Engagement Officer

Engagement Officer

We have an excellent opportunity for an Engagement Officer to join the team.

This role is crucial to the global influencing work within the Public Affairs, Advocacy and Campaigns department.

Position: Engagement Officer

Location: Devon/Hybrid

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week, 08.30-16.30, Monday-Friday.

Salary: £30,779 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Thursday 16 October 2025. However, we reserve the right to close this role early if a suitable candidate is found.

About the Role

The Engagement Officer is 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, the Engagement Officer will enable the cohesion within the member groups that the Sanctuary are currently part of and inspire new ways of working. This includes the International Coalition of Working Equids (ICWE) and developing and building new coalition opportunities around working animals.

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include

• Build strong internal and external partnerships with global stakeholders, including governmental and non-governmental organisations to grow existing and build new relationships.
• Coordinate and assist with accreditations and processes that support access in policy forums.
• Assist in the coordination of coalition and alliance engagement opportunities globally.
• Lead on agreed coalition / alliance priorities such as creating material, meeting with partners and planning international events.
• Create supporting materials and reports for stakeholders that advance the influencing agenda.
• Engage with, and support, team processes around strategic planning for external events and activities.
• Support the wider activities of the influencing work including helping to identify key external stakeholders and new forums.
• Manage the team horizon scanning

Due to the nature of the role, flexibility will be required for working outside of core hours, and for occasional UK and international travel.

About You

You will be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills with the ability to flex communication style depending on the audience and the message being delivered.

You will also have:

• A proven record organising online 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 demonstrate working with a number of conflicting demands to meet 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;

As part of the process, you will be asked to upload your CV and Cover Letter once you click to apply.

Benefits include:

• Competitive pension.
• Life assurance
• Healthshield.
• 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
• Free parking.
• Subsidised restaurant and shop.

About the Organisation

The sanctuary is one of the UK s largest international animal welfare charities, currently supporting projects in over 35 countries worldwide, working for a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering and their contribution to humanity is fully valued.

The Charity is a Disability Confident Employer, 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.

You may also have experience in areas such as Engagement, Events, Engagement Officer, Engagement Coordinator, Engagement Support, Impact and Engagement, Impact, Evaluation, Impact and Evaluation, Public Affairs, Advocacy, Campaigns, Campaigning.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation