At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead application management strategy and ensure reliable, secure business applications.
- Company: The Donkey Sanctuary, a global leader in animal welfare.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, health cover, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to improving the lives of donkeys worldwide.
- Why this job: Make a real difference for donkeys while leading innovative application management.
- Qualifications: Experience in application management, strong leadership, and strategic thinking skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ 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.
These are exciting times for the charity, and we have an outstanding opportunity for a self‑motivated and highly professional individual with exceptional analytical, collaborative and interpersonal skills to join our Leadership Team.
As Head of Application Management, you will be responsible for the leadership, strategic direction and effective delivery of all business applications used across The Donkey Sanctuary, ensuring these are reliable, secure and support our operational and strategic goals.
Within this multifunctional and rewarding role, you will lead, support and develop the application management team so they can deliver a high-quality and customer‑focused service, fostering a collaborative working culture, encouraging innovation and shared problem‑solving.
About you: Proven experience of leading application management or enterprise systems teams.
A strong understanding of ITIL, Dev Ops, and Agile methodologies.
Familiarity with SFIA framework and digital transformation principles.
Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Proven strategic thinking and decision‑making skills.
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
Practical experience of managing complex application landscapes and vendor ecosystems.
About the role: Your principal duties and responsibilities will include – Leading the development and delivery of an application management strategy, ensuring it supports the current and future needs of the organisation.
Establishing clear processes for the full lifecycle of applications, including acquisition, development, maintenance, and retirement.
Overseeing the performance, availability, and reliability of all business‑critical applications, ensuring services run smoothly and efficiently and support business continuity and the delivery of organisational objectives.
Ensuring effective incident, problem, and change management processes so that application issues are resolved promptly and downtime is minimised.
Building strong working relationships across The Donkey Sanctuary, acting as the main point of contact for application related advice, priorities and improvement.
Ensuring applications comply with regulatory requirements, data protection obligations, and security standards.
Identifying and managing risks related to application services, implementing appropriate controls and mitigation strategies.
What we offer in return: Based in Sidmouth, East Devon – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – this is a full‑time, permanent role starting on 1 October 2026, working 35 hours per week,
, Monday‑Friday.
This is a hybrid working position, combining home and occasional onsite working under our guiding principles for such roles.
The working pattern and requirement for site attendance (for essential meetings) will be agreed between the line manager and post‑holder.
Life assurance (4 x annual salary).
BUPA private health cover.
Sickness Income Protection (50% of salary) 31 days holiday (including
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Application Management in London
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by The Donkey Sanctuary.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like The Donkey Sanctuary.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at The Donkey Sanctuary.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at The Donkey Sanctuary. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Application Management in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of The Donkey Sanctuary. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head of Application Management, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Donkey Sanctuary
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of The Donkey Sanctuary. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
