Fitness directors oversee all aspects of a fitness center.
A fitness director handles managerial roles in a gym or fitness center. He or she is responsible for hiring instructors, organizing classes, purchasing equipment, and managing finances. Most fitness directors have extensive prior experience in the field as group trainers or personal trainers. Educational requirements to become a fitness director vary among employers, but many professionals have college degrees related to physical education, business administration, or both.
Fitness directors organize classes at gyms.
Personal trainers and group exercise leaders work under the guidance of the fitness director. The director sets the workers’ schedules and determines when to teach certain classes. He or she stays up to date on the latest trends in the world of fitness to ensure that gym patrons enjoy the best equipment and exercise routines. Some fitness directors, especially those who work in small clubs or gyms, spend at least part of their time teaching classes.
A bachelor’s or master’s degree in physical education offers the graduate the opportunity to be a fitness director.
A large part of a fitness director’s job involves standard administrative roles common to most companies. Keep track of customer files, including billing and payment information. The director sets the prices of membership dues and sets the wages of hourly and salaried workers. Budgeting decisions are made by analyzing past sales figures and researching the success of competing gyms.
A fitness director can develop individual exercise plans for clients.
The fitness director is also responsible for ensuring that the facility complies with local occupational safety laws and building codes. He or she ensures that equipment is kept in good condition at all times and that safety rules are clearly posted for members to see. By keeping the gym clean and safe, the manager is likely to get more business.
While there are no set education or training requirements to become a fitness director, most employers prefer to hire directors who have earned the appropriate degrees. A bachelor’s or master’s program in physical education provides the individual with specialized knowledge of exercise science, human health, and personal training procedures. Many hopeful fitness directors also choose to major in business administration to prepare for the various managerial roles associated with the position.
Most fitness directors have extensive experience as group trainers or personal trainers.
A fitness director is typically certified in many areas of physical education. A professional can take training courses and written exams to become certified in personal training, physical fitness, clinical exercise, and physiology, among other specialties. Many professional boards offer certification, including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in the United States. A person interested in learning more about becoming certified by ACSM or a similar group can browse the organization’s websites or talk to directors at their local gym.