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. 

Upon arrival at The Donkey Sanctuary, all animals spend a minimum of six weeks at the New Arrivals Unit. Vaccinations, weights, farriery, worming and dental details are updated before the animals then join the resident herds at our farms and Donkey Assisted Therapy Centres. Strict Bio-security measures are in place in order to minimise the risk of the spread of infection between groups.

We are now have an excellent opportunity for a professional and highly self-motivated team player with significant equine and animal husbandry skills and experience to join our New Arrivals team. This is a varied and interesting role, which plays a critical part in settling the donkeys into their new environment, and calls for the ability to work unsupervised whilst strictly maintaining all New Arrivals procedures and protocols.

About you:

• Experience of animal husbandry
• Farm skills qualifications including tractor driving experience.
• Experience of working with equines that have behavioural problems.
• Experience of working with risk assessments in relation to safe working practices.
• Physical fitness and the ability to lift, for example, a bag of feed (approx. 20 kg).
• Willing to work outside in adverse weather conditions.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• Providing care by routine observation, feeding, medicating, grooming, weighing and worming the donkeys, mules, ponies and hinnies.
• Assisting with New Arrivals routines such as farriery, dentals, veterinary examinations and vaccinations.
• Providing care for donkeys with special, additional and behavioural needs and requirements.
• Mucking out, feeding and bedding up of barns and stables and distributing hay, haylage and bagged feedstuffs.
• Ordering, preparing and administering medications under veterinary advice.
• Maintaining a safe working environment.
• Providing feedback on a daily basis to the New Arrivals Manager on matters such as donkey health and feeding regimes and maintain up to date records for all equines within the unit.

The contract:

This is a part-time, fixed term contract starting as soon as possible until 4 May 2026, working 27.5 hours per week, 08.00-13.00 Monday, 08.00-12.30, 08.00-16.30 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 08.00-12.30 Friday. Flexibility will be required to work 1 weekend in 4 as part of the team rota. The working pattern will be agreed between the Line Manager and post holder, and can be either paid as additional hours or taken back as lieu time.

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.

Subsidised restaurant and shop.

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 19 January 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: The Donkey Sanctuary is keen to receive your application, but we do ask you not to employ an Artificial Intelligence (AI) writing tool or assistant in compiling your submission, we are keen to hear from you.  Applications that are considered not to be an applicant’s own work may not be shortlisted for interview.