Chief of Staff/Operations Director

Job Description

Job Description

Rein Dance Equestrian is a private, high-end, family-owned dressage facility set on 160 acres in Delano, MN. Rein Dance is entering an exciting next chapter, and we are seeking an exceptional Chief of Staff to help shape what comes next. This is a rare opportunity to work at the center of a world-class, purpose-driven equestrian operation—partnering closely with leadership to turn big ideas into meaningful progress, elevate the day-to-day experience across the facility, and help ensure our people, horses, and programs thrive. The Chief of Staff will bring energy, judgment, organization, and a genuine passion for excellence to a role with real influence, helping Rein Dance continue to set the standard for exceptional horsemanship, stewardship, and care.

Reports to:  The Owner, with the Equestrian Lead as the key partner

Compensation: $90,000 to $130,000, depending on experience

Primary focus:  Operational leadership, project delivery, people accountability, financial discipline, and clear communication

Partnering with the Equestrian Lead and the Equine Program

Horse care and the barn belong to the Equestrian Lead, who stays involved in every decision about the horses. This role does not manage the equine program. It makes sure the program has what it needs to run well.

• Meet regularly with the Equestrian Lead to turn priorities into action plans, owners and deadlines
• Bring concise decision materials, with options, a recommendation, cost, timing and risks, whenever a choice needs the Equestrian Lead's input
• Support the barn team with facility readiness, vendors, maintenance, continuity planning and business administration, leaving technical and horse decisions with the experts
• Take the cross-functional coordination and day-to-day grind off the Equestrian Lead's plate, working with the Property and Executive Operations Manager on the property, and be clear about what is handled and what needs their attention
• Protect the standards and values of Rein Dance in everyday decisions and communications

Core Responsibilities

1. Run the operating system

• Establish a practical cadence of leadership check-ins, weekly priorities, project reviews, decision tracking and regular reporting to the Owner and the Equestrian Lead, so they always know what is on track, what is at risk and what needs a decision
• Make clear who owns what across property operations, staffing, vendors, safety and projects, and resolve gaps or overlaps quickly
• Build simple, repeatable systems: standard procedures, maintenance planning, vendor records, budgets and project plans
• Track commitments to completion, spot obstacles early and use judgment on what to escalate and what to solve yourself

2. Lead people and accountability

• Partner with the Property and Executive Operations Manager, who owns the property side, and lead other functional leaders as the organization evolves
• Set clear expectations for core hours, communication, coverage, ownership and follow-through
• Support managers in solving problems, giving feedback, setting schedules and addressing performance
• Support recruiting and onboarding, and contribute to role design, staffing plans and compensation recommendations for ownership

3. Partner on property operations, projects and vendors

• Partner with the Property and Executive Operations Manager to keep a complete view of facility condition, capital needs, seasonal work, preventive maintenance, safety issues and active projects, keeping the facility maintained proactively rather than through repeated emergencies
• Help drive projects from scope to closeout: budgets, schedules, bids, vendor coordination, quality control and documentation
• Support oversight of critical systems and vendors, including water and well, fire monitoring, arena systems, equipment, buildings, roads, fencing and grounds
• Help hold vendors to clear standards for responsiveness, quality, cost and site conduct

4. Own continuity, risk and compliance

• Own the operating side of emergency response: escalation protocols, contacts, coverage plans and post-incident follow-up
• Make sure insurance, licensing, safety, employment and recordkeeping requirements are met, with specialists where needed

5. Manage finances, reporting and information flow

• Review spending, contracts, proposals and invoices against approved scope and delegated authority
• Provide a concise weekly update covering priorities, decisions needed, risks, project status, staffing and budget concerns
• Keep records in the designated systems so the operation does not depend on any one person's memory or inbox

Qualifications and Attributes

Required

• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in operations, chief of staff, general management, estate or property operations or a similarly complex service environment
• Proven ability to lead across functions, create systems, manage teams and vendors, and deliver projects with real accountability
• Strong judgment, calm and discretion, with the confidence to make decisions and respectfully hold people to a high standard
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including turning complicated activity into a short, useful update
• Comfortable with budgets, proposals, invoices, project schedules, contracts, records and work-management technology
• Comfortable working in a high-standard equestrian environment and with technical specialists. Horse experience is helpful but not required, and never substitutes for leadership and operational depth

Personal attributes

• Highly organized and proactive; notices what is missing before it becomes a problem
• Warm, steady and direct; builds trust without avoiding accountability
• Comfortable moving between strategic planning and the practical details that keep a property running
• Humble enough to listen to specialists and decisive enough to set direction when no one else is
• Not territorial: gives people clear ownership instead of becoming a bottleneck
• At ease working with a family that has high standards and strong views, and able to partner well with each member

Working Expectations

This is an on-site leadership position at a private facility in Delano, Minnesota. The role requires visible engagement with the team and property during core business hours, with flexibility for urgent issues, weather events and time-sensitive projects. Because Rein Dance operates every day of the year, you are responsible for dependable coverage and continuity, and for modeling healthy, clear and responsible leadership.