Operations Intern

Curious about what it actually takes to run conservation at scale? Excited by the idea of learning from experienced operators, rolling your sleeves up across real working estates, and helping build the systems that keep everything running safely and well? This is your chance to start your career at the operational heart of one of the UK’s most ambitious conservation organisations. 

You'll travel to our estates across Scotland, see how conservation actually works on the ground, and help build and maintain the systems that keep everything running safely and well. Some days you'll be at a desk. Some days you'll be on a hillside. Most days you'll be doing something you didn't expect. 

You'll work directly alongside our Head of Operations and estate teams — the people who make things happen day to day. You'll learn by doing, ask questions freely, and leave knowing how a fast-scaling conservation organisation actually operates from the inside. 

If you’re early in your career, driven by impact, and genuinely excited to learn what great operations look like in a fast-scaling conservation business, we’d love to meet you. 

You’re curious, organised, and keen to learn. You bring care and attention to detail to everything you do, and you’re not afraid to ask questions or get stuck in. You like systems, you spot patterns, and you’re genuinely excited by the idea of helping protect and restore landscapes at scale. 

Like everyone at Oxygen Conservation, you’re purpose-driven, collaborative, and talented. The kind of person who brings positive energy to long site days, team challenges, and the unglamorous operational details alike. 

Here’s a snapshot of the strengths you’ll bring: 

This is a learning-rich internship at the heart of how we deliver safe, efficient, and scalable work across our estate portfolio. You’ll gain broad exposure to how a conservation organisation actually runs — from health and safety and contractor management through to process design, estate audits, and data automation. 

You’ll balance office-based work (supporting documentation, reporting, and system improvements) with hands-on engagement (shadowing audits, visiting estates, and supporting day-to-day operational activity). Throughout, you’ll be mentored by experienced operators and trusted with real responsibility for meaningful work. 

You won’t be making coffee. You’ll be helping build the operational backbone of one of the UK’s most ambitious conservation organisations. 

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By the end of your internship, you’ll have: 

• A practical, hands-on understanding of operations within a conservation and land management context. 

• Real exposure to health and safety practice, contractor management, and audit processes. 

• Experience working with operational data, dashboards, and automation tools. 

• A network of mentors and colleagues across estates, operations, data, and leadership. 

• A portfolio of tangible contributions to the systems that enable conservation at scale — and a credible foundation to build the next step of your career on. 

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 funding 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. 

Term: Fixed-term, 3 months 

Salary: £26,500 per annum, pro rata (approximately £6,625 for the 3-month term) 

Location: Scotland, with regular travel to estates across that great country, as well as England and Wales. (Driving license required) 

Closing date: 18th May 2026