Range Cowboy (ZX Ranch)

Summary

This position is a skilled, hands‑on ranch role requiring extensive horseback experience, strong livestock‑handling abilities, and the capacity to work confidently with young horses. The ideal candidate is dependable, observant, and capable of managing cattle across large rangeland environments while supporting daily ranch operations with professionalism and care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This is not an entry‑level position. Prior experience is required. Candidates must be capable of riding young horses and shoeing horses. This role involves daily horseback work and requires strong livestock‑handling skills.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Safely identifying and responding to sick, injured, or stressed animals.
• Quietly and competently pulling cattle from pens for treatment.
• Gathering cattle across some of the largest ranges and pastures in Oregon.
• Assisting with calving operations as needed.
• Supplementing feed during winter months.
• Assisting with horse training and providing daily horse care, including shoeing, doctoring, feeding, and grooming.
• Repairing and maintaining pasture and range fences.
• Following established medical treatment plans under the direction of the Staff Veterinarian and/or Crew Boss.
• Assisting with cattle processing and shipping, including sorting, branding, vaccinating, worming, and tagging.
• Moving cattle between pastures as directed by the Crew Boss.
• Performing additional duties as assigned.

Successful candidates must be able to follow instructions, work independently, and collaborate effectively with a crew.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Experience

• Solid working knowledge of animal health, cattle behavior, and livestock conditions, typically gained through a minimum of four years of related experience and/or training.
• This is not an entry‑level cowboy position; candidates must bring a well‑developed skill set built through extensive hands‑on experience in the field.
• Applicants should demonstrate proven competency in all aspects of cattle handling, horse work, and ranch operations.

Language Skills

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. 
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's. 
• Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. 
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Additional Requirements, Skills & Abilities

• Must be a licensed driver of single axle vehicles.
• Ability to saddle and ride young horses. 
• Must provide own tack.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to mount and unmount horse multiple times a day and sit in a saddle for long periods of time.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and reach with hands and arms. 
• The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; and use hands/fingers to handle, manipulate, or feel objects, tools, or controls. 
• The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. 
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, color vision, and depth perception.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions and is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles. 
• The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.