General Manager

Job description

An exciting opportunity awaits an ambitious and commercially driven General Manager to lead the launch and growth of a new premium movement and recovery destination. This is a rare opportunity to join an ambitious wellness business at a pivotal stage of its journey and take ownership of a beautiful new space designed around intelligent movement, recovery and long-term wellbeing. Bringing together Reformer and mat Pilates, yoga, recovery experiences and community-led programming, the concept has been created to offer a thoughtful and elevated alternative to traditional fitness. As General Manager, the successful candidate will be the driving force behind the site, owning commercial performance, membership growth, team culture, operational excellence and the end-to-end member experience. Working closely with the Founder, they will have the autonomy to shape how the business operates, build a high-performing team and establish the location as a leading wellness destination within the local community. This role requires much more than strong day-to-day operations. The business is looking for an entrepreneurial leader who can build demand, drive membership sales, create meaningful local partnerships and establish a thriving community around the brand. They will be equally comfortable reviewing the P&L and conversion pipeline as they are coaching their team, speaking with members and ensuring every detail of the space reflects the standards of the business. For the right person, this is an opportunity to have genuine influence from the outset and play a key role in shaping a business with significant long-term growth ambitions. The Role... ● Salary: £45-50,000 ● Working Hours: 40 hours p/w (minimum) ● Location: Billericay, Essex ● Benefits: Access to the full movement and recovery offering Responsibilities: 1. Commercial Performance & Business Growth Take ownership of the site P&L, driving revenue growth, profitability and sustainable commercial performance. Build and deliver the site’s commercial strategy across memberships, classes, recovery services and additional revenue streams. Monitor business performance against KPIs, identifying trends, opportunities and areas requiring action. Own forecasting, budgeting and cost control, ensuring resources are deployed effectively. Use data and insight to make informed decisions and create clear action plans to improve performance. Work closely with senior leadership to contribute to wider business strategy and future growth planning. 2. Membership Sales & Retention Own the membership sales strategy and ensure targets are consistently achieved. Build a strong sales culture across the team, ensuring every member of the operation understands their role in acquisition, conversion and retention. Oversee the full sales funnel, from lead generation and enquiry management through to tours, trials, conversion and onboarding. Develop local lead-generation strategies, corporate relationships and community partnerships that create sustainable new business. Analyse membership data, conversion rates, utilisation and churn to identify opportunities for growth and retention. Ensure new members are welcomed into the community through a considered and personalised onboarding journey. 3. Member Experience & Community Create and maintain an exceptional member journey across every touchpoint. Lead a hospitality-first culture where members feel recognised, understood and genuinely connected to the space. Build strong relationships with members, actively seeking feedback and using it to continuously improve the experience. Develop a meaningful calendar of events, workshops and community moments that strengthen engagement and loyalty. Establish the business as an active part of its local community through partnerships, collaborations and outreach. Ensure the experience feels consistent and elevated across movement, recovery and front-of-house interactions. 4. Team Leadership & Culture Recruit, onboard, lead and develop a high-performing team across operations, front of house and the wider site experience. Create a positive, ambitious and accountable culture with clear expectations and strong communication. Set individual and team objectives, conduct regular performance reviews and create meaningful development plans. Lead regular team meetings, training and coaching to maintain high standards across service, sales and operations. Work closely with the programming team to ensure instructors and practitioners are integrated into the wider member experience and community. Build a culture where commercial performance and exceptional service work hand in hand. 5. Operational Excellence Oversee the seamless day-to-day operation of the entire site. Build and continually improve SOPs, systems and processes that support consistency, efficiency and future scalability. Lead staffing plans, scheduling and rotas to ensure appropriate coverage while maintaining strong payroll control. Ensure the space is consistently presented to the highest standard across studios, changing facilities, recovery spaces and communal areas. Oversee maintenance, cleaning, stock management and supplier relationships. Ensure full compliance with health and safety, risk management and all relevant operational requirements. 6. Programming & Wellness Experience Work collaboratively with the programming team to ensure the movement schedule responds to member demand and supports strong utilisation. Understand the customer journey across Pilates, yoga and recovery, ensuring each part of the offering feels connected. Use booking data, member feedback and market insight to identify opportunities to evolve the schedule and wider experience. Ensure instructors and practitioners deliver an experience consistent with the positioning and service standards of the business. Maintain a strong understanding of trends across boutique fitness, Pilates, yoga, recovery and the wider wellness landscape. 7. Launch, Local Marketing & Partnerships Play a key role in launch planning and execution, ensuring operational readiness and a strong opening member base. Work closely with the marketing team to translate central campaigns into effective local activity. Build partnerships with complementary businesses, local communities and corporate organisations to drive awareness and acquisition. Identify opportunities for events, collaborations and activations that create genuine relevance and visibility. Act as an ambassador for the business within the local market. The Person: You Are: An entrepreneurial and commercially minded leader who wants genuine ownership of a business and its performance. Passionate about movement, wellness and creating exceptional customer experiences. A natural community builder who enjoys developing meaningful relationships both inside and outside the business. Equally comfortable thinking strategically and being highly visible on the ground with the team and members. A strong people leader who knows how to create culture, accountability and high performance. Data-led and commercially curious, with the ability to turn insight into action. Proactive, solutions-focused and energised by the opportunity to build and improve. Someone who takes pride in the detail and understands that exceptional experiences are created through consistency. Must-Have Experience: Previous experience as a General Manager, Club Manager, Studio Manager or operational leader within premium fitness, wellness, hospitality or another high-end service-led environment. Strong commercial experience with ownership of budgets, revenue targets and operational KPIs. A proven track record of driving sales, lead generation and customer retention. Experience leading, developing and motivating high-performing customer-facing teams. Strong operational capability, with experience implementing systems, processes and service standards. An understanding of the boutique fitness and wellness landscape, with a genuine interest in Pilates, yoga, recovery or holistic movement. Experience building local partnerships, community initiatives or commercially valuable relationships. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Your recruiter for this role is Heloise Nangle, Co-Founder at Jobs In. Fitness, and can be contacted simply by applying for this role below. Jobs In. Fitness are a fitness recruitment agency, specialising in hundreds of fitness jobs in the UK like these. If you are keen to be considered please ‘apply now’. Please note that only applicants matching the strict criteria above will be contacted as part of the recruitment process.