Programme Design and Impact Advisor

Charity Finance Group; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pension

Life assurance

31 days holiday

Wellbeing team

Pilates and Yoga classes

Long service awards

Healthshield plan

Free parking

Subsidised restaurant and shop

Job summary

The Donkey Sanctuary is seeking a Programme Design and Impact Advisor to lead MEAL for international programmes and partnerships. You will drive evidence-based design, monitoring, evaluation, learning and impact across multi-country initiatives, ensuring data-informed decision making and accountability to donors and communities.

Based in the UK with Devon hybrid working patterns, you will collaborate with teams to refine MEAL tools, develop indicators, and support high-quality project design and

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or above, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Proven track record in programme design and MEAL in international development.
• Understanding MEAL systems and methodologies.
• Experience with theory of change and related tools.
• Experience designing MEAL frameworks for performance measurement and impact assessment.

Responsibilities

• Leading on ensuring that Donkey Sanctuary funded global programmes and projects are effectively and efficiently monitored and evaluated.
• Leading the development of a shared monitoring and evaluation database, enabling effective data management and contributing to an evidence-based portfolio.
• Implementing, promoting and regularly reviewing a Results Framework and associated Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) tools.
• Enabling staff and partners to effectively apply MEAL tools, develop and review project MEAL plans and identify appropriate monitoring indicators.
• Working with senior managers to improve reporting systems and processes, ensuring consistent best practice across the International Programmes and Partnerships team.
• Collaborating with colleagues to develop surveys and participatory workshops that inform community-led needs assessment and project design.
• Supporting International Teams in preparing funding proposals for institutional donors and partners, ensuring MEAL activities and requirements are fully integrated into project and programme plans and budgets.

Skills

MEAL

Monitoring & Evaluation

Data management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Education

Degree-level education or above

Tools

MEAL tools

Theory of Change

Surveys

Job description

Programme Design and Impact Advisor

These are exciting times for the charity, and we have an excellent opportunity for a proactive and highly professional individual with outstanding leadership, interpersonal and motivational skills to join the International Programmes and Partnerships Department as Programme Design and Impact Advisor.

Position: Programme Design and Impact Advisor. Location: Devon/Hybrid (This is a hybrid working position, combining home and onsite working under the guiding principles for such roles. The working pattern and requirement for site attendance will be agreed between the line manager and post-holder, currently anticipated to be 2-3 days per year). Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week, 08.30-16.30, Monday-Friday. Contract: Permanent. Salary: £44609 per annum. Closing Date: Sunday 27 September 2026.

About the Role

As Programme Design and Impact Advisor, you will lead and strengthen the monitoring, evaluation, learning and impact measurement of The Donkey Sanctuary's international programmes, ensuring programmes are evidence-based, results-driven and accountable. Working collaboratively with colleagues and partners across multiple countries, you will support the design, monitoring and evaluation of high-quality international development programmes and drive organisational learning to maximise impact for donkeys and the communities that depend on them.

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include:

• Leading on ensuring that Donkey Sanctuary funded global programmes and projects are effectively and efficiently monitored and evaluated.
• Leading the development of a shared monitoring and evaluation database, enabling effective data management and contributing to an evidence-based portfolio.
• Implementing, promoting and regularly reviewing a Results Framework and associated Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) tools.
• Enabling staff and partners to effectively apply MEAL tools, develop and review project MEAL plans and identify appropriate monitoring indicators.
• Working with senior managers to improve reporting systems and processes, ensuring consistent best practice across the International Programmes and Partnerships team.
• Collaborating with colleagues to develop surveys and participatory workshops that inform community-led needs assessment and project design.
• Supporting International Teams in preparing funding proposals for institutional donors and partners, ensuring MEAL activities and requirements are fully integrated into project and programme plans and budgets.

Flexibility may be required for occasional international travel.

About You

• Degree-level education or above, or equivalent relevant experience.
• A demonstrable track record of programme design and MEAL experience within international development or a related discipline.
• A thorough understanding of the technical elements of robust and effective MEAL systems and methodologies.
• Working knowledge and experience of theory of change and/or comparable programme development tools.
• Experience designing robust MEAL frameworks for performance measurement and impact assessment.
• Experience designing and/or carrying out mixed methods evaluation projects to high quality and ethical standards.
• Significant experience developing MEAL training and mentoring approaches and facilitating participatory capacity development initiatives.
• Proven experience leading, motivating and developing individuals and teams to achieve shared objectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a range of stakeholders.

Benefits include:

• 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.
• Free parking.
• Subsidised restaurant and shop.

About the Organisation

Join one of the UK’s largest international animal welfare charities, currently supporting projects in over 35 countries worldwide, working for a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering and their contribution to humanity is fully valued.

The Charity is a Disability Confident Employer, 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.

You may also have experience in areas such as Programme Design, Programme Design Advisor, Impact Advisor, Programme Impact, MEAL, MEAL Advisor, Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation, MEL, MEL Advisor, Impact and Learning, International Development, Programme Quality, Programme Effectiveness, Programme Monitoring and Evaluation.