Employment Opportunities
At HETRA our mission is to enhance the quality of life—both physically and emotionally—of adults and children of all ability levels through equine-assisted activities. We are dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for our participants, volunteers, staff, and equine partners. If you share our passion for making a positive impact in the community, we invite you to explore our current employment opportunities.
why join HETRA?
- Make a Difference: Your work plays a vital role in improving the well-being to individuals of all abilities in your community.
- Dynamic Environment: Work with incredible people—horses, participants, staff, and volunteers—in a positive, uplifting atmosphere.
- Be Part of a Legacy: Since 1989, HETRA has been a leader in therapeutic equine services and Nebraska’s only PATH, Intl. Premier Accredited Center.
- Team Spirit: Enjoy a collaborative culture where every team member is valued and empowered.
Ready to bring your talents to the HETRA team? Apply today!
Current Openings
Digital Engagement & Grants Coordinator
Organization: HETRA (Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy)
Status: Full-Time / Non-Exempt
Reports to: Development Director
Position Summary
The Digital Engagement & Grants Coordinator plays a key role in amplifying HETRA’s mission by driving creative communication, strengthening donor engagement, and supporting fundraising initiatives. This position leads digital storytelling efforts, develops visually compelling materials, and assists with grant writing and donor communication to ensure HETRA’s programs and impact are effectively shared with the community.
This role is ideal for a detail-oriented communicator with strong design and writing skills, who thrives in a mission-driven, collaborative environment.
Key Responsibilities
Digital & Creative Communications
- Design and produce flyers, graphics, and promotional materials for new and existing programs, events, and campaigns.
- Assist in planning and executing digital marketing strategies to increase awareness and engagement.
- Maintain brand consistency across all digital and print materials.
Email Marketing & External Communication
- Write, schedule, and manage mass email campaigns through HETRA’s communication platforms.
- Draft clear, compelling outward-facing communications including newsletters, donor updates, press releases, program announcements, and participant stories.
- Support communication needs for fundraising campaigns, volunteer initiatives, and special events.
Social Media Management
- Create and schedule engaging social media content aligned with HETRA’s mission and brand.
- Track analytics, monitor engagement, and adjust strategy to increase reach and impact.
- Capture photos/video at programs and events to support digital storytelling.
Development & Grant Writing
- Serve as a primary contributor to HETRA’s grant writing efforts, working closely with the Grants Manager to research, draft, and prepare compelling grant proposals.
- Manage the full grant cycle, including collecting program data, drafting narratives, preparing budgets (with support), and submitting final applications.
- Assist in identifying new grant opportunities that align with HETRA’s mission and program goals.
- Support donor stewardship by helping prepare acknowledgment letters, impact stories, and communication touchpoints.
- Collaborate with the Development Team to support fundraising events, campaigns, and donor engagement efforts.
General Team Support
- Work closely with program staff to gather stories, program updates, and content ideas.
- Assist with special projects and events as needed.
Qualifications
Required
- Strong writing and editing skills with attention to detail.
- Experience designing marketing materials (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar tools).
- Experience managing social media platforms for an organization or brand.
- Strong organizational and project management abilities.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Passion for HETRA’s mission and willingness to engage with program staff, participants, volunteers, and donors.
Preferred
- Experience with email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp).
- Basic experience or interest in grant writing.
- Photography or video creation/editing skills.
- Nonprofit or development/communications experience.
Work Environment
- Position requires occasional evening or weekend work to support events.
- Some time spent in the barn and arena environment to capture program content and assist with events.
- Must be comfortable around horses and individuals with diverse abilities.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and at least two samples of previous design work and two samples of relevant writing samples to Kalynn Manley at kalynns@HETRA.org.
Instructor/ Equine Operations Staff
HETRA is hiring! We are looking for a Full-time Equine Operations Staff member to join our team in Gretna, NE.
Position Summary:
The Equine Operations Staff has the responsibility for assisting in the care, development and maintenance of the HETRA herd. This position works with the Equine Team as a whole and reports to the Equine Operations Manager. This position is an on site role with varied hours Monday- Saturday- evenings and weekends required. This position will help with weekly conditioning and development of the HETRA herd, weekly instructor shift(s), help lead horses in sessions and other programming, assist with veterinary and farrier appointments, assist with volunteer trainings, and assist with daily cares such as feeding, turnout etc.
Preference given to those holding current CTRI certification or candidate would be expected to complete the HETRA Adaptive Riding Instructor Training process within 6 months of hire and the HETRA Able Bodied Whip carriage driving training process in 12 months. This person needs to have advanced equine ground work and riding skills. Should be comfortable working with horses of varying disciplines, breeds and ability levels.
Knowledge/Skill Requirements:
- Highly organized and a self-starter
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent ability to work on and with a team
- Strong teaching and leadership skills
- Extensive horse experience and knowledge
- Advanced riding and ground based horsemanship skills
- Basic carriage driving skills or ability to learn basic driving skills
- Must go through and pass all levels of HETRA volunteer training within 3 months of hire
- Comfortable supervising, working alongside and speaking to volunteers and staff in a professional manner.
- Must have good writing skills.
- Competent computer skills (email, Microsoft Office, Salesforce- preferred)
Part-Time Occupational Therapist or COTA
Are you a passionate Occupational Therapist (OT) or Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) looking for a unique part-time opportunity?
We’re seeking a dedicated professional to join our Equine Assisted Services Program, where therapy meets the healing power of horses. This is a chance to make a meaningful impact in a non-traditional clinical setting.
Position: Part-Time OT or COTA
Availability: Saturday mornings. Options include 8:30–11:00, 10:30–1:00, or the full shift from 8:30–1:00.
Setting: Equine Assisted Services located in Gretna Nebraska
Experience with horses is a plus, but not required
Supportive team, extensive training provided and a rewarding environment
If you're looking to expand your skills in a dynamic and inspiring setting, we'd love to hear from you.
Please reach out or send your resume to Shelby@HETRA.org.
Part-Time Barn Maintenance
We are looking for an awesome Barn Maintenance Employee to join our team.
These shifts are scheduled Monday - Sunday from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. Our current need is on Thursday and Friday.
Position Summary: Completes daily stall and facility maintenance activities as outlined by Facility Manager and Horse Manager. Including but not limited to stall cleaning, sweeping, dusting, turning out horses, feeding horses and cleaning horse waterers.
Principal Responsibilities:
• Cleaning and bedding of all stalls
• Moving of horses to turnout or to another stall when stall is being cleaned
• Sweeping, dusting, cobwebs
• Cleaning of stall water bowls and feed buckets on a weekly basis
• Assist with cleaning of outside pens of manure
• Managing a team of facility maintenance volunteers
• Feeding horses
• Other duties as assigned by Facility Manager and Horse Manager
Knowledge/Skill Requirement:
• Ability to lift up to 75 pounds occasionally and 25-40 pounds frequently
• Ability to stand and walk on a frequent basis for up to 4 hours
• Ability to bend, squat, climb, grasp, reach on a frequent basis
• Ability to operate farm equipment including mini truck and a pull behind dump trailer
• Hard Working
• Ability to Multi-Task
• Must have excellent horse handling skills, preference to individuals that are certified HETRA horse leaders
Interested in learning more? Please email PArner@HETRA.org.
On-Call Facility Maintenance
We are looking for an awesome Facility Maintenance Employee to join our team. This person would fill in if one of our regularly scheduled Facility Maintenance Employees is unavailable.
These shifts are scheduled Monday - Sunday from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.
Position Summary: Completes daily stall and facility maintenance activities as outlined by the Facility Manager and Horse Manager. Including, but not limited to, stall cleaning, sweeping, dusting, turning out horses, feeding horses, and cleaning horse waterers.
Principal Responsibilities:
• Cleaning and bedding of all stalls
• Moving horses to turnout or another stall when the stall is being cleaned
• Sweeping, dusting, cobwebs
• Cleaning of stall water bowls and feed buckets weekly
• Assist with cleaning of outside pens of manure
• Managing a team of facility maintenance volunteers
• Feeding horses
• Other duties as assigned by the Facility Manager and Horse Manager
Knowledge/Skill Requirement:
• Ability to lift up to 75 pounds occasionally and 25-40 pounds frequently
• Ability to stand and walk frequently for up to 4 hours
• Ability to bend, squat, climb, grasp, and reach frequently
• Ability to operate farm equipment including a mini truck and a pull-behind dump trailer
• Hard Working
• Ability to Multi-Task
• Must have excellent horse handling skills, a preference to individuals who are certified HETRA horse leaders
• Ability to manage a team of volunteers
Interested in learning more? Please email PArner@HETRA.org.
