Engagement Officer

Engagement Officer (2258)

• Salary: £34,010 per annum
• Location: Sidmouth, United Kingdom
• Area: Policy and Profile
• Type: Permanent, Full-time
• Work arrangement: Full-time, hybrid or remote with flexible pattern

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.

• 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.

• 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.

This is a full‑time, permanent contract, starting as soon as possible, nominally based on our site in Sidmouth, Devon on a hybrid basis. 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, with estimated 2‑3 days per quarter.

Flexibility for working outside of core hours and occasional international travel is also required.

• Competitive pension.
• Life assurance.
• 31 days holiday (including bank holidays), rising to 34 days after each full year of service.
• Wellbeing team.
• Recorded Pilates and yoga classes.
• Long‑service awards.
• Health Shield plan – reimbursement of some medical expenses, offers, discounts and cash‑back on shopping, travel and entertainment from participating outlets, and access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service.
• Free parking.
• Subsidised restaurant and shop.

Closing date for applications:
Sunday 16 August 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.