Careers

The Head Housekeeper is responsible for all housekeeping duties at the ranch and helps ensure that guest spaces and common areas are clean, comfortable, and ready each day. This role is hands-on and detail-oriented. On high-turnover days, the Head Housekeeper helps organize and keep housekeeping tasks moving smoothly while working alongside 2–3 other team members.

General Responsibilities

• Housekeeping & Cleaning
• Clean and maintain all guest rooms, cabins, and shared spaces
• Keep common areas (lodge, bathrooms, porches, hallways, etc.) tidy and guest-ready
• Complete full room turnovers between guests, including detailed cleaning
• Assist with breakfast setup and light morning lodge duties as needed
• Laundry & Supplies
• Handle daily laundry for linens and towels
• Fold, organize, and restock clean linens
• Help monitor cleaning and laundry supplies and communicate needs
• Team Coordination (Hands-On)
• Work alongside other housekeeping staff on busy turnover days
• Help communicate daily priorities and keep tasks moving efficiently
• Step in wherever needed to ensure rooms are ready on time
• Guest Interaction
• Occasionally interact with guests in a friendly and professional manner
• Communicate any guest needs or concerns to management

Schedule

• Monday–Thursday: 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Hours may adjust slightly during peak season or heavy turnover days

Characteristics of a Good Candidate 

• Takes pride in keeping spaces clean, organized, and welcoming
• Willing to help wherever needed and follow tasks through to completion
• Flexible and comfortable in a fast-paced, physical work environment
• Communicates clearly with coworkers and guests
• Reliable, self-motivated, and detail-oriented

General Responsibilities

Maintenance, Lawns, and Irrigation

This position supports the daily operation of the ranch through hands-on maintenance, lawn care, and irrigation work. The right person enjoys working independently, takes pride in keeping things running smoothly, and understands that good ranch operations happen behind the scenes.

This is a varied, physical role that combines mechanical upkeep, outdoor work, and seasonal priorities.

Duties of a Maintenance Person

Ranch Maintenance

• Maintain and repair multiple buildings around the ranch
• Perform routine vehicle and equipment maintenance
• Check oil and fluids on ranch vehicles, buggies, and side-by-sides
• Change oil and assist with basic mechanical upkeep

Lawns & Grounds

• Lawn care for Upper Canyon Outfitters and three nearby ranch lawns
• Watering and care of flower beds and landscaped areas
• Coordinate mowing support with other ranch staff

Irrigation

• Learn and manage the ranch’s ditch irrigation system
• Move dams twice daily to water UCO fields
• Monitor water flow and communicate any issues

Equipment & Skills

• Basic carpentry and repair projects
• Drive truck and trailer
• Operate skid steer and tractor (or willingness to learn)

Additional Tasks

• Other ranch-related maintenance tasks as needed, depending on season and priorities

Schedule

• Monday – Friday

Characteristics of a Strong Candidate

• Has a solid base knowledge of general maintenance and equipment use
• Physically capable of working outdoors, lifting heavy items, and staying active throughout the day
• Comfortable working independently and identifying what needs to be done
• Able to create and follow a maintenance schedule for vehicles and equipment
• Reliable, observant, and follows tasks through to completion
• Will be working closely with Jake McDonald and should communicate clearly and respectfully

Compensation

• Pay DOE
• Housing and meals provided

General Responsibilities

This person will take out 4×4 tours, hiking tours, teach intro to fly fishing class to beginner anglers, and provide transport for Bill Tate during History tour.  When tours are not going out, this person will be asked to help around the ranch.  

Tour Guide Duties

• Provide safe, fun excursions for guests
• Take the side-by-sides out for tours.  This person will be the only one that drives the side by side (not guests)
• Lead safe, fun appropriate level hikes for guests
• Teach a beginner fly fishing class.  This will be for people that have never fly fished and would like to learn the basics
• Help with dinner service 1 to 2 nights a week
• Must be able to operate side-by-sides
• Must know or be willing to learn basic maintenance of side by sides
  • Checking oil, tires, and filling with fuel
• On days that tours are not going out, must be willing to help with other jobs such as maintenance, lawn, and other duties as assigned

Schedule

• Sunday – Thursday
  • 7 am until done

Characteristics of a Good Candidate 

• Be committed to the safety of self and guests on all tours
• Willingness to learn
  •  We will train you to know the area and different access points, but this person will have to be able and prepared to lead tours through the mountains by themselves.  
• Ability to understand and read a map
  • Most guides here use onX maps, an understanding of this or something similar would be beneficial
• Understand or be willing to learn how to use Garmin for communication purposes
• Willingness to help other UCO team members
• High-level communication skills – we expect this person to be able to engage in conversations with guests.  This person will have to help guests feel comfortable on the different tours.

General Responsibilities

The kitchen team is extremely important to UCO. We cannot control the weather or water conditions, but we can always be sure to provide wonderful service and delicious meals. The person that takes this position will be in charge of the kitchen.  They will be tasked with creating a menu, meal planning, acquiring food, preparation of assigned meals, organizing of kitchen team, and cleanliness of kitchen and storage areas. While kitchen skills will be very important in this position, we will hold leadership and people skills to as high of a priority.

Kitchen Lead Duties

• Create the dinner menu
  • This person will be in charge of the preparation and service of dinner
  • A more comprehensive breakdown of this can be provided upon request
• Oversee the breakfast and lunch menu
  • This person will manage the breakfast and lunch cook
• Order all supplies, food items
  • Research best option for food/product purchases 
  • A thorough, weekly inventory of all food items/paper products at the ranch
  • Order all food items/paper products
  • Be sure to be able to find a way to order/purchase fresh fruit and veggies for each week
    • We will no longer be serving canned veggies or fruit
• Help create a positive work environment
  • This position will be in a lead position and will be expected to have clear, positive communication with the other UCO staff
• Alternate meal options to accommodate any dietary needs should be done the week before guest arrival
• Track food costs
• Oversee cleanliness of kitchen and service area
• Oversee kitchen team in preparation and service of meals

Schedule

• Sunday – Thursday
  • Salaried – but hours are around 11 – close

Characteristics of a Good Candidate 

• Strong Leadership Abilities – the person that fills this position will be in charge of creating a positive working environment that allows for hard work and accomplishment by all involved.  We are looking for an inclusive leader.
• Communication Skills – this person will have to be able to communicate with staff, guests and other food-related business.  It will be important that messages are clear and to the point.  We work hard to treat all our staff with respect and we expect our management team to do the same.
• Ability to take initiative – There are a lot of moving parts at UCO and we need the leader of each department to be able to make decisions and execute work without a ton of direction or oversight from the head managers.  That being said, we like to place trust in the decisions this person will make and allow them to decide on many aspects of running the kitchen.
• Flexibility – While we work hard to be as organized as possible, people on vacations can change their mind from time to time.  We want the person in this position to know that we do our best to provide consistency for them, but there are times that dinner count will change by two or three.
• Experience – At least 5 years professional kitchen experience

General Responsibilities

This person will be in charge of most breakfasts and lunch and one dinner a week. This position will require initiative and accountability as they will be in charge of production and service of their meal. They will also help the Kitchen Lead in preparation, cleanliness and other kitchen related responsibilities.

Breakfast/Lunch Chef Duties

• Creating a breakfast and lunch menu
  • This will be in collaboration with the kitchen lead
• Executing the breakfast and lunch menu Sunday through Wednesday
• Prepping food for Kitchen Lead
• Helping manage kitchen
• Prepping and cooking Dinner on Saturdays
• Other duties as assigned in the kitchen

Schedule

• Sunday – Wednesday
  • 6:30 am – 2:30 pm
• Saturday
  • 11 am – 8 pm

Characteristics of a Good Candidate 

• Willing to help in all aspects of kitchen work
• Strong Leadership Abilities – the person that fills this position will be in charge of creating a positive working environment that allows for hard work and accomplishment by all involved.  We are looking for an inclusive leader.
• Communication Skills – this person will have to be able to communicate with staff, guests and other food related business.  It will be important that messages are clear and to the point.  We work hard to treat all our staff with respect and we expect our management team to do the same.
• Ability to take initiative – There are a lot of moving parts at UCO and we need the leader of each department to be able to make decisions and execute work without a ton of direction or oversight from the head managers.  That being said, we like to place trust in the decisions this person will make and allow them to decide on many aspects of running the kitchen.
• Flexibility – While we work hard to be as organized as possible, people on vacations can change their mind from time to time.  We want the person in this position to know that we do our best to provide consistency for them, but there are times the dinner count will change by two or three.

Key Responsibilities

Primary Duties:

• Assist the Kitchen Lead with food preparation for dinners, including chopping, mixing, and other prep tasks.
• Take the lead on breakfast and lunch preparation and service on Thursdays and Fridays, ensuring high-quality meals for our guests.
• Help with baking and food prep tasks throughout the week.
• Ensure the kitchen remains clean, organized, and stocked, adhering to food safety and cleanliness standards.
• Serve dinners on Saturday through Monday, engaging with guests in a professional and friendly manner.
• Clean up after lunch and dinner services, including washing dishes, wiping down surfaces, and organizing the kitchen for the next shift.
• Assist with food storage tasks, such as proper labeling, cooling, and stocking supplies.
• Perform other kitchen-related duties as assigned to support the smooth operation of the ranch.

Schedule

• Workdays: Thursday through Monday
• Days Off: Tuesday and Wednesday
• Hours:
  • Saturday to Monday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM, assisting the chef with lunch clean-up and dinner service.
  • Thursday and Friday: Breakfast and lunch shifts, including baking, prep, and service duties.

Flexibility is required, as duties may vary based on the ranch’s needs.

Qualifications

• Proven kitchen and food service experience, preferably in a fast-paced, guest-focused environment.
• Strong knowledge of food preparation, safety, and sanitation standards.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally and warmly with guests during meal service.
• Attention to detail and the ability to maintain a clean and organized workspace.
• A strong work ethic and ability to complete tasks efficiently and to a high standard.
• Flexibility to handle varied tasks and work in a dynamic environment.
• Willingness to collaborate as part of a team and adapt to the ranch’s daily needs.

Characteristics of a Successful Candidate

• A positive and helpful attitude, willing to step in wherever needed.
• Strong sense of teamwork and collaboration.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Enthusiasm for delivering high-quality meals and a memorable guest experience.

What We Offer

• The chance to work in a stunning, remote ranch setting surrounded by Montana’s natural beauty.
• Opportunities to join ranch activities during your days off, such as trail rides or fishing (subject to availability).
• Housing may be available.
• Competitive pay based on experience.

Duties of Office Assistant 

• Greet clients in a friendly, efficient manner
• Check guests in and out
• Help with any questions about the ranch
• Maintain and sell store inventory
• Keep office clean
• Data entry
• Answering phones and emails
• Help with dinner service 2-3 nights a week
• Help with housekeeping on Fridays
• Other duties as assigned
• Run Social Media – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
• Collect and organize photos from guides

Schedule

• Monday – Thursday (Times TDB)
• Friday (7 am – 8:30 am Office, 8:30 am – 3 pm Housekeeping)

Characteristics of a Good Candidate 

• Effective communication skills. We will want this person to be able to communicate clearly and in a friendly manner with our guests and staff team. Communication will be verbal and written.
• Initiative. This person will have to be a self-starter that is responsible to keep themselves busy.
• Multitasker. This job can have 100 things happening at once!  This person will have to be able to be flexible and open to interruptions.  
• Growth mindset. This person will have to be able to learn a number of new systems and facts about uco.
• Be a team player. This person will be a contact point for both staff and guests and they will have to support fellow staff members with pertinent information.