Equine Communication Specialist (Full Time) - World Equestrian Center Ocala

Job Description

Job Description

The Equine Marketing Communications Specialist is responsible for developing and executing written communications that promote our equestrian events and enhance our reputation as a premier equestrian venue. This role involves creating compelling content across multiple channels, including press releases, blogs, web and email campaigns, to engage riders, trainers, owners, and fans. The specialist will cover horse shows and other equine events, working closely with the WEC Marketing team to ensure cohesive messaging.

Primary Responsibilities:

· Cover all WEC-owned horse shows and equestrian events, writing timely and engaging press releases and blogs for competitions and announcements.

· Construct and write compelling social media content across platforms that aligns with brand voice and marketing goals.

· Capture and post organic, real-time social media stories during horse shows using content gathered on-site (photo and video via mobile devices), adapting messaging quickly based on event flow and engagement opportunities.

· Manage and execute equine email marketing initiatives in Mailchimp, including campaign builds, segmentation, list management, A/B testing, and the development and maintenance of automated workflows to support exhibitor engagement and event promotion.

· Serve as a contributing editor and writer to WEC Magazine.

· Collaborate with the Senior Manager, Equine Marketing to develop targeted marketing and paid media campaigns for all equine events, programs, and initiatives.

· Coordinate closely with Resort Marketing to ensure integrated messaging across channels and provide content support for social media posts.

· Work with the sponsorship team to execute marketing deliverables as outlined in partnership agreements.

· Coordinate coverage schedules and marketing plans with WEC – Wilmington.

· Track and analyze the performance of communications and email campaigns, reporting on engagement metrics and providing insights to optimize future content.

· Assist with SEO and website content updates, ensuring content is optimized for search engines as well as AI-driven discovery platforms and large language models, strengthening visibility across traditional search and emerging AI tools to attract potential exhibitors.

· Conduct analysis of competitor communications and marketing strategies, providing insights and recommendations to adjust strategies accordingly.

· Contribute to the ongoing refinement of marketing strategies by staying informed on equestrian sport industry trends and best practices in digital and email marketing.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the associate occupying this position. Associates will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship.

Qualifications, Education, Experience, Skills, and Abilities:

Primary Qualifications (Required)

· Strong passion for and working knowledge of equestrian sport and its culture. Familiarity with hunter/jumper competition preferred; prior on-site horse show experience strongly valued.

· 1-3 years of experience in marketing communications, journalism, or a related field. Experience in the equestrian or sports industry preferred.

· Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to produce accurate, engaging content quickly and under deadline pressure.

· Professional experience writing press releases, blogs, web content, and social media copy.

· Ability to manage multiple assignments during high-volume competition weeks while maintaining quality and attention to detail.

· Collaborative, team-oriented mindset with strong communication skills.

· Required availability for extended hours during horse show series, including frequent early mornings, late evenings, and weekends. Horse show weeks involve long days and limited time off; candidates must be prepared for sustained high-intensity schedules during peak seasons, with greater flexibility during slower periods.

Secondary Qualifications (Preferred)

· Experience capturing and publishing real-time social media content during live events.

· Familiarity with email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp).

· Working knowledge of content management systems (e.g., WordPress).

· Basic understanding of SEO and digital content optimization, including awareness of AI-driven search and discovery platforms.

· Ability to interpret engagement metrics (email, web, and social) and apply insights to improve future communications.

· Bachelor’s degree in communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field, or equivalent experience

World Equestrian Center is managed by Columbus Hospitality Management, a company committed to providing quality service and memorable guest experiences in a positive and welcoming work environment. We are focused on supporting the needs of our team through our commitment to the family/work-life balance and by providing development opportunities.

We are proud to be a Drug-Free Workplace/EOE. All applicants will be required to submit a background check prior to employment.