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.
These are exciting times for the charity, and we have an excellent opportunity for a highly proactive and professional team player with outstanding interpersonal skills to join our dedicated Public Affairs, Advocacy and Campaigns team. As Engagement Officer, you will be responsible for identifying and maintaining meaningful relationships with global stakeholders, including governmental, non-governmental and educational institutions. We are tackling the greatest threats working donkeys face locally and around the world, from the donkey skin trade to challenges working animals face in disasters. By coordinating engagement around sustainable development, wildlife crime, One Health and One Welfare agendas, you will enable the cohesion within the member groups that The Donkey Sanctuary are currently part of, and inspire new ways of working.
About you:
Excellent communication skills, able to flex communication style depending on the audience and the message being delivered.
A proven record of organising events for international audiences.
High level analytical skills combined with the ability to draft strategic responses.
Strong organisation and coordination skills with the ability to multi-task and work with a number of conflicting demands and multiple deadlines.
Previous experience of delivering positive stakeholder engagement activities;
A good understanding of the challenges and opportunities when ensuring integration between internal departments and external partners.
An understanding of animal welfare and/or international development with evidence of working on these topics.
About the role:
Your principal duties and responsibilities will include -
Building strong internal and external partnerships with global stakeholders, including governmental and non-governmental organisations to grow existing and build new relationships.
Assisting in the coordination of coalition and alliance engagement opportunities globally, and leading on agreed coalition/alliance priorities such as meeting with partners and planning international events.
Creating supporting materials and reports for stakeholders that advance our influencing agenda.
Engaging with and supporting team processes around strategic planning for external events and activities.
Managing our team horizon scanning, supporting timely and strategic engagement with relevant opportunities, events and stakeholder processes.
Supporting the Policy and Engagement Manager and coordinating across the team to ensure key accreditations and reporting processes to support our access at institutional level are maintained.
What we offer in return:
This is a full-time, permanent contract, starting as soon as possible, nominally based on our site based in Sidmouth, Devon on a hybrid basis- but we are keen to make the role work for you, and so will consider fully remote/home working and flexible working patterns, where required.
Due to the nature of the role, flexibility will be required for site attendance or meeting regionally within the UK, as our team are dispersed. These trips, for team building and other cross organisation meetings, are estimated to be 2-3 days per quarter. Flexibility for working outside of core hours and occasional international travel is also required.
Benefits:
Competitive pension.
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 -
Reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership.
Offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel and entertainment from participating outlets.
Access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service.
Free parking.
Subsidised restaurant and shop.
Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 16 August 2026.
Please note: 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.
Before submitting your application, please ensure you read our candidate journey page, in particular our FAQs section – https://jobs.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/jobs/candidate-journey/
