Exercise Experience Manager

Virgin Active South Africa

Location
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Minimum qualification
Matric / Grade 12
Closing date

First listed . Last checked at source .

In brief

Overview The Exercise Experience Manager role at Virgin Active South Africa is centered on building dynamic, inclusive communities that inspire and support members in achieving their wellness goals. This position guides members to suitable products, services, and fitness tribes, creating fun, personalized experiences that foster engagement and retention, all while embodying the bold, adventurous Virgin spirit. The ultimate purpose is to transform wellness into a social lifestyle. What you will do * Recruit, onboard, and retain a team of passionate Fitness and Group Exercise Instructors, utilizing an online hiring assessment process and providing comprehensive induction including operational essentials. * Manage and develop an all-star squad of Fitness and Group Exercise Instructors, aligning with club FTE and budget, providing regular coaching, feedback, and opportunities for growth, and championing Continuing Professional Development (CPD). * Build community and support instructors by fostering a sense of belonging through strong communication, managing their CPD points, scheduling development opportunities, and ensuring support for class preparation and member bookings. * Deliver exceptional group exercise experiences by leading classes, maintaining high standards of cleanliness, organization, and studio functionality (including sound systems and equipment), and overseeing class timetables across digital platforms. * Focus on group exercise by managing the timetable to deliver high-energy, engaging classes, boosting participation through events, and using data from GEX reports and regional collaboration to optimize class types, schedules, and instructor performance. * Promote member social wellness by offering comprehensive inductions, actively promoting all club offerings (group exercise, personal training, event-driven experiences), and managing the GEX Invitation system to increase class participation and mobile app engagement. * Ensure operational excellence by maintaining functional and inspiring group exercise spaces (cleanliness, top-tier equipment, flawless sound systems), upholding Health & Safety and Operational Standards, and crafting optimal staffing schedules. * Execute in-club marketing campaigns to promote Group Exercise and Personal Training, leveraging business tools, resources, and digital platforms to engage both new and existing members. * Monitor and analyze class attendance and engagement data, identify trends and opportunities to optimize offerings, implement action plans to fill gaps, boost mobile app usage, and maximize class bookings to meet or exceed expectations. Requirements (from the original advert) We can't live without... * Matric qualification * A Recognized Fitness Qualification * A minimum of 5 years’ experience within the Fitness Industry * A minimum of 3 years’ experience in managing exercise experiences within a health club or similar role * A minimum of 2-3 years of experience in managing people / teams * Exceptional people leadership skills * Experience in teaching a variety of Group Exercise classes * Be passionate about wellness industry * Strong team player & collaborator * Exhibit the VA brand values We'd like you to have... * Experience within a health club or wellness club * Management experience * Great communication skills * Great relationship building skills * Adaptability: must be able to adapt to a fast paced, changing environment * Be curious: must be willing to succeed, seek opportunities to learn and grow * Have a winning mentality: must be willing to go over and above to achieve success * Must be motivated to achieve success. * A commitment to making a difference in people’s lives. * A Growth mindset * The ability to work independently. * Trustworthiness: must always act in doing the right thing * A drive to create moments of magic for our members. * The ability to make decisions and take ownership and responsibility for the decision. * Action orientation We'd love you to have... * Organizational & coordinating skills * Excellent facilitation and presentation skills * Wellness knowledge, beyond the health club * The ability to make quick and bold decisions. * The ability to be agile. * The ability to be collaborative. * High Interpersonal skills EQ Who should apply The ideal candidate is a passionate and experienced fitness professional with a strong background in managing exercise experiences and leading teams within the health and wellness industry. They must possess exceptional people leadership skills, be a strong team player and collaborator, and be deeply committed to fostering inclusive communities. The candidate should be adaptable, curious, highly motivated with a winning and growth mindset, and driven to create exceptional, personalized member experiences while upholding brand values. They should be action-oriented, trustworthy, capable of independent work, and adept at making decisions and taking ownership. Strong communication, relationship-building, organizational, coordinating, and presentation skills are also highly valued, along with a broad wellness knowledge and high emotional intelligence. Deadline 15 October 2026 Reference Original posting: https://www.myjobmag.co.za/job/exercise-experience-manager-virgin-active-south-africa-22 Source: myjobmag

Summary drafted with AI assistance from the original advert. The advert itself is the authority — how we use AI.

At a glance

  • At least 2 years of experience.
  • Agile / Scrum

Extracted automatically from the advert; confirm requirements on the original listing.

Job description

Your Purpose... * The Exercise Experience Manager is all about building dynamic, inclusive communities where our members feel inspired and supported to achieve their wellness goals. * You’ll be the guide, ensuring every member finds the right products, services, and fitness tribes that suit them perfectly. It’s about creating fun, personalized experiences that keep our members engaged and coming back for more, all while embracing the bold, adventurous Virgin spirit we’re known for. * Let’s make wellness more than just a gym—it’s a social lifestyle! Your Duties and Responsibilities... * Recruitment, Onboarding & Retention: You’re at the heart of curating a team of passionate fitness pros. You’ll scout, attract, and recruit the most talented Fitness and Group Exercise Instructors, both within and outside the club, ensuring they fit right into our vibrant community. * Using the Online Hiring Assessment process, you’ll measure success and help build a powerhouse of instructors. Once onboard, you’ll guide them through an exciting, thorough induction, introducing everything from conduct guidelines to operational essentials like studio setup, sound systems, and salary processes. * Team Management & Development: Creating an unstoppable team is key. You’ll develop and nurture an all-star squad of Fitness and Group Exercise Instructors, aligning with club FTE and budget needs. * As their leader, you’ll provide regular coaching, feedback, and opportunities for growth, making sure they stay inspired and driven. By championing CPD Continuing Professional Development training, you’ll ensure that our team is always ahead of the curve, mastering the latest in wellness & fitness innovation and standards. * Community Building & Instructor Support: Building dynamic, thriving fitness tribes is what it’s all about. You’ll foster a sense of belonging among our Group Exercise Instructors through strong communication—whether it’s in one-on-one chats, newsletters, or team meetings. * You’ll also make sure they are continuously growing by managing their CPD points and scheduling development opportunities. With a laser focus on the STOP, LOOK & LISTEN strategy, you’ll ensure every class is prepped and every instructor is supported—from studio setups to assisting with member bookings. * Delivering Exceptional Group Exercise Experiences: You’ll lead by example, stepping into the studio and delivering unforgettable group exercise experiences that keep members coming back for more. * Your role doesn’t stop at teaching—you’ll maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, organization, and studio functionality, ensuring that everything from sound systems to equipment is in tip-top shape. You’ll also oversee class timetables across digital platforms, ensuring they’re always spot on and ready to wow members while managing any last-minute no-show plans like a pro. * Group Exercise Focus: Your main focus is managing the group exercise timetable to deliver high-energy, engaging classes that leave a lasting impact. You’ll boost participation through events like FITFEST and DJ nights, creating memorable experiences for members. Using data from GEX reports and collaborating with your regional team, you'll identify opportunities to adjust class types, schedules, or instructor performance for maximum impact. * Expanding and optimizing Group Exercise offerings is key—you’ll ensure the timetable aligns perfectly with what our members want, consistently delivering exceptional experiences. * Member Social Wellness: We’re all about creating welcoming environments for every member that walks through our doors. You’ll offer comprehensive inductions that set the stage for success, showcasing everything the club has to offer. Whether it’s group exercise, personal training, or event-driven experiences, you’ll actively promote all our offerings to support each member on their unique wellness journey. * You’ll also manage our GEX Invitation system to ramp up class participation, increase mobile app engagement, and keep the buzz alive through epic events and demos. * Operational Excellence: You’ll ensure that every group exercise space is not only functional but inspiring. Cleanliness, top-tier equipment, and flawless sound systems are non-negotiable under your watch. You’ll also uphold all Health & Safety and Operational Standards to create a safe and empowering environment for both instructors and members. With a focus on seamless experiences, you’ll also craft optimal staffing schedules to make sure the club floor is always buzzing with energy and engagement. * Marketing & Community Building: You’ll be the energy behind every in-club marketing campaign, executing strategies that get people talking and members signing up. Leveraging the business tools and resources, you’ll promote everything from Group Exercise to Personal Training, ensuring both new and existing members are drawn in. By tapping into digital platforms and in-club marketing opportunities, you’ll keep our community engaged and excited about the fitness journey they’re on. * Data Analysis & Performance Tracking: Data-driven and performance-focused, you’ll monitor and analyse class attendance and engagement, identifying trends and opportunities to optimize our offerings. * With your eye on the numbers, you’ll implement action plans to fill any gaps, ensuring our classes are always hitting the mark. Whether it’s boosting mobile app usage or maximizing class bookings, your drive and focus will ensure every Group Exercise offering meets or exceeds expectations. Our Minimum Requirements... We can't live without... * Matric qualification * A Recognized Fitness Qualification * A minimum of 5 years’ experience within the Fitness Industry * A minimum of 3 years’ experience in managing exercise experiences within in a health club or similar role * A minimum of 2-3 years of experience in managing people / teams * Exceptional people leadership skills * Experience in teaching a variety of Group Exercise classes * be passionate about wellness industry * Strong team player & collaborator * Exhibit the VA brand values We'd like you to have... * Experience within a health club or wellness club * Management experience * Great communication skills * Great relationship building skills * Adaptability must be able to adapt to a fast paced, changing environment * Be curious must be willing to succeed, seek opportunities to learn and grow * Have a winning mentality must be willing to go over and above to achieve success * Must be motivated to achieve success. * A commitment to making a difference in people’s lives. * A Growth mindset * The ability to work independently. * Trustworthiness must always act in doing the right thing * A drive to create moments of magic for our members. * The ability to make decisions and take ownership and responsibility for the decision. * Action orientation We'd love you to have... * Organizational & coordinating skills * Excellent facilitation and presentation skills * Wellness knowledge, beyond the health club * The ability to make quick and bold decisions. * The ability to be agile. * The ability to be collaborative. * High Interpersonal skills EQ  Closing Date 15 October 2026

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