Terrain Detective (Drone Surveyor)

Are you ready to take conservation to new heights—literally? We’re on the hunt for a Terrain Detective (Drone Surveyor) with the vision, expertise, and passion to redefine how we map, monitor, and protect some of the UK’s most breathtaking landscapes. At Oxygen Conservation, we don’t collect data—we command it, using cutting-edge drone technology to unlock new frontiers in conservation.

In this role, you’ll lead the charge in revolutionising conservation, collecting high-quality data and developing innovative, industry-leading approaches to data analysis. This isn’t just another job, it’s a mission—and if you’re an explorer at heart, ready to push boundaries and challenge the status quo, we want you on board. If you’re ready to make an impact that matters, then strap in—we’re ready for takeoff!

IT WOULD BE AMAZING IF YOU HAVE

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.

At interview, we will ask you what you need from us to be awesome in this role and also ask you to share what your impact will be on our team culture. We recognise that this process is two-way and that you will be interviewing us, perhaps even more than we will be interviewing you. We promise that it won’t be a dull process.

Our current methods use photogrammetry, LiDAR and thermal imaging techniques to create the following outputs, we would love to hear what you would change or improve:

• Digital Surface Model and Digital Terrain Models
• An orthomosaic image/ high resolution 2D map
• 3D pointcloud high resolution in LAS format
• 3D textured mesh model in high resolution
• Contour lines
• ArcGIS Online basemaps and 3D scene layers
• Herbivore distribution heat maps

You might have skills in some of the following areas, but whatever your skillset, we’d love to hear how you think you can make a real difference to Oxygen Conservation and the communities where we’re fortunate to work.

ENVIRONMENT 🌿

• Experience in, and excellent knowledge of, drone surveying with experience planning and piloting drones to collect topographical data.
• Knowledge of software and hardware requirements for processing raw drone captured data e.g. Pix4DMapper/Pix4DMatic, DJI Terra.
• Knowledge of software required for post-processing of captured data to produce the outputs we require. For example, knowledge of ArcGIS Pro/Online is useful but not essential.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.

IMPACT 🌍

• An entrepreneurial spirit and desire to build amazing methods that will be a quantum leap in current industry standards.
• Commitment to continuous personal development and that of the wider team.
• Ability to risk assess and manage rapidly changing and dynamic work environments.

ADVENTURE 🚀

• Fuelled by a passion for adventure, environmental conservation, and making tangible impact.
• Willing, excited, and able (i.e. a full valid UK driving licence) to travel to sites throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.
• Ability to work alone to undertake drone surveys in some of our amazing but often very remote landscapes.
• Ability to travel at short notice and willingness to work in an outdoor environment throughout the year.

TOGETHER 🔗

• 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!

WHAT WE'D LOVE YOU TO DO

• Bring technical expertise on the best methods and techniques to produce high quality outputs and build an industry-leading approach.
• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of drone surveys at all of our sites, across all seasons.
• Take ownership of the company’s operations manual as the accountable manager for all drone operations across the company.
• Create outputs that are easily integrated into our GIS workflows.
• Develop detailed site maps and habitat monitoring approaches for each of our sites to understand our environmental baseline and changes following restoration activities.
• Providing accurate data on deer populations across our portfolio to support a data-led approach to our Deer Management Plan.
• Provide drone imagery to help our Marketing team develop beautiful, impactful visualisations to help tell our story of Scaling Conservation.
• Specify and procure all required surveying and processing equipment.
• Maintain and calibrate surveying equipment to ensure accurate measurements and reliable performance.
• Carry out work in accordance with company Health & Safety rules.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE AWESOME

Each role is different. Your location may be different. Your needs might be different. We will work with you to create a role and package that allows you to be incredible. The below details what every role will include, and what we feel every company should provide.

BEST TEAMMATES

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.

YOUR WORKING ENVIRONMENT

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.

OUR INTERVIEW PROCESS - WHAT TO EXPECT

We hire people that are the best at what they do. And just as important as it is to discover if you're a good fit for us, you need to determine if we are a good fit for you.

1. Apply: This is the first step to becoming part of the team. Simply click the ‘Apply Now’ button to complete our application form, and show us how awesome you are! CV’s are needed, but on their own we don’t feel they tell us enough about who you really are. So, we have listed just a couple of questions to allow us to learn more about you.
2. Opportunity to shine: If your application is successful a member (or two) of the team will have an introductory call with you, to answer any initial questions you may have. After which, if successful, we will set an exciting role specific challenge for you to complete in advance of your interview. An opportunity for us to see you shine.
3. Interview: We hate for this part to be too corporate and regimented. Instead, we will have a relaxed conversation to get to know one another, an opportunity to ask questions and learn more. We recognise that this process is two way and that you will be interviewing us perhaps even more than we will be interviewing you – we promise that it won’t be a dull process.
4. Decision: We will invite you to meet more of the team so you and them can explore the realities of being a part of Oxygen Conservation. If our passion for what we do aligns with yours and we think you’ll be a great addition, we will invite you to join our growing team. If you love what you’ve learnt we hope you will accept, to be a part of our mission to Scale Conservation.