Project and Change Officer 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.

About You

• Experience in managing small projects of change or supporting complex, cross-organisational projects of change to cost, quality and time.
• Experience of monitoring and evaluation of projects.
• A foundation knowledge of and/or training in project management methodology.
• A working knowledge of change management principles and best practice.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills, able to meet changing priorities and time frames.
• Able to demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, including a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Competent IT skills (proficient in Microsoft Office software).
• Demonstrable experience of partnership working with excellent interpersonal skills to successfully build strong working relationships and influence key stakeholders to achieve goals.
• Excellent time management skills and composure under pressure, with the ability to effectively determine priorities, ensuring delivery to agreed timelines, with flexibility to meet changing priorities and variable workloads.

Your Role

• Responsible for supporting all aspects of successful delivery of complex cross-organisational improvement or transformation projects, or other time specific work assignments as required, to defined time, cost and quality.
• Work as part of a Project team, taking direction as required from Project and Change Managers but is expected to work on own initiative to undertake key activities which are critical to the delivery of these projects within expected timescales, budget and at the level of quality expected of the charity.
• Support and encourage the establishment and management of appropriate governance arrangements, including production and maintenance of key project and change management documentation and tools, undertaking stakeholder engagement with senior managers and other staff as required to secure approval.
• Assist the Project and/or Change Manager or assignment lead to develop realistic and achievable implementation plans, identifying, capturing and maintaining risks, issues and actions throughout the project or change initiative lifecycle.
• Establish, review, develop and manage smaller-scale projects of change, which involves working closely with key stakeholders across disciplines and organisational boundaries across the charity to secure buy-in to the successful delivery of the project outputs.
• Propose agendas for project governance, seeking agreement from the project sponsor, ensures follow up of actions and carries out interventions as and when required to ensure project delivery is not compromised.
• Support Project and Change Managers in planning, documenting and reporting on their project delivery, with specific responsibility for the development and sequencing of detailed plans from high-level milestones and updating documentation at agreed intervals, liaising with members of the project team and other key stakeholders as necessary.

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. The working pattern will be agreed between the line manager and post holder, but the requirement for onsite attendance is currently anticipated to be the equivalent of 2 days per month.

Benefits

• Competitive pension.
• 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: Thursday 26 February 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised date and therefore encourage early applications.

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.