POSITION SUMMARY:

The Fitness Director is responsible for overseeing the daily operations, program development, and Associate leadership of the fitness floor, group exercise, water fitness, and personal training services within the assigned Family Center. This role provides direct supervision to fitness coaches, group exercise instructors, and personal trainers, ensuring excellence in member experience, staff engagement, and program quality. The Fitness Director is accountable for member engagement and retention strategies tied to fitness programming, personal training, and group exercise, with a focus on developing innovative programs that meet the diverse needs of the communities served.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

Operational Leadership:

• Oversee fitness floor operations, group exercise classes, water fitness programs, personal training, small group training, and chronic disease prevention initiatives.
  
  

• Ensure all fitness services operate efficiently, align with YMCA mission and standards, and consistently deliver high-quality experiences.
  
  

• Utilize participation and engagement data to analyze trends, identify gaps, and implement solution-driven scheduling and programming adjustments.
  
  

• Manage all scheduling for personal training, small group training, fitness floor staff, group exercise, and water fitness classes.
  
  

Associate Leadership and Development:

• Hire, onboard, and supervise fitness coaches, personal trainers, and group exercise instructors across assigned centers.
  
  

• Conduct regular performance management activities, including biannual evaluations, coaching sessions, in-service trainings, and professional development planning.
  
  

• Ensure all Associates meet compliance standards, including active CPR/First Aid certification, national fitness certifications, and Association onboarding protocols.
  
  

• Manage associate timesheet approvals and payroll processes in Dayforce and certification tracking in ClubConnect.
  
  

Program Development and Member Engagement:

• Lead the implementation of new fitness programming to meet community needs, including hospital partnerships, wellness initiatives, and member engagement programs.
  
  

• Develop and grow small group training and personal training offerings to increase participation and improve retention.
  
  

• Support cross-department collaboration to align fitness initiatives with membership goals and community engagement efforts.
  
  

Marketing and Communication:

• Collaborate with center leadership teams to utilize member feedback and participation data in strategic planning.
  
  

• Partner with the Marketing Department to promote fitness programs through social media, digital platforms, and in-center campaigns.

• Support virtual fitness platforms, ensuring high-quality delivery and sound performance, and recruiting new instructors to sustain virtual and in-person group exercise offerings.
  
  

Metrics and Reporting:

• Track and report on key performance indicators including:
  
  

  • Number of individual personal training clients
    
    

  • Small group training participation
    
    

  • Net percentage growth in personal training services
    
    

  • Personal Training loyalty client retention rates
    
    

  • Group exercise class utilization (participants vs. building scans)
    
    

  • Average class attendance by center
    
    

  • FitQuest wellness appointments
    
    

• Ensure accuracy of class attendance records and data entry.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Leader):

Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Ys values. Ensures a high level of service with a commitment to changing lives. Provides volunteers with orientation, training, development, and recognition. Cultivates relationships to support fund-raising.

Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Build relationships to create small communities. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailors communications to the appropriate audience. Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance and support.

Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the launching of programs and activities. Develops plans and manages best practices through engagement of the team. Effectively creates and manages budgets.

Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.

Personal Growth: Shares new insights. Facilitates change; models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Health Promotion, or related field preferred.
  
  

• Current national certification in Personal Training (ACE, NASM, ACSM, NSCA) or Group Exercise (ACE, AFAA, ACSM, or equivalent) required.
  
  

• Current CPR/AED and First Aid certifications required.
  
  

• Minimum 3–5 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in fitness, wellness, or health promotion programs.
  
  

• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and team leadership skills.
  
  

• Demonstrated ability to analyze participation data and adjust programs strategically.
  
  

• Experience in hiring, onboarding, coaching, and managing part-time and full-time fitness staff.
  
  

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and administrative platforms (Dayforce, ClubConnect, or similar systems).

PHYSICAL, Environmental AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

Possess sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions of position and to supervise program activities.

• Required to walk, stand, kneel, stoop, push and lift up to 50 pounds.

• Physically able to successfully complete required certifications.

• Occasionally required to work in the outside weather conditions and may be exposed to wet, cold and/or humid conditions.

• Exposed to and use of cleaning supplies.

• Continuous operations requiring attention to detail and multi-tasking.

• Must be able to perform the duties of those he/she supervises.

• Flexible work schedule requiring evening, weekend and holiday shifts.