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Head of Group Exercise Product

meridiantalent.co.zaURL Unverified
Cape Town, South AfricaFull-timeSeniorOn-sitePosted 11 Nov 2026

Job Overview

Virgin Active South Africa is appointing a Head of Group Exercise Product in Cape Town to lead the Group Exercise (GEX) portfolio nationally, translating the Director's product and commercial priorities into a compelling offering and consistent delivery across clubs.

Accountable for the GEX roadmap, product standards, approved budget and functional team performance, the role directly leads Exercise to Music (ETM), unites genre specialists and regional leaders, and grows member participation, studio utilisation and commercial performance in partnership with Operations, Finance, Marketing and Digital.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop the national GEX strategy and annual roadmap aligned to Group direction and member needs

• Define each genre and format across club types using member insight, demand and performance data

• Partner with Global Heads of Group Exercise to adapt proven concepts and coordinate launches

• Prepare and manage GEX budgets and forecasts including instructor costs and licence fees

• Improve attendance, class occupancy and studio utilisation through timetable and capacity decisions

• Develop business cases for premium or paid formats, partnerships and studio repurposing

• Set national standards for class experience, programming, timetables and instructor delivery

• Set the national instructor recruitment, onboarding, assessment and development framework

• Recommend fair instructor rate frameworks with HR and Finance

• Lead the Exercise to Music portfolio and prioritise improvements in Cycle and Boxing

• Manage initiatives from concept and pilot to rollout with clear measures of success

Required Qualifications

• Senior product or programme leadership in fitness, wellness, leisure or a multi-site consumer business

• Experience owning budgets, forecasts and commercial performance of a product portfolio

• Strong use of member insight, participation and NPS data to drive decisions

• Experience leading specialist and regional teams across multiple sites

• Track record taking pilots through to national rollout

Skills & Requirements

Product ManagementGroup ExerciseFitness ProgrammingPortfolio StrategyBudget ManagementBusiness Case DevelopmentMember ExperienceInstructor DevelopmentCapacity PlanningData-Driven Decision MakingStakeholder ManagementTeam Leadership

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