Farm Worker/Groom (1895)

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 flexible and proactive team player with a passion for Donkeys to join our busy team at Paccombe Farm, near Sidmouth, Devon. Possessing substantial equine and animal husbandry experience, you will provide care and rehabilitation for the resident donkeys, mules, and hinnies, and support the Farm Manager and Farm Supervisor in maintaining a safe working environment.

About you:

• Previous equine or animal husbandry experience.
• Physically fit and able to lift, for example, a bag of feed (approx. 20 kg).
• Willing to work outside in adverse weather conditions.
• Willing to undertake work-related training as required.
• Full current valid driving licence.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include:

• Routinely checking, feeding, medicating, grooming, weighing, worming, and training the resident donkeys.
• Assisting visiting vets, farriers, and dentists.
• Operating machinery, and/or manually mucking out, feeding, and bedding up barns and stables, and distributing hay, haylage, and bagged feedstuffs.
• Maintaining the farm by sweeping, pressure washing, cleaning, field sweeping, haymaking, strimming, compost management, willow management, and dirty water control.
• Maintaining up-to-date manual records for the donkeys, farming practices, holidays, and overtime.
• Providing feedback on a daily basis to the Farm Manager and Supervisor on matters such as donkey health, feeding regimes, and land management and liaising with other staff to facilitate smooth running of the farm.

What we offer in return:

This is a part-time, fixed-term contract starting as soon as possible until 17 March 2026, working 22.5 days per week. The working pattern will be agreed between the line manager and post-holder, but flexibility will be required for weekend work (1 in 4) as part of the team rota.

• Life Assurance.
• 31 Days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 with each full year of service.
• 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.
• Subsidised restaurant and shop at The Donkey Sanctuary main site.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 20 March 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.