The Bar W Guest Ranch - Whitefish MT - Employment

What it is like to work at the Bar W

Dude and Guest Ranch Montana

The following is from our Program Manager, Kelsey.

Working at the Bar W is an experience you can’t get anywhere else. The season is 6 months long which in the middle and the end of that season seems like a long time. Working at the ranch, whether you are a wrangler, housekeeping, or in Guest relations like myself is exhausting in different ways. Though it is exhausting, long, and hard at times, what I am gaining in return is why I decided to stay longer than just one season and why others return season after season. Week after week, you connect with new guests and form connections with guests and staff that lasts a lifetime. The experience of that alone is rewarding to me. On top of that, I get to do fun activities like learning how to line dance, listen to good music and singers, explore Montana and its beautiful landscape, but at the end of the day, it is being a part of a family. I left my family coming over twenty hours away and to me, I gained a second family and a place I can grow my passion and grow as a person and a professional. Working at the Bar W can be stressful, and it is hard work, but at the end of the day I am grateful for the opportunities and connections I gain from working here as well.

 

The Bar W Guest Ranch - Core Values - Whitefish MT

We Create a Positive Environment:

Here at the Bar W Ranch we have fun, alot of fun; always striving to support one another, encourage everyone from the youngest to the oldest of our guests, laugh often and never take ourselves to seriously!


 

The Bar W Guest Ranch - Core Values - Whitefish MT

We Connect People:

Connecting people and building relationships, this is what we do and we love it! You will immediately feel a sense of belonging when you meet the Bar W family. Our staff is warm and welcoming ecouraging our guests to try new things and grow through fun experiences on the ranch.


 

The Bar W Guest Ranch - Core Values - Whitefish MT

We Do What We Say:

Our staff exudes integrity in everything they do, asking what is the right thing and being committed to the Win-Win in every situation. And they do that for every person on the ranch making sure to circle back constantly adjusting and making sure everyone feels valued, secure, safe and having the time of their lives.


 

Bar W Employment

Live, Work and Play!

We know that it can be difficult to work with the same people you live with and that disagreements, hurt feelings, and hormones can cause some drama along the way, but we believe that if each one of us works to create a positive environment, we can have a fun and successful season.

We also have a plan to ensure some activities and events that are just for the staff.  We are excited to amp up this portion of our programming.  Last year we went off-site and played laser tag in the woods, went out to dinner, and went to the corn-maze, and planned some on-site events.  We know that we need to take care of our staff, so our staff can take care of our guests!

 

2023 Employment Opportunities

Contact us at staffing@thebarw.com

Under the new Bar W ownership we are putting new measures in place this season to make sure that our staff is supported to the best of our ability:

  • We are hiring a full-time employee whose priority is to provide staff activities and recognition.
  •  We are also hiring almost double the staff we had last year so that the employees can enjoy the ranch and the surrounding area without having to work so many hours.
  • We have raised pay significantly…wages have increased an average of $5/hour since 2021.

 

House Keeping

Reports To: Housekeeping Manager
Pay Range: $14-$16

General Responsibilities:

The Housekeeping Staff are responsible for the day-to-day cleanliness of the ranch, including all guest rooms, glamping tents, common areas, bathrooms, porches and decks, and staff areas.

The Bar W prioritizes safety so operating and acting with safety as a priority is crucial.

Housekeeping Staff Duties:

  • Demonstrates a full commitment to providing the best possible experience for guests.
  • Example of duties, but not all-inclusive;
    •  Making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms, bathrooms and hallways, vacuuming, mopping, etc.
    • Laundry
    • Picking up trash on the grounds.
  • Portray a good example of team work to the guests and other employees.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Personal Requirements:

  • Good people and communication skills. We need you to communicate directions to staff, so that they can complete tasks properly and safely. We also need you to engage in conversations with the guests.
  • Maintain a presentable image around guests.
    Have a First Aid and CPR certification prior to arrival.
  • Be a self-starter and team player.
  • Live by the Bar W core values.

Equine

Reports To: Equine Director
Pay Range: $20-$26/hour

General Responsibilities:
Oversight of the Bar W guest package horse program on and off property.  The Bar W prioritizes safety so operating and acting with safety as a priority is crucial.

Responsibilities Include:

  • Lead, manage and hold accountable the members of your team.
  • In charge of the schedule and payroll approval for the guest ranch wranglers.
  • Assist in the hiring, termination, and performance evaluation of your team.
  • Assist the Equine Director to develop riding programs and then ensure proper implementation of the programs with your staff.
  • Oversee the guest sign-up of rides, lessons, and horse activities.
  • Keep safety at the forefront of horse-related policies and guidelines.
  • Care and feeding of all ranch animals and livestock.
  • Connect with guests to ensure they are getting the most out of their riding experience.
  • Inform the Herd Manager of needed feed.
  • Inform the Herd Manager issues with horses and tack.
  • Inform the Herd Manager if livestock needs veterinary, dental, farrier services.
  • Schedule wranglers to assist Herd Manager with dragging the arena, moving hay, etc.
  • Handle the logistics for guest package off-site equine activities (single-day cattle drives, full-day rides, etc.).
  • Follow the process and procedure for horse incidents.
  • Assign each guest a horse from the pool of horses available from the Herd Manager.
  • Be available to take rides out if needed.
  • Ensure fencing is in good condition.
  • Hook up trucks, inspect truck and trailer, and drive a truck and trailer.

Personal Requirements:

  • Good people and communication skills. We need you to communicate to guests how to ride safely and we need you to engage in conversations with the guests, both on and off the ride.
  • Basic computer skills – Excel, Word.
  • Maintain a presentable western cowhand image around guests.
  • Have a First Aid and CPR certification prior to arrival.
  • Be a confident rider and comfortable around horses. Have working knowledge of horses, tack, and ranch work.
  • Be a self-starter and team player who can lead by example and capable of providing clear direction to wranglers, staff, and guests.
  • Live by the Bar W core values.

Title: Wrangler
Reports To: Head Wrangler/Corral Boss or Trail Boss
Pay Range: $14-$16/hour

General Responsibilities:
Wranglers are committed to providing hospitality that goes above and beyond for the guests. They are also focused on providing safe and enjoyable rides and experiences for all of our guests. Wranglers will be responsible for the day-to-day care, organization, and cleanliness of the corral, horses, tack, equipment, arenas, catch pens, hay and manure clean up. The Bar W prioritizes safety so operating and acting with safety as a priority is crucial.

Wrangler Duties:

  • Demonstrate a full commitment to providing the best possible experience for both package guests and trail ride guests.
  • Follow the equine SOP’s
  • Catch, groom, feed, and saddle horses.
  • Be in control of your ride and staying alert for any safety issues.
  • Follow the process and procedure for horse incidents.
  • Portray a good example of teamwork to the guests and other team members.
  • Maintain a gentle, professional, and educational tone at all times when working with both animals and people.
  • Maintain fence and corrals.
  • Clean up residual hay and manure around the ranch.
  • Operate a tractor to feed.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Personal Requirements:

  • Live by the Bar W Core Values: 1. We Create a Positive Environment 2. We Connect People 3. We Do What We Say
  • Be a team player that lives these three virtues: Humble, Hungry, and Smart (emotional intelligence)
  • Good people and communication skills. We need you to communicate to guests how to ride safely and we need you to engage in conversations with the guests, both on and off the ride.
  • Maintain a presentable western cowhand image around guests.
  • Must be a confident and experienced rider. Comfortable riding many different types of horses at varying levels of training and able to ride at all four gaits. Must be physically fit enough to mount and dismount the horse multiple times a day without the use of a mounting aid.
  • Must be physically fit enough to handle all the daily tasks and chores
  • Have a First Aid and CPR certification prior to arrival.

Kitchen

Job details coming soon!

Job details coming soon!

Reports To: Head Chef/Cook
Pay Range: $14-$16

General Responsibilities:

The Kitchen Assistant works with the cooks to ensure the timely preparation of all meals as well of clean-up of all meals.

The Bar W prioritizes safety so operating and acting with safety as a priority is crucial.

Kitchen Assistant Duties:

  • Demonstrates a full commitment to providing the best possible experience for guests.
  • Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
  • Assist the cooks with food preparation and culinary activities.
  • Responsible for front of house set up and take down.
  • Responsible for back of house cleaning (dishes, kitchen areas).
  • Assist with the preparation, set up and take down of outdoor dining experiences.
  • Portray a good example of team work to the guests and other employees.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Personal Requirements:

  • Self-starter who can lead by example.
  • Ability to handle heavy objects and deliveries.
  • Ability to stoop, bend, squat, twist, reach repeatedly without restriction.
  • Must have good people and communication skills. We also need you to engage in conversations with the guests.
  • Maintain presentable image in the kitchen and around guests.
  • Have a first aid and CPR certification.
  • Must have food safety/handling certification.
  • Live by the Bar W core values.

Maintenance

Reports To: Maintenance Manager
Pay Range: $14-$16

General Responsibilities:

Ensure that the ranch’s image is maintained as a high quality, professional, guest focused facility as seen through the eyes of the guests. Responsible for the day-to-day care, organization, and cleanliness of the vehicles, grounds, shop, all buildings structures, and systems.

The Bar W prioritizes safety so operating and acting with safety as a first priority is crucial.

Responsibilities Include:

  • Lawn care, mowing, trimming, and watering
  • Fence repair and maintenance
  • Equipment repair and maintenance
  • Carpentry, both building and repair work
  • Plumbing repair and maintenance
  • Sprinkler system operation, repair, and maintenance
  • Operating tractor to move materials, cut brush and level terrain
  • Hooking up, inspecting, and driving a truck and trailer
  • Other duties as assigned

Personal Requirements:

  • Have good communication skills
  • Ability to lift objects weighing 100 lbs.
  • Ability to stoop, bend, squat, twist, reach repeatedly without restriction
  • Be flexible in response to current and emergency situations and to shifts in responsibilities and assignments.
  • Problem solving skills
  • Have a First-Aid and CPR certification.
  • Maintain a presentable image around guests.
  • Self-starter and team player
  • Live by the Bar W core values.

Guest & Staff Relations

Title: Activities Coordinator
Reports To: Program Director
Pay Range: $16-18/hour

General Responsibilities:
This role priorities showing guests hospitality that goes above and beyond. This person will partner with the Ranch Relations Coordinator to provide ranch activities, programming, and shuttle services. The Activities Coordinator helps the Program Director in leading, managing, and holding the guest relations team accountable.

The Bar W prioritizes safety so operating and acting with safety as a priority is crucial.

Responsibilities Include:

  • Report to the Program Director about anything related to guest hospitality, ranch activities, and programs
  • Oversee and help with set up, running activities and programs, break down and clean up
  • Oversee that all activities and shuttles are a safe and positive experience for guests
  • Maintain a thorough inventory and inspection of all items used for Ranch Activities
  • Model and enforce being a team player
  • Keep team on task
  • Other duties as needed.

Personal Requirements:

  • Live by the Bar W Core Values 1. We Create a Positive Environment 2. We Connect People. 3. We Do What We Say
  • Live by the team player virtues: Humble, Hungry, and Smart (emotional intelligence)
  • Good people and communication skills to guests and staff
  • Maintain a presentable image around guests and staff
  • Have a First Aid and CPR certification prior to arrival

Title: Babysitter/Kids Counselor
Reports To: Program Director
Pay Range: $14-$16/hour

General Responsibilities:
Babysit staff kids but not limited to just babysitting babies and toddlers. This role may also entail working with ranch guests and their children. This means providing our guests with hospitality that goes above and beyond. Staff in this role is responsible for hosting our guests, operating our non-horse activities, and providing a safe and fun environment for the children.

The Bar W prioritizes safety so operating and acting with safety as a priority is crucial.

Responsibilities Include:

  • Entertain, supervise, feed, and change diapers
  • Follow Standard Operating Procedures for all non-horse activities and programs.
  • Help to set-up, execute, and clean up each activity.
  • Facilitate a safe and positive guest experience for the kids.
  • Encourage kids to join activities.
  • Help other departments during non-active times.
  • Help to maintain and clean activity/recreation materials and keep storage room clean and organized.
  • Communicate any parent or kids needs and issues to the Program Director or Kids Coordinator
  • Other duties as assigned.

Personal Requirements:

  • Live by the Bar W Core Values: 1. We Create a Positive Environment 2. We Connect People 3. We Do What We Say.
  • Live as a team player with the following virtues; Humble, Hungry, and Smart (emotional intelligence).
  • Must have excellent people and communication skills.
  • Maintain presentable image around guests.
  • Have a first aid and CPR certification.

 

Bar W Guest Ranch for Kids

Employee Lodging Gallery

Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT
Family Week at the Bar W Guest Ranch Whitefish MT

The Bar W Guest Ranch

2875 Highway 93 West
Whitefish MT 59937

Phone: (406) 863-9099
 

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The Bar W Guest Ranch - Whitefish Montana - Dude Vacation Ranch