The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland (TDSI) works as part of an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys and mules worldwide. We are working for a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering, and their contribution to humanity is fully valued. We are achieving this by transforming the quality of life for donkeys, mules and people worldwide through greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships.

We now have an excellent opportunity for a proactive and flexible person with outstanding interpersonal skills and a strong customer service ethic to join our busy Fundraising Department. As Visitor Experience Assistant, you will be the public face of TDSI’s visitor site at Knockardbane, ensuring that every visitor’s experience is positive and memorable, engaging with members of the public and winning over hearts and minds for the charity’s work worldwide.

About you:

• Excellent customer service skills.
• Demonstrable experience of effectively engaging with the general public (including public speaking).
• A true team player.
• Able to make good decisions under pressure.
• Basic IT skills.
• Excellent communication skills with a good standard of written English.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• Giving a warm welcome to all visitors, engaging them in the charity at every opportunity and advising them about the work of the charity, and answering queries on visitor facilities at Knockardbane.
• Proactively promoting the adoption of donkeys to site visitors and encouraging them to participate in onsite events and activity trails.
• Providing visitors with informative and inspiring talks and tours.
• Ensuring the Visitor Centre is tidy and presentable, and well-stocked with charity literature and goods for sale.
• Taking donations and adoption applications and completing appropriate paperwork.
• Preparing tills, checking floats, ordering cash from Accounts and cashing up at the end of the day.
• Monitoring the visitor facilities at TDSI (including car parks, toilets, walkways, bins, signage etc.) ensuring a high standard of health, safety and welfare is maintained.

What we offer:

This is a part-time, fixed term contract starting as soon as possible until 13 August 2025, working 21 hours per week 3 days over 4 (Monday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday) you will need to be available all 4 days. Flexibility will be required for weekend working.

Benefits:  

• Competitive pension.
• Life assurance.
• 30 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 35 with each full year of service.
• Wellbeing team.
• Recorded Pilates 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.

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 20 October 2024.

We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable 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.

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.