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

Wilson College invites qualified candidates to apply for the role of Equestrian Center Coordinator/Instructor at our renowned Penn Hall Equestrian Center. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a dynamic team supporting both the academic and co-curricular missions of our Equine and Animal Studies Division.

This multifaceted position blends teaching with hands-on leadership at a large active facility. The ideal candidate will be an experienced equine professional who thrives in a student-centered environment serving as a mentor instructor and supervisor. If youre committed to humane horse care educational excellence and industry best practices we encourage you to apply and make a lasting impact on the next generation of equine professionals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Administrative Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Director of Equine Studies faculty coaches Human Resources donors and Physical Plant to ensure compliance with all academic safety HR and animal welfare standards.
• Work in partnership with the Director of Equine Studies Dean Vice President of Academic Affairs and Business Office to develop and manage the Centers budget.
• Handle vendor management including scheduling invoicing and payment for services (e.g. veterinarian farrier feed and bedding suppliers).

Facility and Equipment Management

• Maintain the Center to high standards to support academic activities and impress prospective students and visitors.
• Oversee operations of all facilities including:
  • Hawthorne Arena (100 x 300)
  • Cook Arena (76 x 204)
  • Kitts Arena (150 x 300)
  • Over 20 acres of paddocks and pastures
  • Equipment storage hay shed and three barns with 71 stalls wash stalls and farrier stalls

Horse Care and Management

• Oversee the daily care of up to 71 horsesincluding school-owned leased and student-owned animalsensuring all aspects of care are addressed such as schooling feeding watering turnout bringing horses in stall cleaning administering supplements and coordinating medical care as needed.
• Develop and manage horse use schedules in coordination with faculty the Director of Equestrian Teams/Intercollegiate Athletics and other stakeholders including student clubs (e.g. potential riding or equine-related organizations) to support academic athletic and extracurricular programming.
• Coordinate care plans for school-owned horses in partnership with Equine Studies faculty and staff to align with curricular needs and available resources.
• Communicate and coordinate with student and private horse owners regarding the care and management of privately-owned horses on campus.
• Oversee the acquisition process for new horseswhether by donation lease or purchaseincluding evaluation trial periods documentation and transportation logistics.

Instruction and Student Engagement

• Provide instruction mentorship and oversight for students completing in-class out-of-class and volunteer hours.
• Integrate Center staff into the educational mission through delegation skills demonstration and professional development.
• Teach two (2) ground training/management courses per semester.
• Assist with other equine-related courses as needed.
• Develop and maintain course syllabi aligned with student learning outcomes and accreditation standards.
• Participate in program assessment and curriculum development.
• Possess expertise in herd health and emergency care general horsemanship performance training and facility operations.
• Serve as an educational resource and facilitator for experiential learning in a living laboratory environment.

Staff Supervision

• Supervise full-time part-time and student employees including work-study students.
• Foster a cohesive and efficient work environment through delegation and ongoing training.

COMPETENCIES:

• Proven ability to manage a large equine facility with multiple functions such as academic classes clinics competitive events boarding and other equine-related activities.
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills including the ability to manage full-time part-time student and volunteer staff.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety animal welfare and operational excellence in equine facility management.
• Fiscally responsible with experience managing budgets and resources effectively.
• Highly organized with the flexibility to adapt to evolving priorities and day-to-day challenges.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a collaborative team-oriented approach to working with students faculty and staff.
• Effective communicator and mentor able to engage and guide students in both academic and experiential learning settings.

POSITION TYPE AND EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:

• Full-time 12-month schedule of 40 hours per week typically Monday through Friday during daytime hours with additional evening and weekend hours as needed based on events or operational demands.
• Participates in a rotating on-call schedule for emergencies and is considered essential personnel during College closures
• Non-Wilson-related business and teaching are permitted only during off hours and must not interfere with job responsibilities

TRAVEL:

• Limited based on the needs of the department.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelors degree in Equine Science Animal Science or a closely related field required; Masters degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years experience managing a large-scale equestrian facility. (A combination of education and directly related experience may be considered.)
• Experience working in a collegiate or educational institution setting preferred.
• Prior experience teaching equine-focused courses in a college or academic environment.

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS:

• The candidate must be able to drive College vehicles including towing horse trailers and adhere to all Wilson College driving policies.
• Must possess a valid drivers license and successfully complete Wilson Colleges driver safety certification
• Must pass a comprehensive three-part background check including criminal history child abuse clearance and FBI fingerprinting

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:

• Generous paid time off including vacation sick leave personal days and 13 paid holidays.

• Paid parental leave bereavement leave (including miscarriage and stillbirth) jury duty and more.

• 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.