Business Development Manager

The Company

Freedom Boat Club Loch Lomond is the Scottish home of the world’s largest members’ boating network, spanning more than 450 clubs across North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. Operating from Bandry Bay at Luss, on the western shore of Loch Lomond, the club provides its members with unlimited access to a professionally maintained, fuelled and insured fleet — removing every burden of boat ownership while retaining all of its pleasures. The business is independently owned and operated, and is entering a significant phase of growth across four commercial pillars:

1. Consumer Membership. Family and Connect membership plans providing unlimited boating on Loch Lomond, with reciprocal access to the worldwide club network. Members enjoy a fleet including the Zodiac 5.5 Open, Quicksilver 705 Weekend, SeaRay SPX 210 and SeaRay SPX 230, with full training.

2. Corporate Membership. Our core offering: Tiered company memberships offering businesses a distinctive staff-benefit and client-hospitality platform, including trained employee skippers, annual Experience Days and preferential rates on venue hire.

3. The Lomond Lounge. Our 15m × 5m floating events venue at Bandry Bay — a unique setting for corporate away-days, private celebrations and small weddings, operated on a daytime-hire basis with catering and cruise add-ons.

4. RYA Training. As an official RYA Recognised Training Centre, we deliver certificated powerboat training to members and the public, including the RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Director, the Business Development Manager will assume commercial responsibility for revenue growth across all four pillars. This is a senior, autonomous, field-based position: the successful candidate will design and execute the club’s sales strategy rather than inherit one.

The responsibilities:

Own the full membership sales cycle: enquiry handling, taster-session conversion, negotiation and onboarding, for both consumer and corporate plans
Build and manage a corporate pipeline across the Central Belt, targeting company memberships, staff-benefit schemes and client-hospitality accounts.

Drive occupancy of The Lomond Lounge through proactive outreach to corporate bookers, event planners and private clients. Establish and maintain a partnership network across the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs tourism economy: hotels, wedding and event planners, destination management companies and complementary local businesses

Represent the club at trade shows, networking events and on-site visits
Maintain accurate pipeline reporting and provide monthly commercial forecasts to the Director
Contribute market intelligence to pricing, product and marketing decisions

The Requirements

Essential:

• Minimum three years’ demonstrable success in B2B, membership, hospitality or premium leisure sales, with evidence of consistently meeting or exceeding targets
• Proven experience selling a premium product or service on value rather than price
• Strong consultative selling, negotiation and closing skills across both consumer and corporate audiences
• Experience building a sales function, territory or pipeline from a standing start
• Confident self-management: able to plan, prioritise and execute without close supervision
• Excellent written and verbal communication, comfortable presenting to business owners and senior decision-makers
• Proficiency with CRM systems and standard business software
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel throughout the Central Belt
• Right to work in the UK

Desirable:

• Established network within Scottish hospitality, tourism, corporate events or membership sectors
• Experience selling events, venue hire or corporate hospitality
• Personal boating experience or watersports enthusiasm (RYA Powerboat Level 2 training will be provided)
• Familiarity with subscription or recurring-revenue business models

The Benefits

• Competitive base salary with uncapped commission structure
• Fully funded RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification
• Boat access privileges
• 28 days’ annual leave inclusive of public holidays
• Workplace pension