Opportunities Job description
Job description
TDS Ireland - Trustee with Legal Experience (2251)
- PoscityLiscarroll
- PoscountryRepublic of Ireland
- Area:Ireland
- Closing Date:27 July 2026
The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland
Trustee with Legal or HR Experience
The Organisation:
Founded in 1987, The Donkey Sanctuary (Ireland) Company Limited by Guarantee (Registered Charity Number: 20032289) is part of The Donkey Sanctuary charity group. For nearly four decades, we have been dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for neglected and abandoned donkeys and mules across Ireland.
Since our inception, we have provided lifelong care to over 5,600 neglected and abandoned donkeys from across Ireland. Today we have over 1,200 donkeys and mules in our care in Ireland. Nearly 300 of these reside in private Guardian homes throughout the country and most of the remaining donkeys are based at our three farms in the Liscarroll area.
Beyond rescue and sanctuary work, we actively support donkey welfare in the wider community. Our team offers guidance and assistance to private owners on essential care topics such as castration, microchipping, veterinary treatment, and farriery.
One farm houses our veterinary hospital and new arrivals unit, while another hosts our head office and visitor centre. With a dedicated team of 90 staff members, we continue to deliver compassionate care, education, and advocacy for donkey welfare throughout Ireland.
Vision: A world where every donkey has a good quality of life.
Mission: Improving the lives of donkeys every day.
Board: Our trustees | The Donkey Sanctuary
For more information: Visit us | The Donkey Sanctuary
The Role:
We are looking for our next Trustee with skills and experience in one or both of the following:
- Legal
- Human Resources
This is an exciting and unrivalled opportunity to help lead our international animal welfare organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Governance and Compliance: As a trustee, you will help uphold best practices in charity governance and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. Trustees share collective responsibility for maintaining high standards of governance and leadership.
- Strategic Oversight: Contribute to the development and monitoring of the charity's strategic direction.
- Resource Management: Support sound financial oversight, ensuring the charity's resources are managed effectively and in line with agreed policies.
Skills and Experience
All Trustees must be committed to “Animal Welfare” and the objects of the charity.
The candidate must demonstrate experience in at least one or more of the below areas of expertise:
- Legal– must be a qualified lawyer.
AND/OR
- Human Resources– must be a qualified HR professional or Employment Law specialist.
All Trustees must have the following skills:
- Board Experience: Previous experience serving on a board or committee, or working closely with boards in an executive capacity, is advantageous.
- Charity Knowledge: Experience and understanding of the charity sector is desirable.
- Communication: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and fellow trustees. Acts as a ‘critical friend' to staff, offering constructive challenge, with sensitivity and tact. Possesses excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, alongside the ability to assimilate, analyse, and communicate complex information clearly and concisely.
- Time Commitment: Ability to commit sufficient time to attend board meetings and undertake follow-up responsibilities.
- Strategic Thinking: Demonstrated ability to think strategically and contribute to long-term planning.
- Commitment to Mission: A genuine passion for donkeys and understanding of the vision and purpose of The Donkey Sanctuary.
- Values: A strong alignment with the charity's values and ethos.
- Leadership: Proven leadership experience within an organisation of comparable scale.
- Team worker: Good interpersonal skills, demonstratable experience of working well with others to deliver results.
- Qualities:Uses initiative, identifies problems and offers a range of solutions. Respects confidences, acts with impartiality and fairness.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland is committed to increasing the diversity of its Board to better reflect the communities it serves and to strengthen its governance. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.
Charities Regulator's General Duties of a Charity Trustee
- Comply with the charity's governing document
- Ensure the charity is complying with its charitable purpose for the public benefit.
- Act in the best interest of the charity
- Act with reasonable care and skill
- Manage the assets of your charity
Board Meetings:
The Board of Trustees of The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland typically convenes four times a year. Most meetings are conducted virtually via videoconference during standard business hours. However, at least one meeting each year is held in person, either at the organisation's headquarters in Liscarroll, Co Cork, or in Dublin. Board meetings typically last for 2.5 hours.
Other activities: The Country Manager hosts regular update meetings. Trustees may also be invited to participate in additional events or training sessions as needed.
Remuneration
The role of trustee is a voluntary position and is therefore not remunerated, but reasonable travel and other expenses incurred as part of the role will be reimbursed in accordance with Charity Regulator guidance and the charity's expenses policy.
For further information, please copy and paste the following link into your browser.
Vacancy: Trustee with Legal or HR Experience, The Donkey Sanctuary, Ireland (All)
To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to:
Peter Armitage, Boardmatch Ireland, peter@boardmatch.ie
Closing date for applications: 17.00, Monday 27 July 2026.
Interviews will be held by conference call, week commencing Monday 10 August 2026.