Instructor, Equine Business & Equine Training (9 Month)

Martin Community College•Main Campus, NC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Instructor, Equine Business and Equine Training, is responsible for the design, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement of instruction in assigned courses within the Equine Business and Equine Training programs. Instruction may occur in classroom, laboratory, arena-based, work-based, hybrid, online, and experiential learning environments. This position provides instruction in equine training, equine business, riding, horse handling, and related program areas. Instruction may include, but is not limited to, colt starting, performance horse finishing, riding instruction, groundwork, equine marketing, and horse anatomy and physiology. The Instructor supports student learning and success through hands-on instruction, student assessment, advising, work-based learning, field experiences, and preparation for employment, transfer, entrepreneurship, competition, or continued education in the equine industry. The Instructor is expected to ensure that all instructional activities are conducted in a safe, professional, and educationally appropriate manner consistent with North Carolina Community College System standards, Martin Community College policies and procedures, program standards, applicable external requirements, and accepted safety practices for working with students, horses, handlers, equipment, and equine instructional environments. The Instructor reports directly to the Director of Equine Business and Equine Training and supports instructional needs within both programs, as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Equine Science, Equine Training, or another equine-related field.
Demonstrated experience riding, training horses, and starting colts.
Demonstrated ability to provide effective instruction in classroom, laboratory, arena-based, and hands-on equine learning environments.
Experience using a learning management system.
Ability to effectively teach face-to-face and online classes.
Possession and ability to maintain a valid driver’s license.
Ability to safely work with and around horses in classroom, laboratory, arena, barn, stall, outdoor, and other equine-related instructional environments, including environments involving substantial animal exposure, variable weather conditions, uneven or slippery surfaces, and other conditions associated with equine instruction.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the position in classroom, laboratory, arena, barn, stall, outdoor, online, and other instructional environments, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Ability to maintain a work schedule aligned with instructional assignments, academic calendar requirements, program needs, and operational needs.
Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, irregular hours, or off-campus assignments as required for instruction, field trips, competitions, recruitment, other program-related activities.
Ability to travel for instructional activities, field trips, recruitment, competitions, professional development, meetings, or other College-related functions as assigned.

Nice To Haves

Experience coaching riders for competitions, such as IHSA or open shows.
Experience training groundwork with horses and handlers.
Post-secondary teaching experience.
Experience using Moodle, Blackboard, or a similar learning management system.

Responsibilities

Develop, organize, and deliver instruction in assigned equine courses in accordance with approved curriculum standards, course descriptions, student learning outcomes, and departmental guidelines.
Provide classroom, laboratory, arena-based, hybrid, online, work-based, and/or experiential instruction as assigned.
Prepare syllabi, lesson plans, instructional materials, assessments, laboratory activities, and experiential learning opportunities aligned with student learning outcomes and workforce needs.
Teach and assess skills related to colt starting, performance horse finishing, riding instruction, groundwork, equine marketing, horse anatomy and physiology, and other assigned equine-related subject matter.
Utilize appropriate instructional methods, technologies, equipment, and hands-on training techniques to support diverse learning styles and student success.
Maintain course content, gradebooks, instructional resources, and required course documentation within the College’s learning management system.
Evaluate and revise instructional strategies, course materials, laboratory activities, and experiential learning opportunities based on assessment data, student performance, workforce needs, industry standards, and program goals.
Establish and apply fair, consistent, and transparent grading and student assessment practices.
Maintain accurate records of attendance, grades, student progress, FTE-related documentation, and other required instructional records using College-approved systems.
Evaluate and utilize Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or Affordable Educational Resources (AER) where appropriate, to support student affordability, access, learning outcomes, and instructional quality.
Select traditional textbooks or publisher-supported resources when OER/AER materials are not feasible, available, or appropriate due to curricular, accreditation, licensure, or program-specific needs.
Provide academic advising, mentoring, instructional support, and appropriate referrals to support student success, retention, completion, and progression.
Support student preparation for employment, transfer, competition, entrepreneurship, or continued education within the equine industry.
Work collaboratively with Disability Services to implement approved accommodations.
Address student concerns professionally and report unresolved issues, student conduct concerns, safety concerns, or classroom/laboratory incidents to the appropriate supervisor.
Serve as a point of contact between students and College administration to support communication and issue resolution, as appropriate.
Assist with student recruitment, outreach, retention, advising, and job placement activities specific to the Equine Business and Equine Training programs.
Assist with planning and coordinating field trips, guest speakers, demonstrations, clinics, competitions, industry visits, campus tours, open houses, recruitment events, and other equine-related learning or outreach activities.
Participate in program advisory committee activities, including membership coordination, annual meetings, documentation, follow-up activities, and implementation of recommendations as assigned.
Maintain program-specific records, documentation, data, and reports as required by the College, program needs, and/or applicable external requirements.
Support communication among students, program leadership, adjunct faculty, industry partners, College administration, and other stakeholders regarding program-related needs.
Assist with identifying, requesting, ordering, and managing instructional supplies, equipment, textbooks, laboratory resources, industry-related learning tools, and other materials needed to support instruction.
Participate in curriculum development, program review, assessment, evaluation, and continuous improvement activities.
Collaborate with colleagues, business and industry partners, local education agencies, and instructors from other institutions to support high-quality instruction and student outcomes.
Supervise students during hands-on riding, horse handling, training, work-based learning, field experiences, and real-world practice assignments.
Support and model safe instructional practices in classrooms, laboratories, arenas, barns, stalls, outdoor instructional areas, and other equine-related learning environments.
Promote professional conduct, safety awareness, responsible decision-making, and appropriate care and handling practices in all equine instructional settings.
Serve as a mentor or instructional resource to adjunct faculty in the equine instructional area, as assigned.
Maintain regular office hours and an established on-campus schedule consistent with instructional assignments, departmental expectations, academic calendar requirements, and institutional responsibilities.
Submit required reports, including attendance, grades, FTE, progress reports, and other instructional or administrative documentation, in a timely manner.
Communicate effectively with students, supervisors, colleagues, adjunct faculty, industry partners, and the broader campus community using College-approved communication methods.
Participate in faculty meetings, division or department meetings, college committees, professional development activities, institutional events, recruitment activities, and graduation as assigned.
Stay current in assigned academic discipline, equine industry practices, workforce expectations, instructional best practices, and applicable safety standards.
Complete all required institutional training, including FERPA, Title IX, Campus Safety, and other required training assigned by the College, supervisor, accreditation or regulatory bodies, the Chief Academic Officer, and/or Human Resources.
Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the College’s mission and the Equine Business and Equine Trainings programs.
Participate in pre-registration, registration, and other enrollment-related activities as needed.
Prepare, compile, and distribute reports, correspondence, and other instructional or administrative documentation.
Provide instructional coverage for other faculty, as needed and appropriate.
Evaluate the effectiveness and relevance of instructional content and teaching methods and revise instructional design as needed.
Assist with the evaluation and selection of textbooks, instructional materials, laboratory resources, library resources, and industry-related learning tools.
Participate in equine program events, demonstrations, clinics, shows, competitions, or community outreach activities.
Assist with maintaining safe and appropriate instructional environments involving horses, students, handlers, equipment, and facilities.
Perform other related duties as assigned.