Business Manager

  • Part time
  • £32,000 – £35,000 pro-rata
  • Hybrid: Lesmahagow
  • Closing 26th June 2026


  • Advertised from 25th May 2026
  • 21 hours per week (3 days). Fixed term, 3 years (dependant on continued funding).

Role

Lesmahagow Development Trust is entering a landmark three-year period of growth. Supported by the Scottish Government’s Strengthening Communities Programme, we are moving beyond traditional grant-funded delivery toward a model of long-term economic independence and community-led infrastructure.

We are seeking a commercially-minded Business Manager to drive the financial evolution of the Trust. You will treat our community assets as a portfolio, identifying new revenue streams and operational efficiencies to ensure our long-term independence from grant funding.

You will be responsible for transitioning the trust away from grant dependency by optimising our assets and building a resilient, sustainable income model.

Key Deliverables:

  • Commercial sustainability: identifying and developing business models that generate a sustainable commercial surplus to reduce grant dependency.
  • Financial management & reporting: maintaining the Trust’s day-to-day financial records, managing cash flow, and producing internal quarterly reports to ensure the Trust remains within budget.
  • Asset & operations oversight: strategic management of physical and financial assets to ensure they are performing optimally for the community.
  • Grant compliance: ensuring all financial reporting for the Strengthening Communities Programme is accurate and submitted on time to trigger quarterly payments.

Essential Criteria:

  • Commercial experience: proven track record in business management, commercial development, or social enterprise leadership.
  • Financial literacy: competency in day-to-day financial management
  • Reporting skills: ability to prepare clear financial summaries, reconciliations, and budget-versus-actual reports for Board review.
  • Operational management: experience in overseeing contracts, leases, or facilities to ensure cost-efficiency and compliance.
  • Strategic planning: ability to translate the Trust’s goals into viable business cases that generate income.

Desirable Criteria:

  • Governance knowledge: understanding of charity finance regulations.
  • Accountancy systems: experience in the use of cloud accounting software (e.g. Xero) and spreadsheet modeling.

Application notes

Please submit a CV and a cover letter detailing your suitability for your chosen role(s) to info@lesmahagowdevtrust.com

Note that in parallel we are advertising for a Community Economic Development Lead. There is the opportunity to apply to both roles and perform as a combined full time role assuming the candidate can demonstrate the required essential and desirable criteria for both roles.

Closing Date: 26.6.26