Farm Worker/Groom

About The Donkey Sanctuary

The Donkey Sanctuary is a global animal welfare organization dedicated to providing care and protection to donkeys worldwide. Our vision is a world where every donkey enjoys a high quality of life. Our mission is to enhance the lives of donkeys daily by fostering understanding, collaboration, and support, and by encouraging enduring, mutually beneficial relationships.

Role Overview

We are seeking a proactive and adaptable team player with a passion for donkeys to join our busy team at Brookfield Farm as a Farm Worker/Groom. This role involves providing care and rehabilitation for resident donkeys, mules, ponies, and hinnies, while supporting the Farm Manager to maintain a safe, efficient working environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Regularly monitoring, feeding, grooming, medicating, weighing, worming, and training resident donkeys, mules, ponies, and hinnies.
• Supporting visiting veterinarians, farriers, and dentists during their appointments.
• Operating machinery and performing manual tasks such as mucking out, feeding, and bedding barns and stables; distributing hay, haylage, and bagged feed.
• Maintaining the farm environment through sweeping, power washing, field sweeping, haymaking, strimming, compost management, willow management, and ensuring dirty water control.
• Keeping accurate manual records relating to donkeys’ health, farming operations, holidays, and overtime.
• Providing daily updates to the Farm Manager and Supervisor about donkey health, feeding schedules, and land management; collaborating with team members to ensure smooth farm operations.

Candidate Profile

• Strong observational skills to detect early symptoms of ill-health in animals.
• Excellent communication and customer service abilities, demonstrating tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive issues.
• Proficiency with IT systems and skills.
• Possession of a full, valid UK driving licence.
• Willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Ability to work effectively within a team environment, building trust and positive relationships.
• Self-driven with a professional and optimistic attitude.

Desirable: Experience in animal husbandry or equine care is an advantage.

Employment Details

This is a full-time, permanent position based at Brookfield Farm, Honiton. The role involves working 37.5 hours per week across five days within a seven-day rota, including weekend shifts. The role is available immediately.

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual salary of £25,350.
• Competitive pension scheme.
• Life assurance coverage.
• 31 days of annual leave including bank holidays, increasing to 34 days with each year of service.
• Access to a wellbeing team and recorded Pilates and Yoga classes.
• Long service awards recognition.
• Healthshield plan providing partial reimbursement for certain medical expenses.
• Discounts, offers, and cashback on shopping, travel, and entertainment.
• 24/7 access to GP and counselling services.
• Free onsite parking.
• Subsidised restaurant and shop facilities.

Additional Information

• The Donkey Sanctuary is a Disability Confident Employer committed to safeguarding vulnerable individuals. All staff and volunteers must uphold these values and will undergo safer recruitment practices, which may include Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
• The organization participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and may request prior employment information relevant to misconduct or investigations.
• The Guaranteed Interview Scheme applies to UK-based applicants who declare a disability.
• Applicants are required to submit original applications written in their own words without use of AI assistance; submissions not meeting this guideline may be disqualified.

Location

Brookfield Farm, Farway Common Road, Honiton, Devon, United Kingdom, EX14 9SU.