Equestrian Center Coordinator & Instructor (Full-time, Onsite, 12-months)

Wilson College is seeking an experienced, engaging, and collaborative equine professional to serve as our Equestrian Center Coordinator/Instructor at the Penn Hall Equestrian Center. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned barn and facility manager who brings strong horse knowledge, proven leadership skills, and the experience and confidence to successfully manage a large, active collegiate equestrian operation—while also embracing the opportunity to teach, mentor, and work closely with students.

At the heart of this role is responsibility for ensuring that the Equestrian Center runs safely, efficiently, and professionally every day. The Coordinator/Instructor provides hands-on leadership for a complex operation that includes up to 71 horses, multiple barns and arenas, extensive paddocks and pastures, and a team of full-time, part-time, and student employees. We are looking for someone who knows what it takes to run a successful barn: someone who can anticipate needs, establish priorities, make sound decisions, lead and develop a team, communicate effectively, and take ownership of the operation.

Just as important, this position is an integral part of Wilson's academic community. The Equestrian Center serves as a living laboratory where students develop the knowledge, judgment, and practical skills needed for careers in the equine industry. The Coordinator/Instructor teaches equine management courses and works alongside faculty and staff to create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. The successful candidate should genuinely enjoy working with students and be an engaging instructor and mentor who can translate professional experience into learning—whether in the classroom, barn aisle, arena, or pasture.

The ideal candidate will be a strong relationship-builder who values collaboration and understands that successful equestrian operations depend on communication and teamwork. We are looking for someone who can build positive working relationships with students, faculty, coaches, staff, horse owners, vendors, and College partners while providing the leadership, accountability, and expertise necessary to keep a busy equestrian center operating at its best.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Equestrian Center Leadership and Operations

- Provide day-to-day leadership and oversight of the Penn Hall Equestrian Center, ensuring safe, efficient, professional, and well-coordinated operations.

- Independently assess operational needs, establish priorities, solve problems, and ensure responsibilities are completed accurately and timely.

- Maintain the Center and its facilities to a high standard appropriate for academic instruction, equestrian activities, boarding, recruitment events, and visitors.

- Coordinate Center operations with the Director of Equine Studies, Equine Studies faculty, Athletics, Physical Plant, Human Resources, the Business Office, and other College departments.

- Establish and maintain effective operating procedures, schedules, records, and communication practices for the Center.

- Support compliance with College policies and applicable safety, employment, and animal welfare requirements.

- Assist with development and management of the Center's operating budget and demonstrate responsible stewardship of College resources.

- Coordinate vendors and service providers, including veterinarians, farriers, feed and bedding suppliers, and other contractors, including scheduling, documentation, invoicing, and follow-through.

Facility and Equipment Management

- Oversee the operation, maintenance, cleanliness, organization, and readiness of the Center's barns, arenas, paddocks, pastures, equipment, and related facilities.

- Identify facility and equipment needs and coordinate maintenance and work requests with Physical Plant and outside vendors.

- Ensure facilities and equipment are maintained in a manner that supports safe and effective academic, athletic, boarding, and extracurricular activities.

- Maintain appropriate supplies, equipment, feed, bedding, and other resources necessary for Center operations.

The Penn Hall Equestrian Center includes three barns with approximately 71 stalls, three riding arenas, more than 20 acres of paddocks and pastures, wash and farrier areas, equipment storage, and hay storage.

Horse Care and Herd Management

- Provide overall leadership for the daily care and management of up to 71 school-owned, leased, and privately owned horses.

- Establish, communicate, and monitor appropriate schedules and procedures for feeding, watering, turnout, stall care, schooling, supplements, medications, veterinary and farrier services, and other routine horse-care responsibilities.

- Monitor herd health and welfare and respond appropriately to illnesses, injuries, emergencies, behavioral concerns, and changing care needs.

- Ensure horse-care decisions, changes in routines, and other information affecting horses are communicated promptly and consistently to appropriate employees, students, faculty, and owners.

- Develop and coordinate horse-use schedules with faculty, coaches, and other stakeholders to support academic courses, intercollegiate teams, student activities, and other approved programming.

- Coordinate individualized care plans for school-owned horses in partnership with Equine Studies faculty and staff.

- Communicate professionally and consistently with students and private horse owners regarding the care and management of privately owned horses housed at the Center.

- Coordinate the evaluation and acquisition of horses through donation, lease, or purchase, including trials, documentation, transportation, and transition into the College herd.

Staff Leadership and Supervision

- Directly supervise full-time, part-time, temporary, and student employees assigned to the Equestrian Center.

- Establish clear expectations, assign and prioritize work, provide appropriate training and instruction, and ensure employees understand and fulfill their responsibilities.

- Provide regular feedback, coaching, and performance management and address performance or workplace concerns promptly and appropriately.

- Develop staff knowledge and capabilities through hands-on instruction, skills demonstration, cross-training, and professional development.

- Foster a professional, respectful, collaborative, and accountable work environment in which employees and students feel supported and understand their roles.

- Maintain effective communication across shifts and among employees, faculty, students, coaches, and other stakeholders to ensure continuity of operations and horse care.

- Model professionalism, sound judgment, teamwork, accountability, and respect in interactions with employees, students, horse owners, vendors, and members of the College community.

Instruction and Student Engagement

- Teach two ground training/management courses per semester and assist with other equine-related courses as needed.

- Develop and maintain course syllabi and instructional materials aligned with established student learning outcomes and program expectations.

- Participate in program assessment, curriculum development, and other academic activities as appropriate.

- Provide instruction, mentorship, and oversight for students completing academic, experiential, volunteer, and employment-related hours at the Center.

- Utilize the Equestrian Center as a living laboratory where students can develop practical skills in horse care, herd health, horsemanship, facility operations, and professional equine management.

- Serve as a knowledgeable and accessible educational resource for students while maintaining appropriate professional standards and expectations.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

- Significant knowledge of horse care, herd health, emergency response, general horsemanship, performance training, and equestrian facility operations.

- Demonstrated ability to independently manage a large or complex equestrian operation with multiple competing priorities.

- Strong supervisory and leadership skills, including experience directing employees, delegating responsibilities, providing feedback, and holding employees accountable.

- Sound judgment and the ability to identify problems, make timely decisions, and follow issues through to resolution without requiring continual direction.

- Strong organizational and planning skills with careful attention to detail and follow-through.

- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate decisions, expectations, and operational changes clearly and consistently.

- Ability to build effective working relationships with employees, students, faculty, administrators, horse owners, vendors, and other stakeholders.

- Demonstrated commitment to humane horse care, workplace and student safety, professionalism, and operational excellence.

- Ability to remain flexible and effective in an environment where priorities may change quickly and emergencies may arise.

- Fiscal responsibility and experience effectively managing budgets, supplies, vendors, or other operational resources.

- Ability to mentor and educate students while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries, expectations, and accountability.

POSITION TYPE AND EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

- Full-time, 12-month, exempt position.

- The position requires a flexible schedule to meet the needs of a working equestrian facility and its academic and co-curricular programs.

- Hours may vary and may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on horse care, staffing, events, programming, weather, and other operational needs.

- Participates in an on-call rotation and may be required to respond to urgent horse-care, facility, staffing, or operational needs.

- Considered essential personnel and may be required to work during College closures or emergency situations.

- Outside employment, equine-related business activities, and teaching must comply with College policies and may not interfere or conflict with the responsibilities of the position.

TRAVEL

Limited travel may be required based on departmental and operational needs.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

- Bachelor's degree in Equine Science, Animal Science, Equine Management, or a closely related field required; master's degree preferred.

- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in equine facility operations, herd management, or a closely related area, including significant responsibility for managing a large-scale equestrian operation.

- Demonstrated supervisory experience, including responsibility for directing and evaluating the work of employees.

- Experience working in a collegiate, educational, or student-centered environment preferred.

- Previous experience teaching equine-related coursework at the college level strongly preferred.

- Experience managing an operation that supports multiple functions—such as academic instruction, boarding, clinics, competitions, or other equestrian programming—is preferred.

An equivalent combination of education and directly related professional experience may be considered.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

- Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and meet Wilson College's requirements for operating College vehicles.

- Must be able to safely operate College vehicles and tow horse trailers as required by the position.

- Must successfully complete Wilson College's driver safety certification.

- Employment is contingent upon successful completion of required background clearances, including criminal history, child abuse clearance, and FBI fingerprinting.

Qualifications

At Wilson College, we value our employees and are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and professional growth. Full-time, on-site employees enjoy:

- Robust Health Benefits : Including medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus college-paid basic life and long-term disability insurance.

- Spending Account Options : Access to employee-funded Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for both healthcare and dependent care needs.

- Retirement Planning : A Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with TIAA to help you plan for the future.

- Educational Benefits : Tuition remission for employees and their families for undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, as well as access to Tuition Exchange scholarships through a national consortium of colleges.

Wilson fosters a supportive, collegial work environment that prioritizes work-life balance. Employees benefit from:

- Flexible dining options and free access to our on-campus fitness center.

- An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential support and resources.

As a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit employer, Wilson College employees may also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.