Business Development & Sustainability Manager

Company Description

Gilded Lily Inspiring Enterprise CIC is a social enterprise based in Govan, Glasgow, supporting women and girls to become more confident, creative, employable, and enterprising. The organization delivers workshops, training programs, and activities in an inclusive, accessible, and culturally safe environment. Its weekly programs cover business support, confidence building, wellbeing, skills development, crafts, and creative activities. Gilded Lily welcomes participants from all backgrounds and provides a particularly supportive space for women from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, refugee, and asylum-seeker communities.

Role Description

Funded through The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland's Strengthening Organisations Programme, the Business Development & Sustainability Manager will strengthen Gilded Lily's long-term sustainability by leading organisational development, business planning, partnership building, and income diversification activities. The postholder will work with staff, volunteers, trustees, and stakeholders to develop practical systems, skills, and strategies that support organisational resilience, reduce reliance on short-term funding, and create a strong foundation for future growth. The role will help ensure Gilded Lily is well positioned to thrive beyond the funding period, maximise the opportunities presented by its transition to Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) status, and achieve its long-term strategic ambitions.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

1. Business Development & Organisational Sustainability

• Lead the development and implementation of a 2–3 year Business Development and Sustainability Strategy.

• Work closely with staff, volunteers, trustees, and community stakeholders to identify priorities for future growth and sustainability.

• Explore and develop a range of opportunities that strengthen the organisation's sustainability, including partnerships, enterprise activity, commissioned work, sponsorship, and other income sources.

• Lead and support a volunteer peer group of women to develop and promote products and services while exploring opportunities for collaborative income generation. • Identify risks and opportunities relating to organisational sustainability and financial resilience. • Support the organisation to reduce reliance on a small number of funding sources through a more diverse approach to sustainability.

2. Income Diversification & Enterprise Development

• Support the development of income-generating activities that align with the organisation's mission, values, and community objectives.

• Identify opportunities to build on the organisation's skills, knowledge, services, events, and resources to support future sustainability.

• explore social enterprise, trading, partnership, and commissioned service opportunities where appropriate.

• Build relationships with businesses, employers, and organisations that can contribute to the organisation's sustainability and community impact.

• Monitor the progress of income-generating activities and use learning to inform future planning.

3. Capacity Building & Skills Development

• Develop and implement practical systems, processes, and resources that support business development and organisational sustainability.

• Create simple tools and guidance to support planning, partnership development, and income diversification.

• Provide training, mentoring, and support to staff, volunteers, and programme participants to build confidence and skills.

• Encourage shared ownership of sustainability activities across the organisation.

• Ensure knowledge and learning are retained within the organisation beyond the life of the project.

4. Systems & Process Improvement

• Develop and implement practical systems, processes, and resources that support business development and organisational sustainability.

• Create simple tools and guidance to support planning, partnership development, and income diversification.

• Provide training, mentoring, and support to staff and volunteers to build confidence and skills. In the new systems and processes

• Encourage shared ownership of sustainability activities across the organisation.

• Ensure knowledge and learning are retained within the organisation beyond the life of the project.

5. Strategic Partnerships & External Positioning

• Build and maintain relationships with businesses, social enterprises, local employers and strategic partners.

• Identify collaboration opportunities that enhance sustainability and resilience

• Represent the organisation at networking events and partnership meetings.

• Raise the profile of the organisation and promote its work, achievements, and future ambitions.

• Support the development of new partnerships that contribute to sustainability and growth.

6. Learning, Evaluation & Legacy:

• Capture and share learning from business development and sustainability activities.

• Monitor progress against project objectives and organisational priorities.

• Support reflection, evaluation, and future planning across the organisation.

• Produce key legacy resources, including: o a 2–3 year Business Development and Sustainability Strategy

- an Organisational Sustainability Plan

-Practical tools, templates, and guidance to support future development

-Recommendations for future growth and sustainability

-Ensure skills, learning, systems, and resources remain in place beyond the life of the funding.

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience of organisational development, sustainability, or capacity building within the voluntary, community, or social enterprise sector.
• Experience developing and implementing business, sustainability, or organisational growth strategies.
• Experience identifying and developing opportunities that support organisational sustainability.
• Experience building and maintaining effective partnerships and networks.
• Experience of working with community groups, volunteers, or grassroots organisations.
• Experience of delivering training, mentoring, facilitation, or capacity-building support.
• Ability to develop practical systems, resources, and ways of working.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to think strategically while delivering practical outcomes.
• Understanding of organisational sustainability and financial resilience

Desirable

• Experience working with National Lottery-funded projects or similar programmes.
• Experience supporting organisations through change, development, or growth.
• Experience of social enterprise, trading activity, commissioned services, or income diversification.
• Knowledge of charity governance and SCIO structures.
• Experience working with women-led businesses, entrepreneurs, or community enterprises, particularly marginalised and racialised women.
• Understanding of the challenges faced by women in employment, enterprise, and business development.
• Experience supporting organisational change or growth
• Strong collaboration and facilitation skills. • Ability to motivate and empower others to take ownership.

Key Attributes

• Strategic and forward-thinking
• Collaborative and inclusive in approach
• Practical and solutions-focused
• Committed to long-term impact and organisational sustainability
• Adaptable, resilient, and proactive

This is a fixed-term post funded for 1 year through the National Lottery Community Fund. The primary focus is on ensuring long-term organisational strengthening, with clear systems, skills, and strategies implemented to support sustainability beyond the life of the grant.

Please apply by submitting a CV and cover letter specifying how you meet the criteria presented in the person specification to ***email_hidden***. Applications to be received by Sunday 19th July at 5pm – Interviews will take place on 30th July. Please note, start date for this post will be Monday 3rd August 2026.

Please contact Gilded Lily at ***email_hidden*** if you require any further information.

1008 Govan Road, Glasgow

G51 3DU

T: 0141 440 1109

E: ***email_hidden***