Lodge Manager / Head Of Hospitality Sundance Trail Ranch

This is a year-round role, living on-site in what we genuinely think is paradise. And yes, we know every ranch says that. But this place is different. Well I really think it is! You’ll live on the ranch, away from the main guest lodge, in a home shared with our Ranch Ambassador, Sam. Close enough to be part of the rhythm. Far enough away that when you’re off duty, you can actually relax. The views from this spot are spectacular. Morning coffee in the swing chair at sunrise is something special. Riding or hiking into the forest on your days off — that’s part of the package. You’ll receive three meals a day when the kitchen is running , and staff eat the same food as guests. No sad staff pasta while guests get the good stuff. We sit with guests and enjoy connecting with them, and each other, over good quality food. We are working toward a food program that is non‑GMO and organic wherever possible. Your home also has a full kitchen, so when you want your own space, your own rhythm, or just a quiet night with something simple, you’ve got that too. This is a year-round leadership position, not a short seasonal fling. You’ll help shape the lodge experience through summer dude ranch season, shoulder-season stays, retreats, events, and the quieter months when the ranch gets even more beautiful in a different way. And because this role matters commercially, the package includes a performance incentive tied to ranch profitability. Translation: when the ranch wins, you share in the upside. Not in a vague “we’re all family here” kind of way. In a real, measurable, grown‑up way. WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT THIS ROLE. The moment guests step out of the car and realise they can finally exhale. They’ve driven up from Denver, Fort Collins, flown from Texas, California, or somewhere else that has been running them hard. Kids are buzzing. Parents are tired. Bags are everywhere. Someone forgot a jacket. Someone is nervous about riding. Someone is already quietly hoping this week gives their family something they haven’t had in a while — space, connection, fresh air, and a reason to put the phone down. And that first moment matters. The Lodge Manager owns it. You are the person who makes the lodge feel calm, cared for, ready, and personal. You make sure rooms feel welcoming, common spaces feel warm, arrivals feel hosted, and the team knows what needs to happen before a guest ever has to ask. This is not just housekeeping. This is not just front desk. This is not standing behind a counter waiting for problems. This is operational hospitality, ranch-style. And let’s be clear: operational hospitality means you can roll up your sleeves and do the work too. When the seasonal housekeepers go home, you don’t stand around wondering who is going to reset the rooms. You are able to clean cabins, strip beds, make beds properly, restock bathrooms, reset common areas, carry linens, wipe surfaces, notice smells, fix the small things, and set the standard with a smile. Not because you are “just housekeeping.” Because at STR, how a room feels when a guest walks in is part of the experience. You lead the standard by being able to do the standard. You’ll also support the kitchen when needed. That might mean helping with food prep, dishes, service flow, dining room reset, guest meals, prep support, or jumping in when the team needs another pair of capable hands. No drama. No ego. No “that’s not my job.” This is a ranch. Everyone helps make the experience work. THE ROLE. Year‑round Lodge Manager at Colorado’s smallest dude ranch, with 24 guests max , tucked into 138 acres at 8,000 ft and surrounded by 800,000+ acres of Roosevelt National Forest. You oversee the daily rhythm of the lodge — guest arrivals and departures, housekeeping standards, lodge presentation, supply management, staff coordination, guest communication, service recovery, and the thousand little details that decide whether a stay feels ordinary or unforgettable. You work closely with me, Jade, (my partner in life and business Monty are the new owners), the Head Chef, Barn Boss, Ranch Ambassador, housekeeping team, activities team, and wider ranch crew. We are the new owners of Sundance Trail Ranch, and we are building this next chapter with care, high standards, and a deep respect for what guests already love about this place. This is a senior leadership role. You are expected to see around corners, lead calmly, communicate clearly, and protect the guest experience without creating drama in the team. There is no “back‑of‑house” here. Guests feel everything. WHAT YOU’LL ACTUALLY OWN. Leading, training, scheduling, and supporting lodge and housekeeping staff Personally stepping into housekeeping, especially after seasonal housekeepers leave Cleaning and resetting rooms, cabins, bathrooms, common spaces, and guest areas to the standard you expect from the team Making sure every arrival feels warm, personal, and prepared Managing departures so guests leave cared for, not processed Holding high standards for cleanliness, room readiness, scent, presentation, comfort, and supplies Coordinating with housekeeping, food and beverage, barn, activities, and maintenance so the guest experience feels seamless Supporting the kitchen and dining room when needed, including dishes, service, reset, and guest flow Handling guest feedback, complaints, special requests, and service recovery with calm ownership Maintaining inventory for linens, amenities, cleaning supplies, lodge stock, guest items, and operational basics Managing procurement and reorder rhythms so the lodge does not run on last‑minute panic Participating in leadership meetings, daily huddles, Manager on Duty rotations, and guest briefing rhythms Supporting safety, compliance, property standards, emergency procedures, and guest care protocols Noticing the details others miss — the crooked cushion, the empty coffee station, the guest looking lost, the room that technically passed but does not feel right Bringing solutions, not just reporting problems Doing other ranch duties as assigned, because this is a ranch and “that’s not my job” does not live here THE HONEST PITCH. This is a big role in a small place. You’ll have privacy, but you’ll still live on a ranch. That means weather, animals, guests, dirt, beauty, long days, odd jobs, early mornings, and the occasional plan that changes because a horse, a storm, a guest, or a pipe had other ideas. You’ll get sunrise coffee in one of the most beautiful spots on the ranch. You’ll also get days where you’re carrying linens, cleaning rooms, solving a guest issue, resetting a bathroom, helping in the kitchen, answering the same question three times, and still needing to show up warm at dinner. That’s the deal. If you want polished corporate hospitality, this is not it. If you want real hospitality — raw, rustic, human, high‑standard, hands‑on, and deeply alive — this might be home. #J-18808-Ljbffr