Relief Farm Worker / Groom (2349)

The Donkey Sanctuary; Honiton; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance

Holiday entitlement

Wellbeing team

Pilates/Yoga classes

Long service awards

Healthshield plan

Free parking

Staff restaurant

Job summary

The Donkey Sanctuary is seeking a proactive Relief Farm Worker/Groom to join our Farms Administration team at Brookfield Farm near Honiton. You will cover staff absence and care for resident donkeys, mules, hinnies and ponies across our eight sites, supporting the Farm Manager and Farm Supervisors.

This full-time role requires hands-on animal care, experience with farm machinery (tractor driving), a valid UK driving licence, and a flexible approach to evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• Previous equine or animal husbandry experience.
• Experience of using farm machinery, specifically tractor driving.
• Physically fit and able to handle heavy loads (e.g. 20 kg bags).
• Willing to undertake work related training as required.
• Full current valid UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Provide care through routine checks, feeding, medicating, grooming, weighing, worming and training of donkeys, mules, ponies and hinnies; assist vet, farrier and dentist as required.
• Provide daily feedback to the Farm Manager on donkey health, feeding regimes and land management; liaise with staff to ensure smooth farm operations.
• Operate machinery or manually muck out, feed and bed barns and stables; distribute hay and feedstuffs.
• Maintain up-to-date manual records for donkeys and farming practices.
• Support work experience students; interact with visitors, volunteers and other Donkey Sanctuary departments.

Skills

Equine/animal husbandry experience

Tractor driving

Physical fitness

Willing to train

UK driving licence

Tools

Farm machinery operation

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 and Farm 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, permanent 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: Thursday 26 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.

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.