AED (automated external defibrillator)
- Appropriately use equipment, assist in maintaining accurate inventories, and communicating the need to resupply
- Opportunities may be provided to attend (beyond technical Challenge Course training) for facilitators that strengthen the guest experience and equip facilitators with tools to interact with diverse individuals (examples: ACEs (adverse childhood experiences), trauma-informed, social emotional learning approaches, etc.)
- Perform day-to-day documentation of inspection and daily operations
- Assist in design of Challenge Course use aligned with the purpose of the groups visit
- Lead debriefs and work with other staff to create a safe, fun and enjoyable workplace
- Check-in and Turnover of Basecamp facilities in between guest groups on an as needed basis
- Maintain communication and support for Basecamp user groups while they are on-site, ensuring a high-quality experience
Qualifications
- Documented Challenge Course experience, including training and supervising staff (Preferred)
- CPR/First Aid/AED (minimum), or Wilderness First Responder or EMT
- Ability to travel to/from Challenge Course and Basecamp during the season (this is an in-person position)
- 18 years of age
- Experience with managing risk in an outdoor environment
- Be in excellent physical health with the ability to handle physical aspects of operating equipment, climbing to height, conducting safety rescues and inspections, assisting participants and ability to stand, sit, walk, lift heavy equipment, etc. up to 8 hours/shift
- Ability to work outdoors in variable weather conditions
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekdays, weekends,
Required Skills
- Service oriented & dependable
- Able to work with others in a collaborative spirit & be team oriented
- Comfortable instructing groups of 5 to 30 people
- Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences
- Great attention to detail
- Ability to work independently
- Interest in working in a remote setting
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including weekdays, weekends, holidays in varying weather conditions