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.

These are exciting times for the charity, and we have an outstanding opportunity for a self-motivated and highly professional individual with exceptional analytical, problem-solving and interpersonal skills to join our Leadership Team.  As Head of Infrastructure and Security, you will lead the strategic direction, design, and delivery of The Donkey Sanctuary's technology infrastructure and security capabilities, ensuring that IT infrastructure services are secure, resilient, and scalable and aligned with business needs. Your responsibilities within this rewarding and multifunctional role will include overseeing robust cybersecurity measures, ensuring regulatory compliance, and embedding effective governance to manage risk and optimise performance, directly contributing to the delivery of the organisation's strategic priorities.

About you:

• Experienced in senior IT leadership roles within infrastructure and security domains.
• A strong knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and best practices.
• Proven experience of managing hybrid environments, including on-premises and cloud technologies.
• Working experience of aligning IT infrastructure and security initiatives with organisational objectives.
• Proven ability to lead and develop technical teams.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business language.
• An analytical approach to solving complex technical and security challenges.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• Developing and implementing infrastructure and security strategies aligned with organisational goals, ensuring technology platforms are efficient and capable of supporting future growth and innovation.
• Providing expert advice on emerging technologies and security threats to inform strategic planning relating to digital investment and risk mitigation.
• Overseeing the design, operation, maintenance and optimisation of networks, servers, storage, and cloud platforms and related services, ensuring these are resilient and efficient.
• Leading cybersecurity initiatives including conducting risk assessments, vulnerability management, and incident response.
• Establishing, maintaining and continuously improving IT governance frameworks, including policies, processes, standards and controls that support secure and effective service delivery.
• Managing audits, ensuring findings are addressed, risks mitigated and the organisation remains fully compliant with data protection legislation and cybersecurity expectations.
• Leading, supporting and developing infrastructure and security teams, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

What we offer in return:

Based in Sidmouth, East Devon – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – this is a full-time, permanent role starting on 1 October 2026, working 35 hours per week, 08.30-16.30, Monday-Friday.

This is a hybrid working position, combining home and occasional onsite working under our guiding principles for such roles. The working pattern and requirement for site attendance (for essential meetings) will be agreed between the line manager and post-holder.

Benefits:  

Competitive pension.

Life assurance (4 x annual salary).

BUPA private health cover.

Sickness Income Protection (50% of salary)

31 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 with 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.

Subsidised restaurant and shop.

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 2 August 2026.

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

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/