Position Summary:

Job Description:

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Complete daily tasks as assigned related to the daily operations of ranching
• Work as part of a team including permanent staff and additional apprentices.
• Tasks may include setting up side-roll and flood irrigation running and trouble-shooting irrigation; calving assessing health giving injections feeding branding gathering sorting and working cows; fence installation and repair; building maintenance; marketing and delivering meat products
• Assist with stocking Country Store and preparing farmers market meat products
• Lead volunteer groups in field work if needed.
• Learn and operate College ATV and side by side safely
• Operate College trucks safely (Must become an authorized driver with Fort Lewis College which requires a clean driving record.)
• Apprentices will take an on-site course (Working with Livestock) on Tuesdays from 3-5 pm from May 19th to June 26th
• Maintains knowledge and awareness of digital accessibility including the American with Disabilities Act and Section 508.
• Produces and remediates digitally accessible materials in accordance with FLC standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Education Specialized Skills and Experience:

• One or more years previous farming experience
• Successful previous experiences working collaboratively as part of a team
• Clean driving record
• Ease with email text and phone calls as forms of team communication
• Uses email for professional communication
• Desire to ranch in subsequent years
• Desire to teach and share farming knowledge

Reports To / Supervisory Responsibility:

Cattle and Hay Operations Coordinator and Director Old Fort at Hesperus

Work Environment:

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

• Work is primarily conducted outside in all weather.
• Work may occur in heat cold snow rain wind and other extreme weather conditions.
• Work may occur adjacent to tractors or require use of small machines (moderate noise).
• Work is primarily solitary (especially irrigation) once trained.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the 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 walk stand sit; talk hear and use hands and fingers to perform fine motor functions such as gripping typing texting and operating tools.
• The employee is regularly required to lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• On a daily basis the ranching apprentice must perform actions such as walking lifting stooping kneeling crouching and reaching and additional actions as needed.

Travel:

Less than 5% of travel is expected for this position.

FLSA Status/ Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Exempt from State Classified System Paid Hourly
• Part time Average of 25 hours/week ; Hours per week during training and shoulder seasons may be less than 25 while during peak irrigation season branding and breeding may be more than 25.
• Typical Work hours: M-F 8-5 p.m. with 1 hour unpaid lunch break; Will also include rotating evenings weekends and holidays.
• Apprentices will take an on-site course (Working with Livestock) on Tuesdays from 3-5 pm from May 20th to June 26th
• Temporary
• April through October (Approximately 26 weeks)
• Ranching Apprentice work may include evenings and weekends.
• Starting in April apprentices will be in training with direct supervision; Position will become more independent as season progresses.
• In June we will brand calves; synchronize and breed cows; Apprentices must be available June 2-20th
• During peak irrigation season water must be changed every 12 hours; Apprentices will develop daily schedule to accommodate this requirement.
• Position will complete at end of October once calves are weaned and second cutting of hay is complete.

Compensation

The salary for this position is $18.00/hour.

Additional living stipends are available from the Native American Agricultural Fund Grant.

Application Process
A complete application packet includes:

• Cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for the position
• Resume
• Names and contact information for three current professional references

All applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. 2/16/2026

About Fort Lewis College:

On a sage-brushed mesa overlooking downtown Durango and the La Plata Mountains Fort Lewis College is Southwest Colorados premier public undergraduate research institution. With more than half of the 3300 students identifying as people of color FLCs academic programming and campus life thrive on nurturing safe diverse spaces for intellectual exploration and helping people achieve their career goals. A Native American-serving Non-Tribal Institution FLC is committed to promoting economic development in neighboring tribal communities and connecting students with the education they need to be the change in the world they want to see. Degree programs span the arts business education health sciences humanities and social and natural sciences. Coursework builds on the natural cultural and historical resources found around the Four Corners region. Students work closely with faculty on research projects with real-world implications. Like the mountain town it resides in FLC promotes a culture of work-life balance for students faculty and staff. Skyhawks enjoy unparalleled access to a healthy outdoor lifestyle thanks to 300 days of sunshine a year and more than 300 miles of hiking and biking trails in and around Durango

Notice to Prospective Employees:
The Fort Lewis College is required by theCleryAct of 1990 to notify prospective employees current employees students and applicants where to access our Campus Security Report. The report is updated and published annually in accordance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 Federal Student Right-to-Know the Federal Drug-free Schools and Campuses Act of 1989. This report contains information about:

• Fort Lewis Colleges alcohol and other drug policy

• Sexual assault policy

• Campus security policies

• Campus/community resources

• The Colorado Riot Offense Statute restriction on enrollment

• Where to find registered sex offender information

• Crime statistics for the previous three calendar years

• Reporting crimes

The Campus Security Report can be accessed in two ways:
By going to the internet website at: Fort Lewis College Student Affairs Office will also provide a paper copy of the annual security report upon request. You can reach them at .

Equal Opportunity
Fort Lewis College does not discriminate on the basis of race age color religion national origin sex* disability sexual orientation gender identity gender expression family or domestic status political beliefs veteran status pregnancy or genetic information. Accordingly equal opportunity for employment shall be extended to all persons. The College shall promote equal opportunity equal treatment and affirmative action efforts to increase the diversity of students faculty and staff. The College is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. To file a report get resources read policies or make an appointment See Questions

Office of Compliance and Community Standards
David Pirrone Director of Compliance
210 Berndt Hall
1000 Rim Drive
Durango Colorado 81301

Questions about Title IX sex discrimination
Office of the Title IX Coordinator
Madeleine Gillman Assistant Director of Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
210 Berndt Hall
1000 Rim Drive
Durango Colorado 81301

Information about Fort Lewis Colleges alcohol and drug policy sexual assault policy campus security policies campus crime statistics fire safety procedures and fire statistics and campus/community resources can be found in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Hard copies are available upon request.

* Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Fort Lewis College may be directed to FLCs Title IX Coordinator and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education.

ADAA Accommodations
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation please contact Kristin Polens by phone or email at least five business days before the assessment date to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information including medical documentation regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.