CEO/Executive Director Job at Saddle Up!, Nashville, TN

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  • Saddle Up!
  • Nashville, TN

Job Description

Job Summary

Are you a visionary leader who thrives on building relationships, inspiring teams, and driving impact? Do you believe in the power of integrity, community, and purpose-driven leadership? If so, Saddle Up! wants to hear from you.

For 35 years, Saddle Up! has transformed the lives of children and young adults with disabilities through therapeutic, educational, and recreational equine programs. As Middle Tennessee’s oldest and largest organization of its kind, Saddle Up! is more than a nonprofit—it’s a community rooted in compassion, excellence, and lasting change.

We’re seeking our next CEO/Executive Director—an inspiring, relationship-centered leader with a strong fundraising track record, a heart for mission, and a gift for developing people.

Job Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

  • Lead with Purpose: Champion Saddle Up!’s mission and represent us as our primary spokesperson.

  • Drive Fundraising Success: Lead and expand diverse fundraising strategies—major gifts, events, grants, sponsorships—and build deep, meaningful donor relationships.

  • Build Strong Teams: Foster a culture of trust, inclusion, and accountability. Mentor a passionate team and empower staff and volunteers alike.

  • Partner with the Board: Collaborate with a highly engaged Board of Directors to strengthen governance, strategic planning, and fundraising initiatives.

  • Oversee Operations & Finance: Ensure financial stability and operational excellence, in close partnership with senior staff and board leadership.

  • Build Community Relationships and Impact – You will be the “face of Saddle Up!’ in Middle Tennessee and the driving force behind brand awareness and community impact.

Qualifications

You Are

  • A dynamic fundraiser who knows how to turn relationships into resources.
  • A values-driven leader with high emotional intelligence and unwavering integrity.
  • An inclusive people developer with experience building strong internal cultures.
  • A strategic thinker and doer, just as comfortable setting big-picture vision as you are rolling up your sleeves.
  • A servant leader who naturally leads by example.
  • Passionate about empowering children and young adults with disabilities and ideally experienced with equine-assisted services or service within the disability community.

 

Your Experience

  • 7+ years in nonprofit or mission-driven executive leadership or relatable corporate experience.
  • Proven success in fundraising, donor engagement, and community partnerships, sales & marketing.
  • Major project and/or capital campaign experience or similar in a non-profit or corporate setting.
  • Strong financial and operational acumen.
  • Bachelor’s required; Master’s preferred.
  • Knowledge of or passion for equine programs and adaptive services is a plus!
  • Experience working with individuals who are differently abled is highly desirable.
  • Working knowledge of equine management, personal experience with horses is desirable.

Additional Information

Benefits

The following represents Saddle Up!’s basic benefits package. Benefits for the CEO/Executive Director position may vary based on the total compensation plan to be negotiated.

Paid Holidays

  • · New Year’s Day
  • · Good Friday
  • · Memorial Day
  • · Independence Day
  • · Labor Day
  • · Thanksgiving Day
  • · Friday after Thanksgiving
  • · Christmas Eve
  • · Christmas Day

Paid Time Off (PTO)

0-36 months – 17 days per year

37-60 months – 22 days per year

61+ months – 27 days per year

Health Insurance

Paychex’s health insurance plan provides regular full-time employees access to medical insurance benefits through participation in the health insurance plan. Based on years of service, Saddle Up! will contribute a percentage of the monthly premiums as outlined below.

Length of Service  and Percentage Covered

0-4 years 50% of EE only on medical

4+ years 75% of EE only on medical

Dependents and spouse may be added to the insurance coverage at the full expense of the employee. The employee portion of the insurance premium will be automatically deducted from the employee’s paycheck with the employee’s authorization.Eligible employees may participate in the Paychex health insurance plan subject to all terms and conditions of the agreement between Paychex and the insurance carrier.

Other Health Benefits

Through Paychex, employees may obtain Dental, Vision, HSA/FSA, and life insurance during the annual benefits enrollment. Other options may be made available and Paychex will provide a list of options prior to annual enrollment.

Retirement Plan

All employees are eligible to participate in the Company-sponsored 401(k) retirement plan from the first day of the first whole month of employment. The plan allows eligible employees to contribute pre-tax dollars, through payroll deduction, to a retirement account that offers multiple investment options. Investments, which the employee directs, are professionally managed by investment experts. Board matching funds at the lesser of the contribution amount or a pre-determined matching percentage of total eligible salary are provided at the time of contribution. All 401K contributions are fully vested at the time of contribution, including the employer match.

The Saddle Up! Board of Directors will decide annually by vote whether to approve the discretionary match to employee retirement contributions. The match is not guaranteed. To be eligible for a discretionary match, the employee must be on payroll on December 31st per the 401K Plan requirements.

Continuing Education

 

How to Apply

Send a detailed letter of interest and resume to apply@saddleupnashville.org. Position will remain open and applications will be considered until the position is filled, at which time this listing will be removed. No phone calls please.

Saddle Up! seeks to build and nurture a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce in which each person helps make Saddle Up!  a welcoming place for our riders, their families and our volunteers, a productive and affirming workplace, and a vital resource in our community. We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Details

  • Date Posted: August 11, 2025
  • Type: Full-Time
  • Job Function: Executive Leadership
  • Service Area: Children / Youth
  • Start Date: 11/01/2025
  • Salary Range: 95K - 105K
  • Working Hours: 40 hr/wk flexible

Job Tags

Full time, Flexible hours,

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