Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer (1989)

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 flexible and self-motivated individual with outstanding interpersonal, relationship building and collaborative skills to join our dedicated International Programmes and Partnerships Department. As Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer, you will support the design and implementation of evidenced-based projects, enabling The Donkey Sanctuary to deliver high quality programmes, monitoring and evaluating impact and conducting data analysis, playing an essential role in ensuring accountability and improving information management and data quality.

About you:

• Educated to degree level or above (or equivalent experience).
• Demonstrable skills in monitoring, evaluation, feedback, and learning methods; including knowledge of best practices and experience with M&E frameworks, feedback, and learning processes.
• Significant knowledge or experience of conducting quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Proven experience of developing MEL training and mentoring approaches, designing and facilitating participatory capacity development activities targeted to non-expert audiences.
• A practical understanding of the principal evaluation methodologies, and data collection and analysis techniques.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor approach for a wide range of audiences.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• Supporting the regional Programmes and Partnerships Advisors, International teams, and partners throughout the project cycle, to ensure that MEL activities and requirements are fully integrated into project and programme plans and budgets.
• Supporting the Programme Design and Impact Advisor (PDIA) to ensure that funded projects are effectively and efficiently monitored and evaluated and that learnings are captured, understood, shared and embedded into future work.
• Supporting the PDIA to promote and embed the use of the International Theory of Change and Quality Standards into ways of working.
• Supporting the implementation of, and conducting regular reviews into, the International Results Framework and associated MEL tools.
• Leading the collection, collation, storage, analysis and reporting of project and programme data, in line with the International Results Framework, to help demonstrate and communicate the impact of our international work.
• Supporting the preparation and review of internal reports in collaboration with programme staff, ensuring high-quality reporting, and that learning is captured and utilised.
• Strengthening monitoring, evaluation, feedback, and learning practices across the UK and international teams, as well as partners, through training, workshops, webinars, etc.

What we offer in return:

Based in Sidmouth, Devon – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – this is a full-time, permanent contract starting as soon as possible, working 35 hours per week, 08.30-16.30, Monday-Friday.

The working pattern for this role will combine onsite and home working under our guiding principles for such roles. The working pattern will be agreed between the line manager and post holder, but the requirement for onsite attendance is currently anticipated to be the equivalent of 2 days per month.

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: Wednesday 20 August 2025.

Please Note:

• We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised date and therefore encourage early applications.
• All applicants are required to complete our application form and upload a current CV.

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.

Other Opportunities at The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth