The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys worldwide. Our vision is a world where every donkey has a good quality of life, and our mission is to improve the lives of donkeys every day. We will achieve this by transforming the lives of donkeys in need worldwide by fostering greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships. 

We have an exciting opportunity for a person with a passion for donkeys to join our busy team at the Belfast Centre, Templepatrick. The suitable candidate will have a good standard of equine and/or animal husbandry experience, you will provide care and rehabilitation for the resident donkeys to join the rehoming scheme and will support the Centre Manager in maintaining a safe working environment. 

About you: 

• Previous equine or animal husbandry experience. 

• Good communication and organisational skills. 

• Excellent customer service skills. 

• Physically fit and able to lift, for example, a bag of feed (approx. 20 kg). 

• Willing to work outside in adverse weather conditions. 

• Willing to undertake work related training as required. 

• Full current valid driving licence. 

About the role: 

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –  

• Providing care by routine checking, feeding, medicating, grooming, weighing, worming and training the resident donkeys. 

• Work alongside internal & external equine professionals such as the vet, dentist and farrier when required. 

• Providing feedback on a daily basis to the Centre Manager on matters such as donkey health, feeding regimes and land management, and liaising with other staff to facilitate smooth running of the Centre. 

• Through the guidance of the supervisor and behaviour team to provide regular training plan to suit the individual needs of donkeys for rehoming. 

• Assist the welfare department providing additional support to donkeys.  

• Operating machinery, and/or manually, mucking out, feeding and bedding up of barns and stables and distributing hay, haylage and bagged feedstuffs. 

• Maintaining the farm by sweeping, pressure washing, cleaning, field sweeping,  

• Maintaining up to date manual records for the donkeys and farming practices. 

What we offer in return: 

Based at The Belfast Centre, Templepatrick, this is a full-time permanent contract starting as soon as possible, working 37.5 hours per week, 5 days over 7, with weekend work as part of a rota. Hours of work are 8am to 4.30pm. 

Benefits:    

Competitive pension. 

Life Assurance. 

31 Days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 will each full year of service. 

Wellbeing Team. 

Recorded Pilates and Yoga classes. 

Long Service Awards. 

HealthShield Plan – 

• Reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership.  

• Offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel and entertainment from participating outlets.  

• Access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service. 

Free parking. 

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 3 March 2025.

Please note interviews will take place on site, on Wednesday 5 March 2025. 

The Donkey Sanctuary is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people (children and adults), and expects all staff and volunteers to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment processes, including an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where required for the post.

Please note: The Guaranteed interview scheme is only applicable to candidates who consider themselves to have a disability applying for roles based within the United Kingdom.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: We look forward to receiving your application, but we do ask you to complete this in your own words, and not to employ an Artificial Intelligence (AI) writing tool or assistant. Applications that are considered not to be an applicant’s own work may not be shortlisted for interview.