Sales Manager – Virgin Active South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Location: East London, Eastern Cape
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 28 April 2026
Industry: Health, Wellness and Fitness
Division: Clubs Coastal – East London
Functional Area: Sales
Experience Level: Entry Level (Management track)
Virgin Active South Africa is seeking a dynamic and results-driven Sales Manager to join its East London club within the Coastal Division. This role sits at the heart of the organisation’s mission to make exercise irresistible and to inspire healthier lifestyles through fitness, community engagement, and premium club experiences.
The health and fitness industry has evolved significantly over the years, shifting from simple gym access to a full lifestyle and wellness experience. In this environment, sales teams play a critical role in connecting individuals and communities to life-changing health journeys. The Sales Manager is responsible for leading this effort by driving membership growth, building a high-performance sales culture, and ensuring that monthly targets are consistently achieved or exceeded.
This is both a leadership and performance-driven role that requires strong people management skills, commercial awareness, and the ability to motivate a team in a fast-paced, target-oriented environment.
Role Purpose and Strategic Function
The primary purpose of this role is to lead the club’s sales function and ensure consistent achievement of membership acquisition and revenue growth targets.
The Sales Manager is responsible for developing and executing sales strategies, coaching the sales team, and ensuring that Virgin Active remains a market leader in the local fitness industry.
At its core, this role is about two key outcomes:
- Driving consistent monthly sales performance
- Building and sustaining a high-performing, motivated sales team
Success in this role directly contributes to the growth of the club, member satisfaction, and overall business profitability.
Key Responsibilities Explained in Detail
1. Sales Performance and Target Achievement
You will be responsible for ensuring that the club consistently meets or exceeds monthly sales targets. This includes tracking performance, identifying gaps, and implementing corrective strategies where necessary.
You will also be expected to analyse sales trends and adjust strategies to improve conversion rates and member acquisition.
2. Sales Strategy Development and Execution
A key responsibility is to develop and refine sales plans that align with business objectives. This includes:
- Designing action plans for the sales team
- Setting clear performance expectations
- Reviewing progress against targets
- Adjusting strategies based on performance outcomes
You will continuously refine sales approaches to maximise effectiveness in a competitive fitness market.
3. Sales Team Leadership and Coaching
You will lead, coach, and develop a team of sales consultants to ensure high performance and consistent delivery.
This includes:
- Daily coaching and mentoring
- Performance monitoring and feedback sessions
- Setting individual and team goals
- Conducting performance reviews
- Ensuring adherence to company sales processes and standards
A strong leadership presence is essential to build motivation and accountability within the team.
4. Customer Service and Experience Management
Sales success in the fitness industry is closely linked to customer experience. You will ensure that all customer interactions meet high service standards.
This includes:
- Resolving customer queries and complaints
- Monitoring service quality standards
- Identifying customer experience trends
- Implementing improvements where necessary
The goal is to ensure that every prospective and existing member has a positive experience with the brand.
5. Administrative and Operational Management
You will be responsible for completing all required administrative and management tasks within daily, monthly, and quarterly deadlines.
This includes:
- Sales reporting and performance tracking
- Budget monitoring and financial alignment
- Operational documentation and compliance
- Internal reporting to senior management
Accuracy and discipline in administration are essential for effective business control.
6. Manager-on-Duty (MOD) Responsibilities
In certain club environments, you will also perform Manager-on-Duty responsibilities. This includes overseeing daily operations, ensuring smooth club functioning, and supporting both staff and members during operational hours.
7. Lead Generation and Community Engagement
A key part of the role involves proactively generating leads and promoting Virgin Active memberships within the surrounding community.
This includes:
- Engaging with local residents and businesses
- Conducting outreach and promotional activities
- Following up on leads generated in-club and externally
- Building relationships with corporate organisations for membership opportunities
Strong community presence directly supports membership growth.
8. Team Performance Monitoring and Improvement
You will continuously monitor team performance and ensure alignment with sales goals. This includes tracking individual contributions, identifying training needs, and supporting underperforming team members.
The aim is to build a consistent, high-performing sales culture.
9. Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams
You will work closely with other departments to ensure alignment between sales, operations, and customer experience.
This includes maintaining communication with fitness teams, management, and corporate support structures to ensure smooth execution of business goals.
Minimum Requirements Explained
Matric Certificate (Essential)
Basic educational requirement for understanding business processes and communication.
Tertiary Qualification (Advantageous)
A qualification in business, sales, marketing, or related fields is beneficial.
2+ Years Sales Management Experience
Proven experience managing a sales team is required.
4+ Years Sales Experience
Strong background in direct sales, preferably in a similar customer-facing industry.
Proven Sales Track Record
Candidates must demonstrate consistent success in achieving or exceeding sales targets in a solution-based sales environment.
Financial Understanding
Ability to interpret financial data, including P&L statements and budgeting processes.
Negotiation and Closing Skills
Strong ability to close deals under pressure and negotiate effectively.
Internal Training Advantage (Pro-active Sales Manager Training)
Completion of internal Virgin Active sales leadership training is advantageous.
Key Skills and Personal Attributes
- Strong leadership and coaching ability
- High energy and performance-driven mindset
- Ability to work in a fast-paced and changing environment
- Strong numerical and analytical thinking skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Emotional intelligence (EQ) and people management ability
- Ability to work independently and take ownership
- Strong decision-making and accountability mindset
- Adaptability and resilience under pressure
- Growth mindset and continuous improvement focus
Work Environment
This role operates in a high-energy, customer-focused fitness environment where sales performance is closely linked to motivation, team culture, and community engagement.
The environment is fast-paced and competitive, requiring strong personal discipline, resilience, and the ability to inspire others. Daily interactions with members, prospects, and team members form a key part of the role.
Success Measures
Success in this role is measured by:
- Monthly membership sales targets achieved or exceeded
- Performance and productivity of the sales team
- Conversion rates from leads to memberships
- Customer satisfaction and retention levels
- Quality of community engagement and lead generation
- Effective implementation of sales strategies
The Sales Manager role at Virgin Active East London is a leadership position focused on driving commercial success through people development, sales execution, and community engagement.
It is an ideal opportunity for an ambitious, energetic, and performance-driven professional who is passionate about fitness, leadership, and helping people improve their lives through health and wellness.
This role offers the chance to grow within a globally recognised fitness brand while making a real impact on both business performance and member wellbeing.
