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NFP People; Honiton; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance

31 days annual leave

Wellbeing team

Pilates and Yoga classes

Long service awards

Healthshield plan

Free parking

Subsidised restaurant and shop

Job summary

The Donkey Sanctuary near Honiton, East Devon, is seeking a dedicated Farm Worker/Groom to join Brookfield Farm. This full-time role involves caring for resident donkeys, mules and hinnies and supporting the Farm Manager in maintaining a safe working environment.

The position offers 37.5 hours per week over five days, with a weekend rota. Salary is £25,350 per annum, with a benefits package including life assurance, 31 days holiday, wellbeing support and staff discounts.

Qualifications

• Excellent observation skills to identify ill-health signs in animals.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills; tactful handling of sensitive matters.
• Competent IT knowledge.
• Full current UK driving licence.
• Able to carry out physically demanding tasks in all weather.
• Effective team player with positive relationships.
• Self-motivated and professional attitude.
• Experience in animal husbandry or equine care.

Responsibilities

• Routinely check, feed, medicate, groom, weigh, worm and train donkeys, mules, ponies and hinnies.
• Assist visiting vets, farriers and dentists.
• Operate machinery and muck out, feed, bed barns and stables; distribute feed.
• Maintain the farm: cleaning, haymaking, willow management and water control.
• Maintain up-to-date manual records on donkeys, farming practices and holidays.
• Provide daily feedback to Farm Manager on donkey health, feeding regimes and land management.

Skills

Observation skills

Communication & customer service

IT skills

Full UK driving licence

Physical stamina

Team player

Self-motivated

Animal husbandry / equine care

Job description

We have an excellent opportunity for a flexible and proactive team player with a passion for Donkeys to join our busy team at Brookfield Farm, near Honiton, East Devon.

Job title: Farm Worker/Groom

Hour: Full time

Salary: £25,350 per annum

Contract: Permanent

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.

We have an excellent opportunity for a flexible and proactive team player with a passion for Donkeys to join our busy team at Brookfield Farm, near Honiton, East Devon. As Farm Worker/Groom, you will provide care and rehabilitation for the resident donkeys, mules and hinnies, and support the Farm Manager in maintaining a safe working environment.

About you:

• Excellent observation skills to identify and notice signs that would indicate ill-health in animals.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills - tactful and diplomatic when handling sensitive matters.
• Competent IT knowledge and skills.
• Full current UK valid driving licence.
• Able to carry out physically demanding tasks, independently, in all weather conditions.
• Effective team player who builds trust and positive relationships.
• Self-motivated, with a positive and professional attitude.
• Experience in animal husbandry or equine care.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include -

• Routinely checking, feeding, medicating, grooming, weighing, worming and training the resident donkeys, mules, ponies and hinnies.
• Assisting visiting vets, farriers and dentists.
• Operating machinery, and/or manually, mucking out, feeding and bedding up of barns and stables and distributing hay, haylage and bagged feedstuffs.
• Maintaining the farm by sweeping, pressure washing, cleaning, field sweeping, haymaking, strimming, compost management, willow management and dirty water control.
• Maintaining up to date manual records for the donkeys, farming practices, holidays and overtime.
• 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.

This is a full-time, permanent contract starting as soon as possible,working 37.5 hours per week, 5 days over 7, with weekend work as part of the team rota.

• 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 completed applications: Monday 12 October 2026.