Director of Assurance and Planning (1925)

Director of Assurance and Planning (1925)

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.

These are exciting times for the charity, and we have an excellent opportunity for a self-motivated and highly professional individual with exceptional strategic thinking and interpersonal skills to join our Leadership Team. As Director of Assurance and Planning, you will develop a strategic vision for operational resilience and risk management transformation, directly contributing to our mission. With a strong focus on the charity's mission and values, and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams and governance bodies, you will ensure the organisation is equipped to deliver its objectives effectively and efficiently through strategic planning, whilst considering our culture and our people as we drive for continuous improvement, accountability and professional assurance practices.

About you:

• Significant senior experience of achieving strategic planning and change in operational delivery in an environment with a high risk profile.
• Experienced in planning, performance managing and assuring a complex operational business.
• A good understanding of legislation, good practice and expectations of external regulators.
• A demonstrable ability to establish an ambitious vision and implement strategies that align with an organisation's mission and goals.
• Proven leadership experience in assurance within an international context.
• Excellent people management skills with experience in team development and performance management.
• Strong negotiation, influencing, and coaching skills and a demonstrable ability to maintain objectivity.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include:

• Developing an effective assurance strategy that provides assurance over risk and internal control culture, aligned to our global ambition.
• Delivering organisational and oversight requirements in a global, complex and culturally diverse setting, beyond a 'compliance-only' approach to effective work planning.
• Working with senior colleagues to ensure measurable delivery of a whole-organisation approach to business planning, aligned to organisational strategy, financial health and strategic priorities.
• Providing inspiring leadership to drive improved Assurance (globally across multiple functions) – building strong professional capability and a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Leading in the growth and development of team members, with a commitment to nurturing and unlocking the potential of teams.
• Driving an assurance function with a charity-wide methodology and practice rooted in new standards of audit and risk management, and in a manner that is cost-effective, aligned to our global strategy and risk framework.
• Building strong and meaningful partnerships with key stakeholders and critical 'second line' functions to further develop whole-charity internal controls.

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, with onsite attendance currently anticipated to be 2 days per month.

• 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.
• 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: Wednesday 9 April 2025.

The Donkey Sanctuary is a Disability Confident Employer.

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: 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.