Estate Manager

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 YOU

Do you want an opportunity to make a difference? Do you want to work incredibly hard for people and wildlife, and be able to look back in the years to come knowing that what you did helped in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss? We are looking for someone, and potentially their family, who wants to make a long-term commitment to one of our incredibly special Estates and in the process make it their home and become part of wonderful local community.   

Blackburn & Hartsgarth spans over 11,300 acres in one of South Scotland’s most iconic upland regions in the Scottish Borders. A site of immense significance to biodiversity, we are dedicated to elevating its ecological value and delivering responsible land stewardship. We’re looking for a dynamic leader to drive the restoration efforts of this remarkable landscape and rewrite the narrative of traditional land management.   

Specifically, we’re looking for: 

ENVIRONMENT 

• Environmental Expertise: Strong and extensive knowledge in land management and conservation, acquired through education or hands-on experience. 
• Rural Stewardship: A love for the natural world and rural environment in Scotland, and a commitment to its ecological restoration. 

IMPACT 

• Exacting Standards: Sharp eye for detail and a deep commitment to delivering exceptional service. 
• Commitment to Growth: A dedication to continuous personal development and fostering growth within the wider team. 
• Practical Problem Solver: Ability to think creatively to implement sustainable practices and resolve challenges. 

ADVENTURE 

• Passionate Explorer: Fuelled by a passion for adventure, environmental conservation, and making tangible impact. 

TOGETHER 

• Collaborative Relationship Builder: Ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, including landowners, farmers, partners, neighbours, contractors, and regulators. 
• Kindness and Approachability: And of course, you have to be really nice! Sharing snacks on long journeys or a packed lunch whilst out in the rain is mandatory! 

We believe in recruiting exceptional people and creating the role that allows them to do incredible things. We are committed to having a genuinely diverse team drawn from across the country, with a wide range of lived and learnt experiences. You might have skills in some but not all of the areas above. Whatever your skillset, we’d love to hear from you if you think you can make a real difference with Oxygen Conservation and the communities where we’re fortunate to work.  

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. 
• Conservation: Lead landscape-scale restoration by tailoringapproaches 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.  
• 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. 

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