Fitness club managers oversee day-to-day operations, staff, marketing, and customer relations. Their responsibilities vary based on the size and services offered by the facility. Good interpersonal skills and physical fitness are important, and education requirements vary.
A fitness club manager is usually primarily responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a fitness center, gym or athletic club. This includes managing multiple gym staff members from the janitorial staff who maintain the physical equipment and facilities for physical trainers and customer service agents. These managers are also often responsible for creating and managing advertising and marketing campaigns for the facility.
The gym itself may be a privately owned facility that is part of a resort or country club. It can also be a fitness center that is frequented by paying members of the general public. The manager may also oversee a publicly owned and operated facility and provide free fitness instruction to members of a community.
The scope of a fitness club manager’s responsibilities greatly depends on the size of the facility he manages and the services offered. Smaller venues may only provide a limited number of exercise machines and equipment in a room. Larger fitness centers can offer a full range of services, including tennis, handball and racquetball courts; pools; saunas; spas and weight rooms. A significant number of health clubs offer a variety of exercise classes, categorized by type of activity, as well as age and fitness levels of members. The more machines and services a center provides, the more responsibilities the manager will have.
In addition to directing his staff, a fitness club manager is often expected to creatively market the club to maintain or increase profits. These advertising and promotional responsibilities typically include discounts for customers who refer new members, free trial promotion, and group or family discounts for specific periods. If the club is part of a large chain of gyms, its efforts may be guided by corporate guidelines. Much of this work requires good networking and general sales skills.
Customer relationship is usually an important part of a fitness club manager’s job. Membership retention is often vital to a club’s success, so the manager frequently circulates among members to encourage them to achieve their fitness goals and promote general goodwill. Some managers also act as trainers and consultants and regularly participate in exercise classes to promote a welcoming and familiar environment for clients.
In addition to having good interpersonal skills, a fitness club manager is expected to be in good physical shape. By doing so, he will likely be more familiar with general fitness concepts, which helps with the client relations aspect of the job. Creative approaches to promoting the club to diverse demographics are often considered an advantage for people in this position.
In terms of educational prerequisites, most fitness clubs require at least a high school diploma or equivalent. A significant number of fitness club managers are promoted from positions as fitness instructors within a company based on commitment, aptitude and initiative. Some fitness club managerial positions require fitness training or certifications from professional associations.
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