New Arrivals Groom (2128) in Sidmouth

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.

Upon arrival at The Donkey Sanctuary, all animals spend a minimum of six weeks at the New Arrivals Unit. Vaccinations, weights, farriery, worming and dental details are updated before the animals then join the resident herds at our farms and Donkey Assisted Therapy Centres. Strict Bio-security measures are in place in order to minimise the risk of the spread of infection between groups.

We now have an excellent opportunity for a professional and highly self-motivated team player with significant equine and animal husbandry skills and experience to join our New Arrivals team. This is a varied and interesting role, which plays a critical part in settling the donkeys into their new environment, and calls for the ability to work unsupervised whilst strictly maintaining all New Arrivals procedures and protocols.

About you:

• Experience of animal husbandry
• Farm skills qualifications including tractor driving experience.
• Experience of working with equines that have behavioural problems.
• Experience of working with risk assessments in relation to safe working practices.
• Physical fitness and the ability to lift, for example, a bag of feed (approx. 20 kg).
• Willing to work outside in adverse weather conditions.

About the role:

• Providing care by routine observation, feeding, medicating, grooming, weighing and worming the donkeys, mules, ponies and hinnies.
• Assisting with New Arrivals routines such as farriery, dentals, veterinary examinations and vaccinations.
• Providing care for donkeys with special, additional and behavioural needs and requirements.
• Mucking out, feeding and bedding up of barns and stables and distributing hay, haylage and bagged feedstuffs.
• Ordering, preparing and administering medications under veterinary advice.
• Maintaining a safe working environment.
• Providing feedback on a daily basis to the New Arrivals Manager on matters such as donkey health and feeding regimes and maintain up to date records for all equines within the unit.

The contract:

We would consider appointing one individual to the following role on a part-time, permanent basis, commencing as soon as possible. The position is for 19.5 hours per week, worked as follows:

• Friday: 08:00–16:30
• Saturday and Sunday: 08:00–14:30

Alternatively, we would consider appointing two individuals to work on an alternate weekend basis.

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. 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.

Closing date for completed applications: Tuesday 10 February 2026.

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.

The Donkey Sanctuary also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and, for relevant posts, may request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

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.