Company Overview
Founded in 2002, Storybook Farm is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to change childhoods. Through relationships with animals, nature, mentors, and peers, we help children from broken or abusive homes, or those who have suffered some type of adversity or trauma. Many kids struggle with emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges, so we aim to help them reclaim the wonder, fun, and joy of childhood.

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We’re the only organization in a 200-mile region providing this type of multi-approach, high-impact, life-altering programming for children. In fact, without Storybook, many of the children who attend our programs, would experience no other type of childhood than one riddled with pain, fear, and loneliness.

Storybook Farm operates year-round hosting six programs for more than 150 children weekly. Annually, we serve more than 3,000 children and their families from eight neighboring counties in Alabama and Georgia. We currently have three two full-time staff, five part-time staff, 12 board members, 12 Associate Board members, 250 weekly volunteers, over 1,500 donors, thousands of volunteer alumni, and operate with a $850,000 budget.

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And yes, we’re growing! Over the last three years, we’ve almost doubled in size and are on track to increase our participant population by 20 percent in the coming year. We work hard, have fun, and are driven by humility and gratitude. This is a tremendous opportunity for an experienced and talented go-getter to join an amazing team with a passion to make a lasting difference in the lives of children.

 

Job Summary
This job is good fit for an eager person with substantial experience caring for horses and an extensive understanding of equine first-aid and nutrition. We are also looking for someone with a heart for children and who is willing to wear multiple hats as a leader, motivating and taking initiative to execute a best-in-class equine non-profit program.

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Applicants should operate with a high level of detail and organization. Individuals who are process-driven, taking pride in their work, will find this job gratifying and uplifting.

 

The job includes being responsible for all animals, supervising employees, and maintaining buildings and grounds.

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We are looking for an honest, dependable, hard worker who has a passion for horses, will invest in mission of our nonprofit, and will take responsibility of the duties required to maintain a high-quality facility.

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Location: Opelika, Alabama

Hours: Full-time, year-round. Varied holiday and weekend availability required

Benefits: Health, vacation, holidays, and personal days

Title: Farm Manager

Reports to: Executive Director

Supervises: Part-time staff

Experience: Equine: 5+ years

Reviews: Performance reviews at 30, 60, 90 days and quarterly thereafter. Monthly reporting required.

Salary Range: $50,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year depending on experience

 

Responsibilities
Animal Care: Oversee the proper care of horses

• Monitor the continual health and well-being of all animals

• Coordinate and oversee daily care, feed, treatments, medications, and turnout

• Manage the routine scheduling of veterinary and farrier appointments

• Order supplies, equipment, and feed

• Clean stalls and paddocks daily

• Apply blankets, sheets, and fly masks as required

• Groom, bath, clip, pull manes, and trim

• Lunge and hand walk

• Hold for veterinarians and farrier services

• Help prepare horses for programming

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Building and Groundskeeping: Manage barns, paddocks, and property related to programming

• Maintain buildings and grounds

• Mow, weed, spray landscaping (seasonally)

• Repair and install fencing

• Operate machinery: tractor, lawnmower, manure spreader, power and hand tools

• Conduct regular maintenance of farm equipment

• Make small repairs that may arise

• Participate in special projects and other duties as assigned

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Requirements and Qualifications

• Noted experience with equines and/or managing an equine program (even if it’s small)

• Supervise employees and manage their schedules

• Capacity to work well under pressure and meet deadlines to achieve goals

• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively work and develop relationships with a variety of people with all types of personalities and backgrounds

• Ability to plan, prioritize, coordinate, and manage own work; ability to work unsupervised, problem solve, and make decisions independently, effectively, and creatively

• Aptitude to present, inform and motivate individuals and groups about a mission

• Goal-oriented, persistent, and persuasive

• Available on weekends and some holidays and flexibility due to weather conditions, programming events, and equine emergencies

• Physical ability to undertake manual labor and able to lift heavy objects

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Education/Experience

- Bachelor or Associate degree preferred but not required

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Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance

• Health insurance

• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Day shift

• Holidays

• Monday to Friday

• Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Opelika, AL 36801: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:

• Equine: 4 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

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To Apply

Send resume and cover letter (two paragraphs only) to:
Dena Little, Executive Director Storybook Farm

Email: dena@hopeonhorseback.org

 

Position open until filled.

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Disclaimer
This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the person filling this role might differ from those outlined in the job description and those other duties, as assigned, might be part of the job.

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