Estate Manager: An Adventure in Landscape-Scale Restoration

Imagine standing at the forefront of a revolutionary role—where managing land isn’t just maintenance, but a bold act of transformation. We're looking for a passionate environmentalist to redefine estate management and embrace the adventure of landscape-scale restoration– creating spaces for wildlife, generating renewable energy, and leading the revitalisation of the landscape at Blackburn & Hartsgarth.  

We need an Estate Manager to drive this ambitious vision forward - a leader to turn vision into reality, to guide projects from blueprint to tangible environmental impact. This is your chance to shape the future of conservation, to bring nature roaring back to life, and to inspire change on a landscape-scale.  

If you’re driven by purpose, ready for a challenge, and eager to lead, this is the role for you.

ABOUT THE ROLE 

We want to show the world how modern conservation can be delivered. As Estate Manager, you will play a pivotal role in reshaping traditional land management into a strategic opportunity for sustainable practices and environmental conservation.  

Since taking ownership of the Estate in April 2023, we have been flying along with completing all the surveys required to restore the landscape. Now, working directly with our key partners TreeStory and Caledonian Climate, we are on the verge of submitting our proposal for over 2000 acres of native trees and over 3000 acres of peatland restoration. We have kicked off biodiversity improvement programs from newly designed wetlands, water quality monitoring, organic conversion and conservation grazing, to enable us to baseline and show with data how our changes are impacting the environment. The good news - we just getting started.  

Under your leadership, you will be joining at the crucial stage, moving from designs on a page to real life impact and change on a landscape scale. You will be the key interface between the central Oxygen Conservation team and key local suppliers, tenants, and wider local community, representing us and engaging with people to ensure we open and transparent in the way we are working.  

We are also excited to be growing other potential businesses and your role will also involve identifying local partnership opportunities that align with our values and the estate, to bring the community along on the journey as the estate changes. No day will be the same, but each will be an adventure. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Estate Management: Provide leadership across all elements of work on site, including health and safety, land management, woodland creation, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and any of the hundreds of fascinating things that might pop up. 

Estate Management: Provide leadership across all elements of work on site, including health and safety, land management, woodland creation, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and any of the hundreds of fascinating things that might pop up. 

• Conservation: Lead landscape-scale restoration by tailoring approaches based on the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the specific site. 

Conservation: Lead landscape-scale restoration by tailoring approaches based on the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the specific site. 

• Project Management: Project manage small and medium-sized work programmes, both conservation and property, managing site budgets, grant applications, and contractors.   

Project Management: Project manage small and medium-sized work programmes, both conservation and property, managing site budgets, grant applications, and contractors.   

• Community Engagement: Build meaningful partnerships with local communities, neighbours and contractors to preserve and enhance the environment. 

Community Engagement: Build meaningful partnerships with local communities, neighbours and contractors to preserve and enhance the environment. 

• Global Impact:  Save a part of the world for the next generation and set an example for worldwide environmental management. 

Global Impact:  Save a part of the world for the next generation and set an example for worldwide environmental management. 

ABOUT US 

Oxygen Conservation was founded in 2021 by the Oxygen House Group and Dr Rich Stockdale with a clear mission: Scaling Conservation. We acquire land at scale on behalf of asset owners to deliver transformative environmental and social impact — creating profit as a result of what we do. In just three years, we’ve completed twelve transactions, assembling a portfolio of over 43,000 acres dedicated to restoring and protecting nature. 

Our vision is intentionally aspirational and inspirational: by 2030, we aim to have £1 billion of natural capital assets under management, enabling us to protect and restore 250,000 acres of land for people and wildlife. By combining our scale, reputation, cutting-edge data, and exceptional skills, we’re redefining conservation. 

Our work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2022, we were named Start-Up of the Year at the Business Leader South West Awards, followed by Team of the Year at the 2023 Edie Awards and our nature fundings agreement with Triodos won ESG Deal of the Year at the 2024 Insider South West Dealmakers Awards. Our founder and CEO, Dr Rich Stockdale, is featured in the ENDS Power List as one of the top 100 UK environmental professionals driving significant impact, and was shortlisted for Edie’s Leader of the Year Award in 2024. 

At Oxygen Conservation, we’re scaling impact, creating opportunities, and leading the charge for a nature-based economy that works for people, wildlife, and the planet. 

KEY INFORMATION 

Term: Full time, permanent   

Location: Near Newcastleton, Scottish Borders. You will be required to live close to the Estate as part of this role. 

Closing date: Open until we find the perfect candidate