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.

Make a lasting impact in a vibrant coastal community.

Port Gordon Community Trust is seeking a dynamic, articulate, and confident Development Officer to help drive the next phase of our growth. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in strengthening community cohesion while helping secure community ownership of Port Gordon Harbour.

We’ve already achieved significant success—and now we’re looking for someone who can help lead us through the next stage of our journey

About the Role

As Development Officer, you will:

• Lead and deliver financial development initiatives
• Identify and secure funding opportunities, including grant writing
• Support and supervise staff where required
• Engage confidently with the community and stakeholders
• Represent the Trust in public forums and events
• Contribute to strategic planning and long-term sustainability

About You

We’re looking for someone with:

• Proven experience in the third sector
• A strong track record in financial development and fundraising
• Demonstrated success in grant writing
• Experience supervising staff or volunteers
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills
• A passion for community-led development

Why Join Us?

This is a unique chance to be part of a forward-thinking community organisation with ambitious plans for the future. You’ll play a central role in shaping projects that will benefit Port Gordon for generations to come.

Help us turn community ambition into practical delivery in the West Highlands.

About us

Kinlochleven Community Trust (KCT) is the Community Anchor Organisation for our village, set between mountains and sea at the head of Loch Leven in Lochaber. We are a community-led charity managing a range of assets and services that matter locally — from community facilities, paths and woodland to e-bike hire, an AIRES motorhome site and the developing Aluminium Story Museum.

Supported by the Scottish Government / DTAS Strengthening Communities Programme and the Highland Community Regeneration Fund, KCT is entering an important three-year development period. We want to grow income, strengthen systems, deepen community engagement, and explore long-term arrangements for strategic local sites.

The role

We are looking for a Development Manager: a practical, organised and ambitious person who can take community ideas and make them real.

Working closely with the Board, you will lead day-to-day delivery across income generation, asset and lease management, governance, monitoring and reporting, community engagement and partnership working. Income generation is at the heart of the job — a core priority is helping KCT identify and secure the funding needed, through new grants and stronger earned income, to continue this post and our wider work in Years 2 and 3.

This is a varied, hands-on role with real scope for someone who enjoys spotting opportunities and turning them into income — whether that is e-bike hire, visitor donations, the AIRES site, an events programme, or grant fundraising.

What you will do

• Lead income generation: grow earned and donation-based income, develop the events programme, support the Ice Factor lease arrangement, develop the Aluminium Story Museum as a sustainable visitor attraction, and identify and secure further grant and trust funding.
• Strengthen asset management: develop business and maintenance plans, improve lease and tenant records, and help the Board explore long-term arrangements for strategic local sites including the Kinlochleven Business Park.
• Improve governance, finance, monitoring and reporting: including maintaining a combined monitoring and evaluation framework and submitting quarterly CRF and SCP funder reports on time.
• Improve communication and engagement with members, residents, tenants, visitors and partners.
• Support land, environmental and visitor activity: paths, woodland, public realm and visitor infrastructure.
• Help KCT live its Fair Work First commitments and operate as a fair, well-run small employer.

Who we are looking for

You will probably bring much of the following:

• Experience in community development, project management, asset management, charity management, social enterprise or fundraising.
• A track record in identifying and securing grant funding and/or developing earned income for a charitable or community organisation.
• Strong organisational, communication and report-writing skills and the ability to manage a varied workload.
• Financial awareness including budgeting, income monitoring and grant reporting.
• The ability to work constructively with a voluntary Board and build relationships with tenants, funders, public bodies, partners and community members.
• Working knowledge of Scottish charity governance and OSCR expectations.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (or a clear plan for travelling reliably across Lochaber), and the right to live and work in the UK without restriction.

Experience of community asset management, Community Right to Buy, rural community organisations, or delivering against SCP/CRF or similar Scottish Government funding is desirable but not essential. We are far more interested in the right person than the perfect CV.

Why work with KCT?

• A genuinely meaningful role in a small, ambitious, community-led charity at an important moment in its development.
• Real autonomy and breadth — no two weeks the same, and the chance to shape a job rather than inherit one.
• Salary of £32,000 per annum in line with our Fair Work First commitments.
• 20 days’ paid annual leave plus 9 Scottish public holidays, auto-enrolment workplace pension, and flexible working by agreement.
• Working life in one of the most beautiful corners of Scotland, with mountains, lochs, walking, climbing and the Ice Factor on the doorstep.