Donkey Welfare Adviser

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.

Donkey Welfare Advisers are professionals in the field of donkey and mule welfare. They play a key front-line role in the work of The Donkey Sanctuary: responding to donkeys in need, supporting donkeys in the community, growing and managing a high-quality rehoming scheme, and acting as an ambassador for the charity at all times.

We now have an excellent opportunity for a dynamic and resourceful individual with a proven track record of community-based animal welfare work, excellent decision-making and time-management skills and a strong customer service ethic to join our team as Donkey Welfare Adviser for South Wales.

• A positive influencer able to promote and model our values in all areas of your work.
• A high level of equine knowledge with significant experience of working with equines.
• A working knowledge of legal practicalities and experience of the application of relevant animal welfare legislation.
• An understanding of equine behaviour and demonstrable practical experience in the field.
• Able to influence change and respond appropriately in emotional challenging or confrontational situations.
• Excellent communicator able to deliver advice and training to stakeholder groups with varying experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills, comfortable with making new contacts and able to develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• Promoting good welfare for donkeys and mules by working proactively to support, guide and educate key audiences and by sharing best practice.
• Communicating effectively with groups from all social, racial, and cultural backgrounds, often in highly emotive and sometimes confrontational circumstances.
• Delivering high quality, impactful training to a range of stakeholders in a style suitable to the audience and the resources available.
• Responding to future care enquiries, working creatively to identify suitable alternatives to sanctuary care where appropriate, and gathering and co-ordinating relevant information to inform donkey placement decisions and help owners make informed choices for their donkeys, including end of life decisions.
• Supporting a good quality rehoming scheme by ensuring donkeys are placed in the most suitable environments for their needs.
• Working proactively to prevent/alleviate suffering, referring to and/or collaborating with enforcement agencies when necessary.
• Providing reliable evidence for welfare investigation cases, including witness statements and other relevant evidence in court compliant formats, and attending court to give evidence as required.

This is a full-time, fixed term maternity cover contract starting on 14 December 2026 until 3 March 2028, working an average of 37.5 hours per week on an annualised hours basis.

Defined as ‘home-based' it is preferable that candidates live centrally within region to gain easy access to travel and communication networks. However, locations close to the defined area may be considered if operationally viable. You are required to have broadband access, a suitable space for a home office and good mobile phone reception.

• Vehicle provided.
• Life assurance.
• 31 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 will each full year…