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. 

Donkey Welfare Advisers are professionals in the field of donkey and mule welfare. They play a key front-line role in the work of The Donkey Sanctuary: responding to donkeys in need, supporting donkeys in the community, growing and managing a high-quality rehoming scheme, and acting as an ambassador for the charity at all times.

We now have an excellent secondment opportunity for a dynamic and resourceful individual with a proven track record of community-based animal welfare work, excellent decision-making and time-management skills and a strong customer service ethic to join our team as Donkey Welfare Adviser for South Wales.

About you:

• A positive influencer able to promote and model our values in all areas of your work.
• A high level of equine knowledge with significant experience of working with equines.
• A working knowledge of legal practicalities and experience of the application of relevant animal welfare legislation.
• An understanding of equine behaviour and demonstrable practical experience in the field.
• Able to influence change and respond appropriately in emotional challenging or confrontational situations.
• Excellent communicator able to deliver advice and training to stakeholder groups with varying experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills, comfortable with making new contacts and able to develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• Promoting good welfare for donkeys and mules by working proactively to support, guide and educate key audiences and by sharing best practice.

• Communicating effectively with groups from all social, racial, and cultural backgrounds, often in highly emotive and sometimes confrontational circumstances.
• Delivering high quality, impactful training to a range of stakeholders in a style suitable to the audience and the resources available.

• Responding to future care enquiries, working creatively to identify suitable alternatives to sanctuary care where appropriate, and gathering and co-ordinating relevant information to inform donkey placement decisions and help owners make informed choices for their donkeys, including end of life decisions.
• Supporting a good quality rehoming scheme by ensuring donkeys are placed in the most suitable environments for their needs.

• Working proactively to prevent/alleviate suffering, referring to and/or collaborating with enforcement agencies when necessary.
• Providing reliable evidence for welfare investigation cases, including witness statements and other relevant evidence in court compliant formats, and attending court to give evidence as required.

What we offer in return:

This is a full-time, fixed term maternity cover contract starting on 14 December 2026 until 3 March 2028, working an average of 37.5 hours per week on an annualised hours basis.

Defined as ‘home-based' it is preferable that candidates live centrally within region to gain easy access to travel and communication networks. However, locations close to the defined area may be considered if operationally viable. You are required to have broadband access, a suitable space for a home office and good mobile phone reception.

Benefits:  

Vehicle provided.

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 at the main Donkey Sanctuary site.

Subsidised restaurant and shop at the main Donkey Sanctuary site.

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 27 September 2026.

Interviews with be held at The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, on Tuesday 27^th Wednesday 28^th October 2026.

NOTES TO PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS:

• We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised date and therefore encourage early applications.

• Before applying, please ensure that if successful in being called to interview, you would be able to attend in person on the specified date, as we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate requests for alternative arrangements.

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.

The Donkey Sanctuary also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and, for relevant posts, may request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

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.

Before submitting your application, please ensure you read our candidate journey page, in particular our FAQs section – https://jobs.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/jobs/candidate-journey/