Rock Bottom Ranch Project Coordinator

Rock Bottom Ranch Project Coordinator

Position Summary

The Rock Bottom Ranch Project Specialist position promotes hands-on learning in regenerative agriculture while supporting site maintenance, ACES’ summer camps, educational programs, and other ACES activities and events.

The Project Specialist will participate in components of ACES’ Farmer Training Program, gain exposure to multiple aspects of vegetable and livestock production, and act as a liaison between the Agriculture crew and the Education team at Rock Bottom Ranch.

A successful candidate will have experience and interest in farming or gardening, outdoor education, and a passion for working with the public of all ages and collaborating across teams. Skills in, or an eagerness to learn, site maintenance, production planning, curriculum development, and teaching are a must.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities (65%):

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Site Maintenance and Enhancement

• General Ranch Beautification
  • Maintain the site, including mowing, weed whacking, weeding, fence repair, trail maintenance, and brush removal.
  • Plan, plant, and maintain non-production garden beds.
• Habitat Garden - ACES’ native habitat garden
  supports a wide array of wildlife.
  • Work with the Ranch Director and Vegetable Production Manager to produce and source plant material for garden beds and plant them.
  • Maintain pathways and garden beds by weeding, hoeing, weed whacking, and mulching.
  • Monitor and maintain the automated irrigation system.
• Develop and manage the Student Garden Space - An experiential learning space modeling our vegetable production systems.
  • Work with the Vegetable Production Manager to plan seeding and planting.
  • Seed and care for greenhouse transplants.
  • Assist with vegetable production, including soil preparation, seed propagation, irrigating, transplanting, and cultivation.
  • Organize and lead seasonal Agriculture and Education team members for occasional garden maintenance.
• 418 Carbondale Garden and Chickens
  • Serve as the primary contact for residents on chicken and garden care.
  • Provide production and planning support for the Carbondale house garden and laying hens.

Visitor Experience, Program Support, and Customer Service

• Support the ACES Community Programs Manager & Education team in the maintenance of the RBR Children’s Garden as a community classroom and gathering place.
  • Keep the site mowed, weeded, etc.
  • Work with the ACES Community Programs Manager to facilitate planting and harvesting activities for field programs and camp activities.

• Coordinate and communicate between the ACES agriculture and education teams.
  • Work with agriculture and education staff (i.e. Community Programs Manager and Field Programs Coordinator) to select and schedule agriculture-related activities for summer camp and school field programs that align with current agricultural or site operations.
  • Attend weekly Ed Team meetings.
  • Help facilitate agriculture-related activities during education programs in accordance with proper protocols.
  • Ensure tools and materials are available and ready for programming activities.
  • Lead or co-lead community programs, including weekly community egg collection, hay rides, and vegetable tastings; coordinate volunteer days and other programs.
  • Maintain egg inventory levels at each ACES’ retail location
    
    
• Provide excellent customer service.
  • Perform on-site visitor center hosting responsibilities, including greeting and engaging guests, answering telephone calls, informal visitor education, and fielding questions.
  • Lead farm tours.
  • Assist with selling produce and meat at local farmers' markets and on the ranch.
  • Participate in on-farm events.

Secondary Duties and Responsibilities (35%):

ACES Housing Contact

• Act as point of contact for rental inquiries for ACES housing units seasonally rented to non-ACES employees.
• Coordinate and conduct showings of rental units to potential renters.
• Be the contact person for maintenance and other issues related to ACES housing units.
• Perform repairs or manage contractors related to housing unit repairs and maintenance.

Vegetable and Livestock Production

• Assist with vegetable production, including soil preparation, seed propagation, irrigating, transplanting, and cultivation.
• Assist with harvesting, washing, packaging, and sale of vegetable products.

• Assist with the daily care of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, laying hens, broilers, turkeys, rabbits, and bees. (Daily care includes: providing feed and fresh water; creating electric-fencing paddocks; moving animals through a multi-species rotational grazing system; mucking out stalls and houses; and collecting and washing eggs.)
• Participate in humane, on-property slaughter of chickens and turkeys.
• Periodically assist with weekend chores and farmers' markets.

Events

• Assist with day-of set-up for RBR events.

• Staff ACES events at RBR and other sites.

Qualifications:

• Work experience with food systems, regenerative agriculture, and environmental education.
• Strong willingness and desire to learn.
• Strong work ethic and the ability to perform physically and mentally demanding work.
• Enjoy working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to lift up to 70 pounds.
• Friendly, inviting personality and positive attitude.
• Respect for farm products, fellow crew members, and all ACES staff.
• Clear and direct communication.
• Experience working with a wide range of ages in outdoor settings.
• Fluency in Spanish is highly desired, but not required.

Reporting Relationship: This position reports to the ACES Ranch Director. The ACES Community Programs Manager will provide support for education-related duties.

Location: This position is located at ACES' Rock Bottom Ranch site in Basalt, Colorado.

Work Schedule: Workdays will generally be 8:00am to 4:00pm, but will vary seasonally.

Compensation and Benefits: This is a non-exempt, seasonal full-time position that includes the ACES benefits package. Salary is commensurate with experience and starts at $16.50/hour, with employee housing and utilities provided. ACES’ benefits package includes a medical insurance plan, a dental insurance plan, a matching retirement savings plan, a health reimbursement account, a flexible spending account, paid time off, a recreation benefit, and a discount on items in the ACES gift shops and on ACES classes.

Desired Start Date: November 2, 2026

Seasonal End Date: April 30, 2027

Application Process: Submit a cover letter and resume through BambooHR

Because ACES employees work with schoolchildren, ACES conducts criminal history and motor vehicle record background checks.

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all federal and state laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status, and will not be discriminated against.