Farm Worker/Groom

jobs24.co.uk; Sidmouth; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a passionate team dedicated to the welfare of donkeys at a leading animal sanctuary. This full-time role involves caring for resident donkeys, supporting their rehabilitation, and ensuring a safe working environment. Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in animal husbandry, strong communication skills, and a commitment to animal welfare. With flexible working hours and a variety of benefits, this position offers an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of these wonderful animals. If you have a love for animals and a proactive approach, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Competitive pension

Life Assurance

31 Days holiday

Wellbeing Team

Recorded Pilates classes

Long Service Awards

Healthshield Plan

Discounts and cashback offers

24/7 GP and counselling service

Free Parking

Qualifications

• Experience in equine care and animal husbandry is essential.
• Must possess good communication and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Care for donkeys, including feeding, grooming, and training.
• Assist vets and maintain farm operations.

Skills

Equine and animal husbandry experience

Good communication skills

Customer service skills

Physical fitness

Job description

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include:

1. Routinely checking, feeding, medicating, grooming, weighing, worming, and training the resident donkeys.
2. Assisting visiting vets, farriers, and dentists.
3. Operating machinery, and/or manually mucking out, feeding, and bedding up of barns and stables and distributing hay, haylage, and bagged feedstuffs.
4. Maintaining the farm by sweeping, pressure washing, cleaning, field sweeping, haymaking, strimming, compost management, willow management, and dirty water control.
5. Maintaining up-to-date manual records for the donkeys, farming practices, holidays, and overtime.
6. Providing feedback on a daily basis to the Farm Manager and Supervisor on matters such as donkey health, feeding regimes, and land management and liaising with other staff to facilitate smooth running of the farm.

We have an excellent opportunity for a flexible and proactive team player with a passion for donkeys to join our busy team at Trow and Hurford farms, Sidmouth, Devon. Possessing substantial equine and animal husbandry experience, you will provide care and rehabilitation for the resident donkeys, mules, and hinnies, and support the Farm Manager in maintaining a safe working environment.

Minimum Requirements:

1. Previous equine or animal husbandry experience.
2. Good communication skills.
3. Excellent customer service and people skills.
4. Physically fit and able to lift, for example, a bag of feed (approx. 20 kg).
5. Willing to work outside in adverse weather conditions.
6. Willing to undertake work-related training as required.
7. Full valid UK driving licence.

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.

This is a full-time, permanent contract working 37.5 hours per week, 5 days over 7. The working pattern will be agreed between the Farm Manager and post holder, but flexibility will be required for weekend working as part of the team rota.

Benefits include:

1. Competitive pension.
2. Life Assurance.
3. 31 Days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 with each full year of service.
4. Wellbeing Team.
5. Recorded Pilates classes.
6. Long Service Awards.
7. Healthshield Plan - Reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership.
8. Offers, discounts, and cashback on shopping, travel, and entertainment from participating outlets.
9. Access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service.
10. Free Parking.
11. Subsidised restaurant and shop at The Donkey Sanctuary main site.