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 Trade Supervisor to join our Estates and Facilities Management team. As our Trade Supervisor, you will oversee and assist with the delivery of all the trade work required throughout The Donkey Sanctuary, ensuring safe completion to a high quality and within budget and agreed timescales.

About you:

• An appropriate City & Guilds trade qualification/NVQ and/or relevant experience;
• Experience of supervising a large and varied team;
• Demonstrate experience in a variety of maintenance and construction trades;
• Knowledge and experience of effective management of Health & Safety;
• Experience of interpreting drawings, specifications and schedules;
• Able to demonstrate good organisational skills with experience of working on a variety of projects.
• Demonstrate the ability to make good decisions under pressure and deliver on deadlines;
• UK full valid driving licence.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• Line manage the trade teams supporting and liaising as necessary in driving improvements within the service.
• Support the Operations Manager to manage, motivate, recruit, train and develop staff in line with the Charity's strategic aims and objectives.
• Work with colleagues in ensuring that 24-hour breakdown and emergency cover is scheduled appropriately.
• Manage external suppliers, consultants and contractors engaged in works at the Donkey Sanctuary.
• Provide the day-to-day support on energy and utility management including consumption reduction and efficiencies.
• Take responsibility for the delivery of all trade work as allocated.
• Assist in the planning, costing and liaison required for the effective delivery of works;
• Undertake the role of ‘working foreman’ delivering high quality work as well as ensuring the quality of the work of other trade staff.
• Carry out all 0-7 RIBA stages of works including all documentation from initial brief to completion ensuring compliance with statutory and non-statutory standards, health & safety, codes of practice, planning process O&M’s, and building regulations.
• Manage all permit to works, quotations, purchase orders, invoices, risk assessments, method statements, programme and budgets throughout the design, tender, construction, handover and post-construction phases.

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 37.5 hours per week, 5 days over 7, with weekend work as part of the team rota.

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: Tuesday 28 October 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.

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.