Relief Farm Worker / Groom (2331)

The Donkey Sanctuary; Honiton; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance

31 days holiday (34 with service)

Wellbeing team

Pilates & Yoga classes

Long service awards

Healthshield plan with benefits

Free parking

Subsidised restaurant and shop

Job summary

The Donkey Sanctuary is seeking a proactive Relief Farm Worker/Groom to cover staff absences across our eight sites. Based at Brookfield Farm near Honiton, you will care for resident donkeys, mules, hinnies and ponies, assist veterinary and farriery teams, and help with day-to-day farm operations.

We require prior equine/animal husbandry experience, tractor driving ability, physical fitness for lifting heavy feed, willingness to train, and a full UK driving licence.

Qualifications

• Experience in equine or animal husbandry.
• Experience using farm machinery, specifically tractor driving.
• Physically able to lift heavy feed and perform farming tasks.
• Willing to undertake work-related training as required.
• Full current UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Care for resident donkeys, mules, hinnies and ponies across 8 sites.
• Feed, groom, medicating and assist vet, farrier and dentist as required.
• Operate farm machinery or perform manual mucking out and bedding duties.
• Maintain up-to-date records of donkeys and farming practices.
• Support work experience students and interact with visitors and volunteers.

Skills

Equine care experience

Farm machinery (tractor)

Physically fit

Willing to train

UK driving licence

Job description

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 proactive and flexible team player to join our busy Farms Administration department as Relief Farm Worker/Groom. Reporting to the UK Farms Office Manager andFarm Managers/Farm Supervisors, you will provide cover for staff absence, looking after the care and welfare of the resident donkeys, mules, hinnies and ponies at any of our 8 sites, and will support the Farm Manager and Farm Supervisor in maintaining a safe working environment.

About you:

• Previous equine or animal husbandry experience.
• Experience of using farm machinery, specifically tractor driving.
• Physically fit and able to, for example, a bag of feed (approx. 20 kg).
• Willing to undertake work related training as required.
• Full current valid UK driving licence.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• Providing care by routine checking, feeding, medicating, grooming, weighing, worming and training the resident donkeys, mules, ponies and hinnies and assisting the vet, farrier and dentist as required
• Providing feedback on a daily basis to the Farm Manager on matters such as donkey health, feeding regimes and land management, and liaising with other staff to facilitate the smooth running of the farm
• Operating machinery, and/or manually, mucking out, feeding and bedding up of barns and stables and distributing hay, haylage and bagged feedstuffs
• Maintaining up to date manual records for the donkeys and farming practices
• Supporting work experience students and interacting with visitors, Quality Time Volunteers and other Donkey Sanctuary departments in a friendly and positive manner.

What we offer in return:

Based at Brookfield Farm, near Honiton, in East Devon – this is a full-time, 12-month fixed term contract starting as soon as possible, working 37.5 hours per week, five days over seven. Flexibility will be required for evening and weekend work as part of the team rota.

• 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, 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: Sunday 1 November 2026.

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.