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- Tasks: Lead a team in donkey care and fencing operations while ensuring high animal welfare standards.
- Company: Join The Donkey Sanctuary, a global leader in animal welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy 31 days holiday, life assurance, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Permanent role with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of donkeys and lead a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Experience in agriculture or farm management with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
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 are seeking an inspiring and capable Supervisor with proven experience in a land‑based, agricultural, or farm environment to lead and coordinate a small operational team across our farm portfolio. Ensuring team compliance in Health & Safety, administrative and financial processes while maintaining high standards of animal welfare, land management and infrastructure.
About you:
- Proven experience working in a land-based, agricultural or farm environment.
- Demonstrable leadership or supervisory experience ideally in multiple sites operations.
- Strong organisational skills with experience in task planning, resource allocation, and workload management.
- Confident and competent in operating farm machinery and vehicles, including tractors.
- Sound understanding of health and safety legislation and the ability to develop, review, and implement risk assessments.
- Experience in ordering materials, managing budgets, processing invoices, and maintaining accurate records.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to liaise effectively with internal departments and external stakeholders.
- Ability to use IT systems (e.g., Microsoft Office, SharePoint).
- UK full valid driving licence.
About the role:
Your principal duties and responsibilities will include:
- Lead and supervise the Farm Support Team, including direct oversight of the internal fencing team, providing day‑to‑day direction, support and performance management.
- Liaise with Farm and Site Managers to plan and prioritise fencing and farm support requirements across all sites.
- Plan and allocate resources, including internal fencing staff, external fencing contractors and farm support workers as required.
- Oversee delivery of farm support activities, including fencing, hauling of manure and dirty water, donkey care support, hay making assistance, pressure washing, equipment movements, general farm work and light farm maintenance.
- Develop and manage the annual fencing budget, monitor spend and ensure accurate cross‑charging to departments for fencing works completed.
- Place orders with approved suppliers and track expenditure in line with financial procedures.
- Ensure all operations comply with health and safety legislation and charity policies, including maintaining task‑specific risk assessments.
- Provide regular updates to the Farms Admin Manager on progress, resourcing and financial position.
What we offer in return:
Based at our Weston farm, this is a permanent role, working 37.5 hours per week, 5 days over 7, with weekend work as part of the team rota. Life assurance. 31 days holiday.
Farm Operations Supervisor - Donkey Care & Fencing employer: The Donkey Sanctuary
Contact Detail:
The Donkey Sanctuary Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Farm Operations Supervisor - Donkey Care & Fencing
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research The Donkey Sanctuary and understand their mission and values. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the role. Personal connections can make a huge difference!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for practical assessments! Since this role involves farm operations, be ready to demonstrate your skills with machinery and your understanding of health and safety practices. Brush up on your knowledge and be confident!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at The Donkey Sanctuary.
We think you need these skills to ace Farm Operations Supervisor - Donkey Care & Fencing
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Animal Welfare: When writing your application, let your love for donkeys and animal welfare shine through. We want to see that you genuinely care about improving the lives of these animals, so share any relevant experiences or stories that highlight your commitment.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Supervisor, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience in your application. We’re looking for examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, especially in agricultural or farm settings.
Be Specific About Your Experience: Don’t just list your previous jobs; dive into the details! Talk about your hands-on experience with farm machinery, health and safety compliance, and budget management. We want to know exactly how your background aligns with what we need.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal: While we appreciate a friendly tone, remember to keep your application professional. Use clear language and structure your application well. And don’t forget to apply through our website – it’s the best way to ensure we see your application!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Donkey Sanctuary
✨Know Your Donkeys
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge about donkey care and welfare. The Donkey Sanctuary is all about improving their lives, so being able to discuss specific practices and your experience with animal care will show that you're genuinely passionate about the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in previous roles. Think about times when you coordinated tasks or managed resources effectively. This will demonstrate your capability to supervise the Farm Support Team and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
✨Get Familiar with Health & Safety
Brush up on health and safety legislation relevant to farm operations. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented risk assessments in the past and how you would ensure compliance in this role. This shows that you take safety seriously and understand its importance in farm management.
✨Be Ready to Talk Budgets
Since managing budgets and financial processes is key for this position, prepare to discuss your experience with ordering materials, tracking expenditure, and maintaining accurate records. Being able to articulate your financial acumen will set you apart from other candidates.