Estate Manager – Siblyback

Oxygen Conservation Limited; England; Remote; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxygen Conservation Limited is seeking an Estate Manager to lead on-site delivery of land management, conservation projects and related operations on a Cornwall estate. The role requires a conservation-first mindset, strong stakeholder relations, and hands-on leadership to coordinate contractors and landowners while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.

This role emphasizes delivering woodland creation, BNG habitat work, and long-term estate maintenance with a hands-on, self-starting

Qualifications

• Strong land management and conservation expertise. Experience with woodland creation or habitat restoration is a bonus.
• Conservation-first mindset with ability to explain why land restoration matters.
• Delivery-focused with ability to manage multiple works programmes, budgets, grants and timelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead on every element of work on site, including health and safety, land management, property, ecotourism and renewable energy.
• Deliver woodland creation (including temperate rainforest), BNG habitat creation and long-term management, wetlands restoration, and invasive species control.
• Run conservation and property works programmes end to end, including budgets, grant applications and contractor management.
• Maintain estate buildings, boundaries and infrastructure, supporting projects to bring historic assets back into productive use.
• Keep the estate’s evidence base up to date and contribute to regular reporting.
• Build meaningful partnerships with neighbours, tenants, farmers, partners, regulators, and the local community.
• Work flexibly with colleagues across estates and central teams as priorities shift.
• Plan and oversee safe working across the estate, including risk assessments and contractor safety.

Skills

Land management

Conservation

Contractor management

Budgeting

Stakeholder relations

Job description

Siblyback is a 968-acre former sheep farm on the edge of Bodmin Moor, in the Cornwall National Landscape, and it’s being transformed into an example of what nature recovery can look like. We’re delivering one of Cornwall’s largest woodland creation schemes, including new temperate rainforest, alongside a large Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) programme and restoration of the Siblyback Stream and its wetlands. With the masterplan set and delivery ramping up, we need an Estate Manager to make it happen on the ground: trees planted, contractors on site, and an estate looked after to a standard we’re proud of.

You’ll be the link between the central Oxygen Conservation team and the people who make Siblyback work day to day: tenants, contractors, suppliers, neighbours, the farming community and regulators. People care deeply about this landscape, so change here is earned through trust and good relationships. No two days will look the same, but each one will be an adventure.

• Land management and conservation expertise: strong, well-founded knowledge, built through education, hands‑on experience or both. Experience of woodland creation, habitat restoration or agri-environment schemes is a real bonus.
• A conservation-first mindset: you believe in restoring land, not simply managing it, and you can explain why it matters to anyone who asks.

Impact

• Delivery-focused: you’re confident running small and medium-sized works programmes, juggling budgets, grant claims, contractors and timelines, and getting them over the line.
• Exacting standards: a sharp eye for detail and a commitment to doing things properly, safely and to a standard you’d happily sign your name to.
• Practical problem-solver: you find creative, sustainable ways through the inevitable challenges of estate life.

Adventure

• Up for it: being outdoors in all weathers energises you, and so does the chance to build something new for Cornwall.
• Steady under pressure: priorities here shift with the weather, the seasons, planning and partners. You keep a cool head and keep things moving.
• Self-starter: you’re comfortable working independently as Oxygen Conservation’s presence on site, with a full UK driving licence to get you around the estate and beyond.

Together

• Relationship builder: you build strong, trusted relationships with landowners, tenants, farmers, partners, neighbours, contractors and regulators, and you’re patient with those who need a little more convincing.
• Commitment to growth: you’re dedicated to your own development and to helping the wider team grow alongside you.
• 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. You don’t need to tick every box above, and you don’t need to look or sound a certain way to belong here. We’re committed to building a diverse team drawn from across the country, with a wide range of lived and learnt experiences. Whatever your background, if you think you could make a real difference at Siblyback, we’d love to hear from you.

What We’d Love You To Do

Lead on every element of work on site, including health and safety, land management, property, ecotourism and renewable energy, plus the hundreds of fascinating things that pop up along the way.

Nature Recovery Delivery

Lead delivery of woodland creation (including temperate rainforest), BNG habitat creation and long-term management, and wetland and stream restoration, including invasive species control.

Project and Budget Management

Run conservation and property works programmes end to end, managing site budgets, grant applications and claims, and contractors from tender through to sign-off.

Property and Infrastructure

Keep the estate’s buildings, boundaries and infrastructure in good order, and support projects to bring the farmhouse and traditional barns back into productive use.

Monitoring and Reporting

Keep the estate’s evidence base up to date, from habitat monitoring and BNG obligations to protected species, and contribute clear estate updates to our regular reporting.

Community and Stakeholders

Build meaningful partnerships with neighbours , the local community, tenants and statutory bodies, representing Siblyback and Oxygen Conservation well .

Working Together

Work closely and flexibly with colleagues across our estates, natural capital and central teams as priorities shift.

Health and Safety

Plan and oversee safe working across the estate, including risk assessments, contractor safety, lone working and the estate’s fire management plan.

If you bring a passion for conservation and a care for the environment, we’ll support you to create your dream role.

Tools to perform

We will ensure you are provided with the equipment you need to be incredible in your role.

Most of our roles, unless site specific allow you the freedom to work from anywhere in the country, should you need help with this we too will be there to support.

We always want to ensure every member of the team has the right support needed. We are a tight knit team, always sharing, meeting and working together. Although we work remotely from one another the culture we have shaped allows you to never feel alone.

Do What You Love

If you bring a passion for conservation and a care for the environment, we’ll support you to create your dream role.

Tools to perform

We will ensure you are provided with the equipment you need to be incredible in your role.

Most of our roles, unless site specific allow you the freedom to work from anywhere in the country, should you need help with this we too will be there to support.

We always want to ensure every member of the team has the right support needed. We are a tight knit team, always sharing, meeting and working together. Although we work remotely from one another the culture we have shaped allows you to never feel alone.

Do What You Love

If you bring a passion for conservation and a care for the environment, we’ll support you to create your dream role.

Tools to perform

We will ensure you are provided with the equipment you need to be incredible in your role.

Most of our roles, unless site specific allow you the freedom to work from anywhere in the country, should you need help with this we too will be there to support.

We always want to ensure every member of the team has the right support needed. We are a tight knit team, always sharing, meeting and working together. Although we work remotely from one another the culture we have shaped allows you to never feel alone.

Do What You Love

If you bring a passion for conservation and a care for the environment, we’ll support you to create your dream role.

Tools to perform

We will ensure you are provided with the equipment you need to be incredible in your role.

Most of our roles, unless site specific allow you the freedom to work from anywhere in the country, should you need help with this we too will be there to support.

We always want to ensure every member of the team has the right support needed. We are a tight knit team, always sharing, meeting and working together. Although we work remotely from one another the culture we have shaped allows you to never feel alone.