Oxygen Conservation Internship Programme: Calling "the crazy ones, misfits, and rebels"

We’re opening the door to something a little different. We are looking for “…the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes ... the ones who see things differently… because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

This quote, attributed to Steve Jobs (see the advert here), captures exactly the kind of people we want to join us: those who challenge convention, think boldly, and believe in making real change.

ABOUT YOU

Experience is overrated - we’re more interested in your potential, values, and passion. We’d love to hear from you, whoever you are, whatever your background, if you think you can make a real difference to Oxygen Conservation. It doesn’t matter what point in your career you are at, what school you went to, or whether you have a degree or not, we want exceptional people with a desire to make a difference.

Here’s what makes someone thrive here:

• ENVIRONMENT: You care deeply about nature and are motivated to restore and protect it at scale.
• IMPACT: You dream of doing something incredible and have the dedication and discipline to make that a reality.
• ADVENTURE: You love exploring new ideas, new landscapes, and new ways of doing things.
• TOGETHER: You’re collaborative, kind, and generous with your energy and snacks!

We believe in recruiting exceptional people and creating opportunities that allow you to do incredible things. You don’t need to look or sound a certain way to belong here. We value each person’s individuality and the unique strengths they bring.

ABOUT THE ROLE

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 will work with you to create an amazing opportunity for you to start your career in the environmental sector, and in the process, you’ll push us to think differently.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

This role is open to anyone. You might have experience in any of the areas below or any other walk of life. If you want to roll up your sleeves, get a little mud on your boots, and help redefine what conservation can look like today and into the future, apply now!

• Conservation & Restoration: driving forward ambitious projects that restore landscapes and enhance biodiversity.
• Innovation & Impact: helping us find new, better, and bolder ways to scale our impact.
• Operations & Logistics: making our teams, estates, and projects run smoothly, safely, and at pace.
• People & Culture: helping us recruit, develop, and retain exceptional people, and protect our unique culture.
• Planning & Property: supporting property planning, transformation, and development projects that enhance both conservation and community value.
• Project Management: managing complex projects from vision to delivery, ensuring pace, quality, and impact.
• Technology & Data: using GIS, drones, or data science to map, measure, and monitor natural capital and biodiversity.

ABOUT US

We’re building the UK’s first genuine Natural Capital portfolio - acquiring large landscapes, restoring them, and creating investable Natural Capital products like premium carbon credits, biodiversity units, renewable energy partnerships, and ecotourism experiences (you can check them out at Oxygen Escapes).

In just four years, we’ve grown to a valuation of around £300m with 50,000+ acres owned and helped connect over half a million acres for nature.

Our mission is simple: prove that restoring ecosystems can deliver transformative environmental, social, and financial returns.

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.

KEY INFORMATION

Term and Start Date: A fixed term (3 month) opportunity for 2026. We will work with you to agree on a start date that works for everyone.

Location: Remote (UK-based) with regular travel to our estates

Closing date: Sunday 2nd November

Salary: £25,500 Pro Rata

Support: Travel and subsistence costs covered during your internship

Our Recruitment Timeline

We believe in keeping you informed every step of the way. Here’s what you can expect from our recruitment process for this role:

• Applications Close: Sunday 2nd November
• Monday 3rd November to Monday 17th November: We’ll work incredibly hard, reviewing applications to find people who are best suited to the roles.
• Tuesday 18th November: Successful candidates will be invited to a virtual interview.
• Wednesday 19th November to Tuesday 2nd December: Virtual interviews with two members of our team lasting for up to one hour.
• Wednesday 3rd December: We’ll let you know the outcome of your virtual interview. Successful candidates will be invited to our Intern Dinner and Day Experience.
• Wednesday 17th December: Intern Dinner starting at 6pm
• Thursday 18th December: Intern Day — held at our beautiful Mornacott Estate near South Molton and Exeter. All travel, accommodation, and food for the Intern Day and Dinner will be covered by Oxygen Conservation.
• Important Note: To be offered an internship, you must attend the Intern Dinner and Day. We bring the whole team together for an awesome experience that we cannot repeat.

We are often oversubscribed for advertised roles so please be patient with us whilst we process your application.

Right to Work

We’re proud to receive a high number of outstanding applications from individuals already eligible to work in the UK. At present, Oxygen Conservation does not hold a UK Home Office sponsor licence, which means we’re unable to sponsor employment visas or employ individuals who require visa sponsorship.