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.  Globally, we support projects in countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America, transforming lives through direct care, community training, collaborative partnerships and advocacy work to improve the way donkeys are treated.

These are exciting times for the Charity, and we have an excellent opportunity for a proactive and flexible professional with outstanding interpersonal, collaborative and problem-solving skills to join our dedicated International Programmes and Projects team in Ethiopia. As Ethiopia Donkey and Mule Welfare Lead, you will work closely with the Ethiopia Programme and Partnership Manager, teams across the organisation and with external partners to quality assure the Ethiopia programme, developing strategies to address problems and improve donkey and mule welfare, providing technical inputs into Ethiopia Strategy and Operational Plans and supporting equine learning to drive high-quality programmes.

About you:

• A Degree in Veterinary Medicine with specialization in equines.
• Must have at least five years of experience in Ethiopia of the Animal Welfare or International Development sector.
• Demonstrable knowledge of Equid Health, harnessing and Nutrition.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the role and importance of equid welfare and of animal health systems in Ethiopia.
• An understanding of programme/project management in the international development field and of advocacy work at national and international levels.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Fluency in English and Amharic (written and verbal).

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• Technically supporting and assessing partners through their programmes to transform Donkey and Mule welfare through improved health, harnessing and nutrition.
• Working as part of the Ethiopia Team to oversee the implementation of animal health system strengthening programme components; effectively contributing to the development and provision equine education in colleges and CPDs.
• Providing technical input to Skin Trade solutions in Ethiopia.
• Acting as a proactive member of global technical working groups to build Ethiopia equine learning into global policy and standard practice.
• Monitoring of equine diseases within Ethiopia and [Region], in particular those affecting working donkeys and mules, and zoonotic ones, through regional stakeholders such as OIE, FAO, Ethiopian Vet Association, universities.
• Supporting the design, data collection and analysis of Donkey and Mule welfare focused-research;
• Represent the Ethiopia team and wider TDS organisation in relevant technical meetings at National and Regional levels and develop effective working relationships and collaborative Partnerships.

The contract:

Based at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Bole Sub City Woreda 03, this is a full-time, permanent contract starting on 1 July 2025, working 37.5 hours per week, 08.30-17.00, Monday-Friday.

The working pattern for this role will combine onsite and home working under our guiding principles for such roles, with onsite attendance currently anticipated to be 3 days per week.

The post-holder will have the legal right to live and work in Ethiopia and will be able to travel regionally on a regular basis.

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 1 June 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.