Fitness and Wellness Manager

Classification: Exempt, Salaried

Reports to: Fitness and Wellness Director

Date: November 2026

Annual Salary: $52,000-$55,000

Summary/objective:

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Group Exercise Manager to lead one of the most vibrant fitness communities in Austin. This is a full-time, exempt leadership position responsible for overseeing all aspects of our group exercise program, including instructor recruitment and development, programming, payroll administration, member satisfaction, operational excellence, and community engagement. Success in this role requires someone who thrives on building meaningful relationships with both members and staff, confidently addresses concerns with professionalism and empathy, and creates an inclusive, welcoming fitness culture where people feel connected and inspired to return.

Essential functions:

• Recruit, hire, onboard, train, schedule, supervise, and develop a high-performing team of group exercise instructors, empowering them to make independent decisions while maintaining program standards.
• Foster a positive, engaging fitness community by building strong relationships with members, instructors, and colleagues throughout the organization.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for member concerns, complaints, and service recovery, responding with professionalism, empathy, and sound judgment to resolve issues effectively.
• Develop innovative group exercise programming that grows participation, increases member engagement, and supports department goals.
• Establish, maintain, and enforce operational standards, policies, and best practices for group exercise programming.
• Lead the planning and execution of group exercise events, specialty classes, and ancillary fitness programming.
• Establish and communicate team expectations regarding attendance, professionalism, timeliness, and customer service.
• Utilize the GroupEx PRO platform to manage instructor schedules, publish class offerings, coordinate substitutes, and communicate schedule updates to members.
• Partner with the Marketing team to ensure the timely and accurate publication of monthly group exercise schedules across digital and print platforms.
• Develop and maintain monthly and annual participation reports, providing meaningful data and recommendations to the Fitness & Wellness Director and Member Experience Team.
• Provide leadership and operational support throughout the fitness center, including collaboration with personal trainers, fitness floor attendants, interns, and other department staff.
• Ensure the safety, health, and well-being of all participants through consistent adherence to safety standards and risk management practices.
• Conduct daily facility walkthroughs to ensure studios are clean, safe, well-maintained, and equipped for exceptional member experiences.
• Manage departmental resources responsibly by maintaining efficient instructor schedules, monitoring program expenses, and purchasing equipment and supplies within approved budgets.
• Process, review, and approve instructor payroll accurately and on time, including verifying class attendance, instructor substitutions, hours worked, and payroll documentation while maintaining compliance with organizational payroll policies and deadlines.
• Directly manage the group exercise operating budget of approximately $100,000, including instructor payroll, equipment purchases, and program expenses.
• Respond promptly to member requests, feedback, refunds, and service concerns while consistently delivering exceptional customer service.
• Collaborate with the Member Experience Team, including Membership, Aquatics, Tennis, Athletics, J Camps, Human Resources, Marketing, and Fitness & Wellness, to create a seamless member experience.
• Work collaboratively across departments, including Jewish Family Service (JFS), to develop, maintain, and promote wellness programming for older adults and other specialized populations.