Programme Design and Impact Advisor

The Donkey Sanctuary; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance

Holiday entitlement (31→34 days)

Wellbeing team

Pilates & 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 across international programmes, strengthening monitoring and learning to ensure evidence-based outcomes. You will collaborate with colleagues and partners in multiple countries to design, monitor and evaluate high-quality development initiatives.

This full-time, hybrid role, based in Sidmouth (Devon), offers opportunities to shape impact, develop learning tools and support donors while promoting animal welfare

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or above (or qualified through relevant experience).
• Demonstrable track record of programme design and MEAL experience in international development or related discipline and thorough understanding of robust MEAL systems and methodologies.
• Working knowledge of theory of change and/or comparable programme development tools and designing robust MEAL frameworks for performance measurement and impact assessment.
• Experience designing and/or carrying out mixed methods evaluation projects or being part of teams delivering them to high quality and ethical standards.
• Significant experience developing MEAL training and mentoring approaches and designing and facilitating participatory capacity development initiatives for diverse audiences.
• Proven experience in leading, motivating and developing individuals and teams to achieve shared objectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and able to engage and influence a range of stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead on ensuring that Donkey Sanctuary funded global programmes and projects are effectively monitored and evaluated.
• Lead the development of a shared monitoring and evaluation database, enabling effective data management and contributing to an evidence-based portfolio.
• Implement, promote and regularly review a Results Framework and associated MEAL tools.
• With support from the MEL Officer, enable staff and partners to apply MEAL tools, develop project MEAL plans, and identify indicators.
• Work with senior managers to improve reporting systems and processes across the IPP team.
• Collaborate with colleagues to develop surveys and participatory workshops informing community-led needs assessment and project design.
• Support International Teams in preparing funding proposals ensuring MEAL activities and requirements are integrated into project plans and budgets.

Skills

MEAL experience

Theory of change

Mixed methods evaluation

MEAL frameworks

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Programme Design and Impact Advisor (2283)

The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys and mules worldwide. We are working for a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering, and their contribution to humanity is fully valued. We are achieving this by transforming the quality of life for donkeys, mules and people worldwide through greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships.

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 our busy International Programmes and Partnerships Department. 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.

About you:

• Educated to degree level or above (or qualified through relevant experience).
• A demonstrable track record of programme design and MEAL experience in international development or related discipline and a thorough understanding of the technical elements of robust and effective MEAL systems and methodologies.
• A working knowledge and experience of working with theory of change and/or comparable programme development tools and designing robust MEAL frameworks for performance measurement and impact assessment.
• Experience of designing and/or carrying out mixed methods evaluation projects or being part of teams delivering them to high quality and ethical standards.
• Significant experience of developing MEAL training and mentoring approaches and of designing and facilitating participatory capacity development initiatives for diverse audiences.
• Proven experience in leading, motivating and developing individuals and teams to achieve shared objectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and able to engage and influence a range of stakeholders.

About the role:

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.
• With support from the MEL Officer, 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 IPP 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 that MEAL activities and requirements are fully integrated into project and programme plans and budgets.

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.

This is a hybrid working position, combining onsite and home working under our guiding principles for such roles. The working pattern and requirement for site attendance be agreed between the line manager and post-holder, currently anticipated to be 2-3 days per year.

Please note that flexibility may be required for occasional international travel.

Life assurance.

31 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 will each full year of service.

Wellbeing team.

Recorded Pilates and Yoga classes.

Long service awards.

Healthshield plan, including reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership, offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel and entertainment from participating outlets and access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service.

Free parking.

Subsidised restaurant and shop on main site.

Closing date for completedapplications: Sunday 27 th September 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.

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.