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Employment

We aren’t ones for stuffy information and blasé descriptions. Whetstone is a forge for young men, and that goes for the staff as well. Our mission statement is “Sharpening the character of young men” and that is just what we aim to do.

The work is hard…but good.

Days feel long…but are rewarding.

Your patience will be stretched…then strengthened.

Your faith will be tested…then grounded.

Whetstone Boys Ranch is a therapeutic boarding school serving boys ages 12-16 who need time away from their families in order to restore understanding and relationship. Situated near Mountain View, MO in the scenic Missouri Ozarks, Whetstone is a 285-acre working cattle ranch with a year-round school program, weekly therapy, outdoor adventure, community service, agriculture work, and a variety of other activities and opportunities. Whetstone has been open for over 10 years and is growing rapidly. The Whetstone culture emphasizes a commitment to Christ, leading by example, and a willingness to sharpen and be sharpened.

Please note that Whetstone may or may not be hiring right now. The following jobs on the direct care team may be open or closed depending on current staffing needs. Please use the form below to submit an inquiry.


Shift Supervisor

The Shift Supervisor (SS) is one of the most important roles at the ranch. The SS is responsible for leading evenings and weekends shifts and for ensuring the Whetstone program is upheld. The SS must work closely with the boys and other staff. He must lead the shift with energy, authority, and a willingness to share in relationship.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Create and maintain a positive and structured environment. You will be holding the residents accountable, but also sharing in relationship and mentoring them as they grow and progress through the program.

  • Write the End of Shift (EOS) report after each shift, summarizing each resident’s behavior and other details worth noting from the shift.

  • Ensure any medications have been properly administered to residents.

  • Lead with energy. This requires focus, intentionality, and the willingness to “join in” and be an integral part of the program. You set the tone for your staff and the residents.

  • Uphold and adhere to Whetstone’s policies and procedures.

  • Ensure meals are prepared correctly and on time.

  • Work 45 hours/week, with the majority of that being direct care.

  • Be willing to follow as well as lead. Some shifts you will probably work as a direct care employee “under” a co-shift supervisor. The shift supervisors share the load of leadership amongst themselves.

Shifts are 6-8 hours long. During this time, you will supervise the boys and other support staff during free time, mealtimes, on and off-campus activities, and bed prep. You are responsible for ensuring the Whetstone program is being followed. This will include training your staff, holding the residents accountable through the giving of consequences and supervising consequence work time, following the schedule, and creating an environment geared toward growth, personal responsibility, and respect.

Requirements

The ideal candidate for SS is a godly man with strong leadership skills. He might be middle aged or older, have grown children of his own, or worked with teen-age children for some time in another similar setting. He should have a passion for working with struggling boys and have the capacity to weather the storms that angry, rebellious, hurting, and disrespectful teenage boys can create. He must be able and willing to serve as an authority for these boys, and as a mentor. He must love Christ and demonstrate this commitment in his daily walk of life.

He should possess most, if not all, most of the following skills:

  • Leadership and the ability to give feedback and train others

  • Communication skills with other adults and with children

  • Ability to authoritatively “hold the line” with patience and grace

  • Understanding of trauma in children, and the importance of steadiness for a child in their chaotic times

Mentoring Specialist

Mentoring Specialists work on the direct care team and are the primary mentors and role models to the boys during after-school and weekend programming. A Mentoring Specialist will work under the Shift Supervisor, ensure the schedule is adhered to, the Whetstone program upheld, and that boys are encouraged, held accountable, loved, cared for, and kept safe. The Mentoring Specialist is hired to work directly with the boys in building mentoring relationships with them, to be an example of a godly man of character, and to help them navigate through the challenges of the Whetstone program.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Develop authentic mentor/mentee relationships with residents in care through modelling appropriate behaviors for residents with regards to relationships, self-respect, and morality.

  • Create and maintain a positive and structured environment. You will be holding the residents accountable, but also sharing in relationship and mentoring them as they grow and progress through the program.

  • Understand, support, and live the Whetstone Boys Ranch mission and values as well as adhering to all WBR policies and procedures.

  • Work closely with residents providing care for each of their specific needs, including but not limited to food, clothing, first-aid, safety, hygiene, structure, and education.

  • Lead with energy. This requires focus, intentionality, and the willingness to “join in” and be an integral part of the program.

  • Conduct specific learning lessons such as: house meetings, community service projects, field trips, chapel presentations, recreational activities, Bible studies, etc.

  • Maintain all documentation and communication tasks as assigned by House Manager.

  • Train toward being able to competently fill “Shift Supervisor” roles as needed.

Requirements

  • Follower of Jesus

  • Responsible, teachable, hardworking and mature man 20+ years old.

  • Passion to serve youth.

  • Experience with youth ministry/mentoring. (At-risk youth preferred.)

  • Valid Driver’s License.

  • State-specific Central Registry Child Abuse Clearance.

  • Written agreement to two-year service commitment

  • Successful completion of TCI training and maintaining of updates (Whetstone provides this training after hire).

Overnight Supervisor

The overnight supervisor is a quiet, behind the scenes, yet incredibly important role for the boys. The overnight supervisor ensures the boys’ safety and peace of mind for parents as a present, awake, and alert staff in the boys’ dorm during their sleeping hours.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Understand, support and live the Whetstone Boys Ranch mission and values.

  • Stay awake throughout your overnight 10p-8:30a shift ensuring residents’ safety as well as write and send email reports with status updates for each resident.

  • Model appropriate behaviors for residents with regards to relationships, self-respect, and morality.

  • Maintain all documentation and communication tasks as assigned by House Manager.

  • Adhere to all WBR policies and procedures.

  • Work 3-4 overnights per week. This will be around 30-43 hours. Overtime past 40 hours is paid at 1.5x rate

Requirements

  • Responsible adult 18+ years old.

  • Able to stay awake and alert for the duration of the overnight shift

  • State-specific Central Registry Child Abuse Clearance (administered by Whetstone Boys Ranch via fingerprint background check)

  • Basic computer skills (email, texting, etc.)

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