General Manager

Summary: The General Manager (GM) is a key strategic leader within Liberty Athletic Club, ensuring quality experiences and services for our members and their guests. The GM provides leadership, makes critical decisions, and supports team members with forward-thinking guidance to successfully execute the club’s mission.

This role also entails facilitating a safe and enjoyable environment while exceeding Liberty’s standards of professionalism and teamwork. The GM must be a strong leader with excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of generating innovative ideas, fostering growth through teamwork, and maintaining organized processes.

The focus of this position is to provide leadership and deliverables, ensure the organized execution of club and department goals, and demonstrate forward-thinking in all aspects of the business, with a clear understanding that a strong sense of purpose guides both the employee and member experience and drives overall profitability.

Essential Functions

• Serve as a key strategic decision-maker within the organization.
• Lead and mentor the management team with clear expectations, defined goals, and measurable objectives that align with Liberty’s core values, mission, and policies.
• Provide consistent, specific, and actionable feedback to direct reports to foster continuous professional development.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and leadership development for department heads.
• Maintain a “lead by example” mentality—demonstrating professionalism, accountability, and commitment to Liberty’s values.
• Work directly with the President/CEO to strategize future department goals, initiatives, and organizational direction.
• Initiate, direct, and promote club initiatives to attract, encourage, and maintain members’ interest in the club.
• Oversee department heads, ensuring consistency, collaboration, and alignment across all club operations.
• Remain highly visible and accessible throughout the club, engaging with members and staff to promote open communication and positive morale.
• Monitor club traffic for peak participation and utilization. Develop processes and procedures within the framework of club operations to support activities, events, and daily activities.
• Listen to input, praise, and constructive criticism; apply feedback toward achieving outstanding outcomes and resolution.
• Resolve member concerns promptly and effectively while maintaining positive relationships.
• Lead and direct key initiatives to drive business growth, operational efficiency and consistency, and member satisfaction.
• Ensure that Liberty’s mission, culture, and brand are reflected in all operations, services, and communications.
• Stay abreast of current trends and innovations in the health and fitness industry, share insights and educational opportunities with the management team regularly.
• Assist in overall recruiting efforts and play a key role in hiring department managers for leadership positions. Train department managers on club standards, safety, and customer service philosophies. Ensure all new hires are trained aligned with Liberty’s core values, mission, and policies.
• Oversee staff training programs for each department to ensure consistency in service, safety, and operational excellence.
• Promote Liberty’s culture of continuous improvement and uphold the highest standards of customer service.
• Review financial reports, analyze trends, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure compliance with club policies, health and safety regulations, and local ordinances.

Lead and Manage

• Facilitate any employee-related issues with the support of Human Resources
• Enforce confidentiality with team to create unified team culture.
• Oversee and periodically evaluate instruction in all areas pertaining to role. Ensure quality instruction, responsive instructor support, and a safe, welcoming and joyful environment.
• Articulate and enforce a compelling vision around engaging with members and their families.
• Model and mentor team members on appropriate procedures, policies, and language pertaining to all interactions with desired population.
• Assist with maintaining an environment of inclusivity in the club, including facilitating staff training on working with various demographics and populations.
• Establish staff schedules and facilitate coverage in emergency situations.
• Maintain clean surroundings in club environment by offering specific cleaning checklists and time allotted to tasks. Work with maintenance and facilities department to ensure that physical plant and resources are working properly and safely.
• Provide encouragement and feedback to team members via proper evaluation tools and procedures. Provide support through respectful communication and professionalism.
• Recognize operational issues/challenges/demands and provide hands-on collaboration and assistance in operations during these times.

Company Culture

• Model Liberty’s mission and values through daily actions and decisions.
• Partner with club owners, managers, and staff to promote a healthy and positive working, social, and recreational environment for all employees and members.
• Promote a culture of excellence, safety, and respect.
• Spearhead engaging, collaborative, monthly management team meetings with concrete agenda items while preserving time integrity.
• Provide clear and effective leadership and a positive, highly visible, engaging style while supporting Liberty’s core values, mission, and policies.
• Enforce all club rules and regulations governing the use of the facility, its equipment, and other property.
• Conduct performance evaluations to direct reports.
• Hold regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports to coach, mentor, and align on departmental goals and progress.
• Join department team meetings at regular intervals to maintain visibility and support.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• 2-5 years of proven leadership experience in health club, hospitality, or related industry.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and strong verbal, written, and organizational skills.
• Strong strategic planning, business acumen, and problem-solving abilities.
• High standards in ethics, service, image and confidentiality.
• High energy, approachable, and skilled in fostering teamwork and accountability.
• Ability to multitask and manage priorities in a dynamic environment
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, reach, climb and raise up to 50 pounds
• Ability to execute a multi-step initiative or change process
• Able to work a varied schedule and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, hospitality, or related field preferred.
• Solid understanding of computer software such as Microsoft Excel and Word