Team Leader, Equine Center at Harmony Equine Center in Franktown

Join the Herd at Humane Colorado! 

Are you passionate about equine care and ready to lead with compassion and purpose? Humane Colorado is seeking an experienced and dedicated Equine Care Team Lead to oversee the daily care, training, and wellbeing of our horses. You'll supervise a team, ensure top-tier animal care standards, and help shape the future of equine welfare in a mission-driven environment. 

Purpose of Position: Lead and provide oversight for the work of the equine care associates, trainers, and volunteers, ensuring constant humane care and treatment of equines including adherence to established feeding, sanitation, and medical procedures. Assist the Harmony Equine team with the day-to-day care and training of all equines.

Responsibilities

• Provide care and handling of all equines including training, feeding and watering, stocking feed and supply bins, and checking and updating feed sheets. 
• Direct, monitor, and support the day-to-day work of the equine care team and volunteers, ensuring the work of the team is done up to  Humane Colorado standards.  
• Utilize data to evaluate and create optimal work plans. 
• Maintain a clean and safe environment for team, equines and the public including stocking cleaning supplies, washing laundry, and cleaning and sanitizing stalls, barns, and turnouts.  
• Assist teams as needed, providing support and guidance in the moment on all aspects of their work including animal care, training,  and daily upkeep of Harmony’s facilities and grounds. 
• Collaborate with equine trainers to address logistical issues related to flow, space, scheduling, and other facility concerns. Effectively communicate and elevate challenges to management team as needed. 
• Maintain cleaning equipment to ensure proper functioning and safety, reporting any damaged equipment or repair needs. 
• Utilize established SOPs to guide consistent and appropriate operating procedures. Provide productive feedback on implementation and potential challenges to be experienced by the team, propose edits as needed with intent to improve quality of care.  
• Improve the quality of care provided by cultivating independent thought and action by staff in response to situations not effectively addressed by established procedures.  
• Coach and support staff regarding their day-to-day work and provide input to managers regarding staff performance.  
• Provide information and data to assist with development and management of budget. 
• Create, prepare, and update various administrative documentation to ensure accurate and up to date animal records. 
• Ensure that local, state, and federal safety animal care standards are met. 
• Order animal care supplies and feed as needed based on approved budgets. 
• Assist with maintaining an inventory list for supplies, feed, donations, and equipment.  
• Assist and provide support with recruiting, hiring, onboarding, scheduling, developing, training,  and coaching and staff members as well as volunteers. 
• Contribute to and lead initiatives to improve processes and procedures. 
• Participate in inter-departmental meetings and discussions to support and develop League Humane Colorado initiatives.  
• Observe animals to ensure proper feeding and report any signs of illness requiring medical attention or behavioral concerns. 
• Support adoptions through interviewing potential walk-in adopters; providing basic medical and other information to help adopters make good choices; completing accurate adoption paperwork; receiving adoption fees and providing receipts; and recording transactions and reconciling monies for daily deposits. 
• Answer and route incoming calls; answer questions about equine center, adoptions, Harmony services, and other general information; record and relay messages to appropriate staff. 
• Provide general public guidance on the responsibility, care, and humane treatment of animals in accordance with city, county, state, and federal laws. 
• Assist humane agents, law enforcement officers including the coordination of collecting evidence for equine on court holds including weights, photos, and any other evidence that should be collected and/or documented. 

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional, and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources

Organizational Key Competencies

• Job Knowledge
• Excellence
• Adapting to Change / Agility
• Dependability
• People Care

Position Core Competencies

• Analytical Thinking
• Community Partnerships
• Effective Communication

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

• Volunteers
• Provides direction to Equine Associates and Trainers

Travel

• This position requires driving a company vehicle  
• This position requires up to 20% travel in state  

Benefits: Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Holiday Pay
• 401(k) with matching
• Sabbatical program
• And more!

Compensation: Starting at $23.40 - $24.85 / hour (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Work is performed in a horse boarding/barn and outdoor setting. Potentially subject to animal bites, scratches, kicks and unpredictable dangerous situations. Frequent lifting up to 50 lbs. with reasonable accommodations. Frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, movement, and repetitive motion. Work outside in weather extremes, both heat and cold.

We will begin reviewing applications as they are received and anticipate closing the application period on February 12, 2026. 

Position Qualifications

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated organizational skills
• Ability to utilize effective problem solving/decision making skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs

Required

• Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Work Experience: Six months experience handling equines, experience as a barn attendant or related position in an equine program (boarding, training, or care facility environment).
• Special Training, Certification or Licensure: Valid driver’s license with insurable driving record.

Desired

• At least one year of supervisory experience
• Ability to effectively problem solve and make decisions
• Experience with developing and delivering staff training
• Experience in animal welfare or other professional animal care field
• Ability to work with multiple levels of leadership to problem solve and implement solutions