The Ethel Walker School, Inc.
Title: Show Groom / Associate Barn Manager
Status: Full Time
The Ethel Walker School has an opening for a Show Groom / Associate Barn Manager in the Equestrian Department. The person in this position participates in the day-to-day management and operation of the School’s 60 stall equestrian barn with the barn manager and trainers. The successful candidate will also travel to horse shows to manage the care of horses attending horse shows.
Founded in 1911, The Ethel Walker School (www.ethelwalker.org) is an independent, college-preparatory, boarding and day school for girls in grades 6 through 12. Walker’s is committed to a diverse, well-rounded and joyful student body with broad emphasis on scholarship, the arts, athletics, and service. It is a foundational experience for the students yielding lifelong intellectual curiosity, academic and life success, and commitment to community. The campus is located on 175 expansive acres in Simsbury, Connecticut. Recent large-scale projects have beautified and advanced the functionality and marketability of the school and physical campus. This includes the completion of the approximately 70,000 square-foot Centennial Center, a state of the art, multi-use facility housing impressive athletic facilities including a pool, squash, basketball and volleyball courts, dance studios, student center, athletic training room, and medical services. Walker’s boasts a nationally recognized equestrian program operating with over fifty horses on-site, a hundred+ acre on-campus facility with a nationally renowned head of riding and superb equestrian trainers. Recent renovations have entailed building excellent science laboratories/classrooms, middle school and residence hall updates as well as new outdoor turf and grass fields.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Administrative/Management
1. Manage the facility with the barn manager.
2. Co-supervise staff of 3-4 grooms, assign them tasks, evaluate their performance and help build the team by providing feedback and recommendations to the barn manager, director, and trainers.
3. Help train the staff.
4. Welcome boarders and riders to the facility and program in a courteous and professional manner.
5. Meet early/late shipment of horses arriving to or leaving from the barn.
6. Assist barn staff in daily routine during periods of staff shortages or vacations.
7. Run night checks as scheduled.
8. Provide general support to the riding program and director as requested by the director.
9. Assist barn manager in managing finances, supplies, vet, farrier while being budget-conscious.
10. Complete other duties as assigned.
Horse Care
1. Assist with the feeding.
2. Work with trainers to ensure individual competition horse needs are met and clearly communicated.
3. Maintain a rigorous turn-out schedule. All boarders in the barn sign an agreement that provides for daily turn-out.
4. Assist the School’s veterinarian in the care of individual horses, as instructed.
5. Assist with the scheduling of the regular shoeing of horses and work with the School’s farrier on individual horse issues.
6. Assist with record keeping of all above responsibilities.
Road Manager
1. Manage the travel of horses for off-site horse shows.
2. Act as groom for the horse shows, making decisions about the care, safety and well-being of the horses as well as daily groom tasks.
3. Support the trainers and riders as needed at the shows (setting up, ordering feed/stalls, paperwork.)
4. Supervise & work alongside grooms at horse shows
Backup Barn Manager
In the absence of the barn manager, supervise the activities of groom staff and work side by side, particularly during staff shortages and vacations; fulfill general duties and responsibilities of barn manager. Maintain clear lines of communication with the director and trainers during these times.
Physical Plant Maintenance
1. Ensure the facility is neat, clean and orderly at all times.
2. Coordinate trash and manure removal with local vendors.
3. Assist grooms in cleaning of paddocks. Keep paddock and pasture fencing in good repair. Rotate paddock usage to minimize overgrazing and/or erosion.
4. Drag rings as needed (daily if necessary due to high traffic).
Requirements:
1. Promote a student-centered view of work priorities and encourage student involvement in barn operations.
2. Support an environment devoted to the education and nurturing of girls and young women.
3. Exhibit a commitment to excellence in all work as evidenced by high standards of service and workmanship.
4. Exhibit a commitment to honor as evidenced by honesty and integrity.
5. Exhibit a commitment to community through the caring and respectful treatment of all members, through collaboration, and putting the interests of the group ahead of individual interest.
6. Exhibit a commitment to diversity as evidenced by the respectful treatment of all members of the community without regard to race, color, gender, sex, religion, sexual orientation and national or ethnic origin.
7. Comply with the applicable Provisions of the Ethel Walker School Staff Handbook and other policies and procedures.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. The Ethel Walker School is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status.
To apply, please submit resume, cover letter, contact list of three (3) professional references in one (1) document to hr@ethelwalker.org.
