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. 

We have an excellent opportunity for an Project and Change Officer to join our Team. As a Project and Change Officer you will support all aspects of the successful delivery of organisational transformational projects of change and to also be wholly responsible for managing the delivery of specific, smaller-scale projects, working with and influencing key stakeholders to deliver the required change capability.

About you:

• Experience in managing small projects of change or supporting complex, cross-organisational projects of change to cost, quality and time. Experience of monitoring and evaluation of projects.
• A foundation knowledge of and/or training in project management methodology.
• A working knowledge of change management principles and best practice.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills, able to meet changing priorities and time frames.
• Able to demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, including a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Competent IT skills (proficient in Microsoft Office software).
• Demonstrable experience of partnership working with excellent interpersonal skills to successfully build strong working relationships and influence key stakeholders to achieve goals;
• Excellent time management skills and composure under pressure, with the ability to effectively determine priorities, ensuring delivery to agreed timelines, with flexibility to meet changing priorities and variable workloads.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• Responsible for supporting all aspects of successful delivery of complex cross-organisational improvement or transformation projects, or other time specific work assignments as required, to defined time, cost and quality. Including:
  • project and change planning and management;
  • resource planning;
  • communications planning;
  • stakeholder engagement;
  • proactive risk analysis, management and resolution;
  • benefits realisation;
• Work as part of a Project team, taking direction as required from Project and Change Managers but is expected to work on own initiative to undertake key activities which are critical to the delivery of these projects within expected timescales, budget and at the level of quality expected of the charity;
• Support and encourage the establishment and management of appropriate governance arrangements, including production and maintenance of key project and change management documentation and tools, undertaking stakeholder engagement with senior managers and other staff as required to secure approval;
• Assist the Project and/or Change Manager or assignment lead to develop realistic and achievable implementation plans, identifying, capturing and maintaining risks, issues and actions throughout the project or change initiative lifecycle;
• Establish, review, develop and manage smaller-scale projects of change, which involves working closely with key stakeholders across disciplines and organisational boundaries across the charity to secure buy-in to the successful delivery of the project outputs.
• Propose agendas for project governance, seeking agreement from the project sponsor, ensures follow up of actions and carries out interventions as and when required to ensure project delivery is not compromised.
• Support Project and Change Managers in planning, documenting and reporting on their project delivery, with specific responsibility for the development and sequencing of detailed plans from high-level milestones and updating documentation at agreed intervals, liaising with members of the project team and other key stakeholders as necessary;

What we offer in return:

Based in Sidmouth, Devon – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – this is a full-time, permanent contract starting as soon as possible, working 35 hours per week, 08.30-16.30, Monday-Friday.

The working pattern for this role will combine onsite and home working under our guiding principles for such roles. The working pattern will be agreed between the line manager and post holder, but the requirement for onsite attendance is currently anticipated to be the equivalent of 2 days per month.

Please refer to the FAQs section regarding travelling to work on our Candidate Journey page:

https://jobs.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/jobs/candidate-journey/

Benefits:  

Competitive pension.

Life assurance.

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: Thursday 26 February 2026.

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.