Palmetto Bluff is nestled along the May River in the Lowcountry of South Carolina between Hilton Head Island and Savannah. As an award-winning 20,000-acre development, the development encompasses a private member’s only club, which includes a marina, restaurants, an equestrian center, a shooting club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, a lawn and racquet club, and more. In addition, Palmetto Bluff has an extensive nature preserve, walking trails, retail shopping, and a vibrant village, all of which pay homage to the region’s rich heritage.

Job Summary:

The Lead Trail Guide will be responsible for implementing and executing the daily operations of the Longfield Stables Trail Program. The Lead Trail Guide will be responsible for the guest’s experience and safety while participating in the trail ride and for the overall health and welfare of the Longfield Stables trail horses. This individual will ensure a consistently high level of member and guest satisfaction and pride in the Longfield Stables experience while overseeing the maintenance and care of the trail program horses.

Benefits:
We offer excellent benefits, including an incredible employer contribution towards medical, dental, and vision coverage which begins on the 1st of the month following your date of hire! Other benefits include a 401(k) Plan, with an employer matching contribution, paid life & disability coverage, and more.

Essential Job Functions: 

• Ultimately responsible for the guest experience of the trail program of Longfield stables, including guest safety, guest to horse experience, including check-in, mounting, trail and safety procedures, and dismounting
• Execute a high standard of equine care and maintenance for trail horses, including daily feedings, stall maintenance, wound and trauma care, and fitness management
• Assist the Equestrian Manager with the planning, budgeting, forecasting, and monitoring of all needs of the trail program horses, including veterinary, nutritional, and equipment 
• Proactively manage trail program staff levels to reflect business demands. Ensure all trail staff are working effectively and efficiently
• Oversees all daily operations of the trail program and daily trail rides while managing trail horse care and maintenance
• Maintain continuous trail staff professional standards to ensure the equine experience is “best in class” for personalized, gracious, and not overly casual or informal guest/staff relations
• Provide a learning platform for the continued development of associates as pertains to the trail program
• Conduct regular associate meetings and daily line-ups with associates
• Develop and supervise a pool of trail staff and trail guides
• Support the activities team to ensure associates can provide a high level of member and guest engagement
• Participate in the execution of daily trail rides and guest check-in and check-out experience
• Weekly review of barn, paddock, and trail conditions as pertains to the execution of the trail guides
• Oversee daily horse care and well-being of each trail horse and report as necessary
• Oversee all trail operational policies as pertains to the trail safety regulations of Longfield Stables
• Lead in the planning and execution of which horses are used in the daily trail operation
• Assist with communication updates to the Member Communications Manager to ensure the membership is well informed of trail program activities and trail horse acquisition and activities
• Execute end-of-day point-of-sale reports for all trail services.
• Use tracking to properly gauge trail program usage and costs.
• Submit invoices and expenses associated with trail program in a timely manner
• Process variable pay daily to ensure commissions and gratuities are accurate for each trail program associate

Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years professional trail experience 
• Minimum 2 years in professionally leading an equestrian trail program
• Excellent horse husbandry and handling skills
• Excellent customer service guest relations

• Ability to handle multiple tasks efficiently and accurately
• Ability to execute basic equine emergency practices including injections, wound care and equine illness troubleshooting
• Ability to work collaboratively with others
• Strong organization skills and attention to details
• Ability to communicate clearly, maturely, and compassionately with members 

• Excellent customer service guest relations
• Highly ethical
• Extremely versatile leader
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, fluency in English.
• Excellent analytical ability, knowledge in research methods and basic statistics to analyze data and formulate conclusions and action steps from results.

Physical Demands:

• Work tasks may be performed both indoors and outdoors. Will encounter variable outdoor weather conditions, including hot, cold, windy and wet weather.
• Must be able to lift 50lbs.
• May need to remain standing for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to tack and untack multiple horses in a short period of time
• Must be able to be in the saddle 2-4 a day on various horses
• Able to work near moving/mechanical parts
• Requires grasping, writing, standing, sitting, walking, repetitive motions, bending, climbing, listening and hearing ability and visual acuity.
• Talking and listening occur continuously in the process of communicating with guests, supervisors and subordinates.
• Vision occurs continuously with the most common visual functions being those of near vision and depth perception.
• Requires manual dexterity to use and operate all necessary equipment.
• Must have finger dexterity to be able to operate office equipment such as computers, printers, multi-line touch tone phone, filing cabinets, photocopiers, dolly and other office equipment as needed.

Palmetto Bluff is proud to be an EEO Employer and participates in E-Verify.