Environmental Project Manager: An Adventure in Landscape-Scale Restoration

Imagine leading transformative environmental projects amidst the awe-inspiring Scottish Highlands. At Dorback Estate, you won’t just manage landscapes—you’ll reshape them to deliver tangible impact for nature, climate, and community. We’re searching for a passionate and capable Environmental Project Manager to drive large-scale conservation and restoration initiatives with energy, purpose, and vision. If you thrive on challenge, love working with people, and believe in making bold things happen, this is your next great adventure. 

ABOUT YOU 

Do you want an opportunity to really make a difference? Do you want to look back knowing your work helped tackle climate change and biodiversity loss? We are looking for someone, and potentially their family, who wants to make a long-term commitment to this incredible landscape and its surrounding community. 

You’ll be a passionate environmentalist, a skilled project manager, and a brilliant collaborator with a sharp eye for delivery. Whether your background is rooted in land restoration, project management, ecology, conservation, or sustainability, you’re driven to lead bold projects from blueprint to reality. 

At Dorback Estate, we’re seeking someone with this amazing combination of skills: 

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. 

ENVIRONMENT 

• Environmental Expertise: Strong 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. 

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 

Ready to show the world how modern conservation can be delivered? As Environmental Project Manager, you’ll play a critical role in delivering large-scale restoration projects in a jaw-dropping location! 

Nestled against the spectacular mountainous backdrop of the Cairngorms National Park, Dorback Estate boasts a magnificent landscape that sweeps you into the endless expanse of the Scottish Highlands, all while being easily accessible. Spanning over 15,000 acres, the Estate features vast moorland areas interspersed with pockets of forestry, gradually rising to the plateau of the Cairngorms massif. Inhabiting the Estate is a diverse array of wildlife and a remarkable variety of natural assets.  Once a traditional sporting Estate, it also now offers several high-quality holiday cottages, providing excellent opportunities for sustainable tourism. 

Our vision at Dorback is bold and exciting! We’re transforming the landscape by undertaking a significant programme of natural capital creation and enhancement. From native broadleaf woodland creation to restoring peatlands, our efforts will not only generate new and improved habitats for wildlife, but also help capture carbon from the atmosphere, playing a key role in the fight against climate change. Under your leadership and in partnership with the incredible estate team the Estate will transition to unique conservation-led sporting activities, including exceptional deer stalking. You will also oversee the shift to regenerative farming methods, including organic conversion. As the scale and ambition of our work continues to grow, so does the opportunity for this role to evolve. 

You will be the key interface between the central Oxygen Conservation team and key local suppliers, tenants, and wider local community. You will also get your hands dirty (in the best way) supporting the refurbishment of the farmhouse for the local community and identifying opportunities to support local businesses. 

No day will be the same, but every single day will be an adventure waiting to unfold!  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Project Leadership: Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of landscape-scale restoration by tailoring approaches based on the unique challenges and opportunities presented by Dorback. 

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

• Health & Safety: knowledge of health and safety management in rural environments, including COSHH compliance, emergency planning, CDM documentation, lone working, team supervision, and overseeing Estate vehicles, machinery, and property security. 

• Property: Manage Estate properties, utilities, and tenant relationships, overseeing maintenance and renovations in line with sustainability goals. 

• Sustainable tourism: Deliver outstanding sustainable tourism experiences by managing bookings, facilities, and guest engagement. Design and deliver nature-based getaway packages, ensuring a seamless guest experience, high-quality site management, and continuous improvement through feedback and insights. 

• Contractor & Supplier Oversight: Manage third-party consultants and contractors, ensuring clear scopes of work, timely delivery, and value for money. 

• Budget & Grant Management: Own site-level budgets, contribute to funding bids, and track grant compliance and reporting. 

• 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: Nethy Bridge, Scottish Highlands. We are pleased to offer accommodation with the role. Alternative, you're welcome to live within 60 minutes commute of the Estate if you'd prefer. 

Closing date: Monday 15th September