Managing Director (m/f/d) - Fitness & Lifestyle Brand

Location: Cologne

Start: Immediately

Setup: Full-time (on-site)

THE BRAND & THE OPPORTUNITY

Together with us, you will build a new fitness brand in the Mid Cost - High Value segment.

The Vision: “The new hotspot in the city for workout, recovery, co-working, and socializing.”

Strength, cardio and functional training, live classes, sauna and recovery, bar and lounge, as well as a quiet co-working zone, all under one roof - at an affordable price significantly below premium clubs.

Our clubs will be located in former retail spaces, in prime downtown locations with long-term secured rental agreements. We are starting in Western Germany in the Cologne, Essen, and Frankfurt region and will then expand.

We work with an entrepreneurial approach: small team, short communication channels, each location must be self-sustaining. The first club is the proof of concept, and each subsequent club is earned through the success of the previous one.

For you, this means: You will be involved from day one and will shape everything from scratch, from the name and concept to the location. No entry into an existing operation, but the opportunity to build a brand from the ground up, design the model in all its details, and take full responsibility for the results.

THE ROLE & YOUR ROADMAP

As Managing Director, you will be responsible for the complete build-up of the brand - from the initial sketches on the drawing board to multi-site scaling.

• Phase 1 - Sharpening the Concept: Together with the shareholders, you will bring the offering, space program, pricing strategy, and brand presence to market maturity.

• Phase 2 - Opening the First Club: You will manage the on-site expansion, build your core team, ramp up pre-opening sales, and get the first flagship location online.

• Phase 3 - Proof of Concept: You will achieve the planned member and result figures (P&L) with the club and turn the pilot into a highly efficient, repeatable model.

• Phase 4 - Scaling: You will open further locations in Germany and build the organization to support this growth.

YOUR IMPACT (THE FIRST 12 MONTHS)

You will be on board from day 1 and get the first location online:

• Bring the concept to market maturity: Together with project management, you will refine the offering, space allocation, prices, and brand.

• Manage construction: You will oversee the construction and renovation of the first location and keep a firm grip on the time and cost framework.

• Build the core team: You will recruit club management, trainers, and service staff, and shape culture and standards from the beginning.

• Take responsibility for pre-sales & market entry: You will drive member acquisition before the opening, conduct local marketing, and close deals with corporate clients and aggregators (e.g., Urban Sports Club, EGYM Wellpass).

• Set up processes & tech: You will implement member management, access systems, app, and reporting.

• Open the first club: You will oversee the Grand Opening and successfully lead the location into live operations.

YOUR PROFILE

Are you passionate about fitness and lifestyle yourself, do you think like an entrepreneur, and do you have the drive to build something of your own? Then you are exactly the right person!

• Track Record: You have leadership experience in the fitness industry (e.g., as Area Manager, Cluster Manager, or Regional Director), ideally with P&L responsibility.

• New Opening Experience: You have personally managed or contributed to a new opening from A to Z (construction, team building, pre-sales).

• Business Mindset: You have commercial thinking, are data-driven, and possess a confident demeanor towards shareholders, landlords, and partners.

• Hands-on & Drive: You get involved everywhere until you are satisfied. Afterwards, you will lead a growing team.

• Setup: Full-time, residence or relocation to the starting region of Cologne, Essen, or Frankfurt. Willingness to travel to the locations and German C2 level.

This would be a plus: Previous experience in hospitality, wellness, or gastronomy, experience in brand building, and a strong network in the fitness industry.

WHY US

• Maximum Creative Freedom: The rare opportunity to own a completely new brand from the first sketch.

• High-Speed & Support: Short decision-making processes and direct exchange with the shareholders. You decide everything together!

• Executive Package: Attractive remuneration consisting of a fixed salary, transparent bonus, and a company car.

Contact: Alex Berwanger

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