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 now have an excellent opportunity for a self-motivated and highly professional individual to lead our Veterinary Department at our fully equipped hospital at Brookfield Farm, near Honiton, as Head of Veterinary Services (Clinical Director). With proven experience of working at a senior level in equine practice, and a real role model with demonstrable motivational skills, you will lead the veterinary team – responsible for the clinical care of all our donkeys and mules that are resident on our seven farms within a 30-mile radius of Honiton – in maintaining high standards of clinical care through excellent clinical governance and decision-making.

Your principal duties within this multifunctional and rewarding role will include –

• Providing leadership and day-to-day management of the veterinary team, which includes vets, nurses, grooms, equine dental technicians and admin.
• Supporting the team in the provision of high-quality clinical care to all animals resident at The Donkey Sanctuary.
• Overseeing the management of the laboratory and New Arrivals Unit via line management of the lead veterinary surgeons responsible for these teams.
• Providing expert opinion and guidance in all matters relating to donkey health.
• Providing excellent clinical governance supported by an evidence-based approach to veterinary medicine.
• Acting as a role model in maintaining a culture of teamwork, good communication and collaboration.
• Developing and delivering the strategic objectives for the department.

A veterinary degree with MRCVS, together with experience of managing a clinical team and of equine medicine and surgery is essential, as are a flexible leadership style, the ability to deliver evidence-based improvements within a clinical setting and to inspire each member of the team to reach their full potential, and a welfare driven attitude to veterinary medicine. Experience of working for an equine charity is desirable.

If you feel you have the qualifications, skills and experience to fulfil this varied and vital role, and would like to play a major part in driving the evolving programme of change taking place within the charity, we would love to hear from you. This is a full-time, permanent contract working 37.5 hours per week. Core hours will be 08.00-16.30, Monday-Friday with evening and weekend working as part of the on-call team rota.

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 1^st 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.