Ranch Operations Lead

About The Kapor Center

Kapor Center is an Oakland-based family of organizations working to dismantle long-standing racial barriers in the tech ecosystem. For more information on the Kapor family of organizations, including the Kapor Foundation, SMASH, and Kapor Capital, visit www.kaporcenter.org.

Ranch Operations Lead

Location: Healdsburg, CA
Onsite
Expected Weekly Hours: 40
Position Type: Full-time, non-exempt (hourly), with benefits
Reports to: Ranch Manager
Compensation: $32 - $40/hour, depending on experience

Position Summary

The Ranch Operations Lead is a full-time, in-house, trades-oriented role at Millstone Valley Ranch, working alongside the property's Generalist under the Ranch Manager. This role is focused on hands-on repair and maintenance work across the property's buildings and systems, groundskeeping and trail upkeep, flexible backup coverage for the property's day-to-day operations, and serving as one of the property's primary on-call emergency responders for after-hours issues.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain the property's 30+ named trails, creek corridor, Falls, Pond, and Pool areas to a guest-ready standard, particularly ahead of guest arrivals and the summer season.
• Flag maintenance issues, hazards, or contractor follow-up items to the Ranch Manager through the property's operations tracking system.
• Repair & Building Systems
• Bring a strong general trades background (carpentry, basic plumbing/electrical, irrigation, small-equipment repair, or similar) to support building and systems upkeep across the property's residences and outbuildings.
• Work directly with the Ranch Manager on more complex or multi-step operational tasks — septic system maintenance, winter work using heavy equipment, routine vehicle fleet maintenance, and similar.
• Operate and maintain property vehicles and equipment (utility vehicles, tractors, chippers, and similar) safely and only within the scope of training received.
• Coverage & Backup Support
• Provide flexible backup coverage for groundskeeping and light maintenance in the gaps between the landscaping contractor's scheduled visits.
• Cover the property's Generalist during PTO, absences, or overflow periods, and vice versa, so core daily grounds work continues without a gap.
• On-Call Emergency Response
• Serve as one of the property's primary on-call emergency responders — available to respond to after-hours alarms, water/leak issues, wildlife encounters, storm damage, and similar incidents.
• Share weekend and evening on-call rotation, coordinating with the Ranch Manager on escalation.
• Guest & Retreat Readiness Support
• Prepares for pre-guest and pre-event property readiness — walking trails, common areas, and guest-facing spaces ahead of arrivals, including ahead of the annual Seder dinner and summer guest season.
• Present a polished, professional demeanor in any guest-facing moment.
• Coordinate with the Ranch Manager on timing so grounds and light-maintenance work doesn't conflict with active guest or retreat use.
• Discretion & Private Household Conduct
• Treat all matters relating to the family, their guests, and the property as confidential; exercise sound judgment about what is and isn't appropriate to discuss outside the estate.
• Maintain a low-profile, professional presence around the family and visitors — proactive and helpful without being intrusive.
• Use good judgment on when to escalate a sensitive situation to the Ranch Manager rather than handling it independently.
• Ad Hoc Support
• Be available for ad hoc needs from ownership, directed through the Ranch Manager, that don't fit a standing contractor's defined scope (errands, move-in/move-out help, one-off projects).

Required Qualifications

• A strong hands-on trades background — carpentry, basic plumbing/electrical, irrigation systems, or general equipment maintenance/repair — or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish, spoken and written.
• Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment in a private-residence or similarly sensitive setting; comfortable maintaining confidentiality as a condition of the role.
• Valid California driver's license and a clean driving record; comfortable operating property vehicles and equipment (training on specific equipment provided).
• Willingness and ability to respond to on-call emergencies outside standard working hours, including evenings and weekends, particularly during spring peak season.
• Ability to work independently and use good judgment across a large, spread-out rural property with intermittent cell coverage in places.
• A collaborative, low-ego working style — comfortable taking direction, working alongside a peer on groundskeeping, and pitching in outside a narrow job description when the property needs it.
• Physical ability to perform outdoor manual labor in varying weather conditions, lift and carry up to 50 lbs, and work on uneven or sloped terrain.
• Willingness to follow the property's Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), including required PPE (steel-toed boots, snake gaiters, gloves, eye/hearing protection as applicable) and safety training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience working on a private estate, ranch, farm, vineyard, or comparable large residential property where discretion and guest-readiness were part of the job.
• Experience with landscaping, groundskeeping, irrigation systems, or tree/brush clearing.
• Familiarity with basic HVAC, solar, pool equipment, or well/pump systems.
• (Larger issues in these areas would be escalated to specialists.)
• Experience operating tractors, UTVs, chainsaws, chippers, or similar power equipment.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This is an outdoor, hands-on role on a working rural property. Conditions and exposures include: extended time outdoors in varying weather, including heat during the summer guest season; wildlife encounters, including venomous snakes, stinging insects, ticks, and poison oak in identified habitat areas; work on trails, uneven terrain, and near water features; and use of powered equipment and hand tools. All work is performed in accordance with the property's Injury and Illness Prevention Program, including required PPE, the buddy system for high-risk tasks, and heat-illness precautions. Safety training and briefings are provided bilingually.

Compensation & Benefits

Full-time, non-exempt (hourly), with benefits. Compensation: $32 - $40 / hour, depending on experience.