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 a proactive and flexible team player to join our busy Estates and Facilities Management team. As Relief Facilities Support Worker. You will provide flexible cover and support across Security and Site/Facilities Operations, undertaking routine maintenance and minor repairs, cleaning, gardening and preparing spaces for use. This multi-functional role will include assisting with the security and management of premises, plant, equipment and soft services, ensuring buildings and grounds operate smoothly.

About you:

• Experience of landscape construction or grounds-related works.
• Strong problem-solving, organisational, and time management skills.
• Demonstrable customer service experience.
• Working knowledge of site security procedures and personal safety practices, with the ability to apply them in a working environment.
• Valid First Aid qualification (or willingness to obtain).
• Experience of maintaining accurate records and producing timely incident or activity reports.
• Working knowledge of Health & Safety and Fire Safety legislation and the ability to implement safe systems of work.
• Competent IT skills, including practical experience using Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• Carrying out basic grounds and maintenance work (gardening, painting, benches, plaques, bins, recycling areas).
• Providing operational support for onsite services including deliveries, waste, cleaning, and grounds maintenance, ensuring compliance with charity policies.
• Carrying out regular inspections of gates, to include keys and padlocks in all public areas to ensure they are operational and safe, oiling latches and reporting any repairs required.
• Maintaining safe public access by clearing snow, ice and debris.
• Maintaining site security in line with charity policies through regular patrols (foot/vehicle), securing property, land, equipment, vehicles and access points, and logging all checks.
• Responding promptly to emergencies affecting premises, staff or visitors, and acting as the out-of-hours contact for EFM issues, escalating in line with Issues and Emergencies Support Guidance.
• Acting as designated First Aider, responding to incidents and coordinating with department leads to ensure safe, calm and professional resolution.

What we offer in return:

Based in Sidmouth, Devon – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – this is a part-time permanent contract working 17 hours per week. Fridays will be a full day.  Please note that flexibility will be required for early morning, evening, night and weekend working. We aim to give at least a weeks’ notice for emergency cover when required.

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, including –reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership, offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel and entertainment from participating outlets and access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service.
• Free parking.
• Subsidised restaurant and shop.

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 10 May 2026.

For further information regarding this role, including application instructions, please copy and paste the following link into your web browser:

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/

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.