Farm Worker/Groom (1261)

Job content

The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys and mules worldwide. We are working for a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering, and their contribution to humanity is fully valued. We are achieving this by transforming the quality of life for donkeys, mules and people worldwide through greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships.

We have an excellent opportunity for a person with a passion for Donkeys to join our busy team at Trow Farm at The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon. Highly self-motivated and a genuine team player, you will provide care and rehabilitation for the resident donkeys and their environment, and will support the Farm Manager and Farm Supervisor in facilitating the efficient and safe running of the farm.

About you:

· You should be able to demonstrate previous equine experience or experience of animal husbandry;

· You must be able to demonstrate good communication skills;

· You should be able to demonstrate excellent customer service skills; which includes experience of dealing with enquiries and complaints from supporters/members of the public;

· Must be physically fit and the ability to lift, for example, a bag of feed (approx. 20 kg);

· You should be willing to work outside in adverse weather conditions;

· You will be willing to undertake work related training as required – Diploma;

· You must have a full current valid driving licence.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

· To provide 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.

· To provide care by operating machinery, and/or manually, mucking out, feeding and bedding up of barns and stables and distributing hay, haylage and bagged feedstuffs;

· To maintain the farm by sweeping, pressure washing, cleaning, field sweeping, haymaking, strimming, compost management, willow management and dirty water control.

· Support the Farm Manager in maintaining a safe working environment by risk assessment and following Health and Safety regulations and by maintaining farm security.

· Maintain up to date manual records for the donkeys, farming practices, holidays and overtime including the Self-Serve system.

· Support work experience students and interacting with visitors and Quality Time Volunteers in a friendly manner. Interacting with other Donkey Sanctuary departments.

· Provide 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 smooth running of the farms.

· To carry out any other reasonable duty as may be required.

What we offer in return:

Based in Sidmouth, Devon – an area of outstanding natural beauty – this is a part-time, fixed term contract starting as soon as possible, working 22.5 hours per week, Thursday-Saturday.

Benefits:

Competitive pension.

Life Assurance.

31 Days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 will each full year of service.

Wellbeing Team.

Recorded Pilates 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.

Free Parking.

Subsidised restaurant and shop.

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 5 March 2023.

For further information regarding this role, including application instructions, please copy and paste the following link into your web browser:

https://jobs.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/jobs/vacancy/farm-worker-groom-1261/1279/description/

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.

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 11 months
Part-time hours: 22.5 per week

Salary: £13,442.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Private medical insurance
• Sick pay
• Store discount
• Wellness programme

Schedule:

• Weekend availability

Application deadline: 05/03/2023
Reference ID: 1261