REGIONAL TRAINING MANAGER
Full-Time Exempt
Reports to: Director of L&D
Location: This position requires the employee to be located within the Illinois and/or Wisconsin area to support business operations, travel to multiple club locations in the Mid-West Region. Ideally the Chicago or Milwaukee area.
Mid-West Region – District 3 (Wisconsin: Greenfield, Brookfield, Waukesha, Hales Corners, Kenosha)
Mid-West Region – District 4 (Illinois: Burbank Station, Naperville, Willowbrook, Downers Grove, Melrose Park, Tinley Park)
We're looking for a passionate and results-driven Regional Training Manager to join our Learning & Development team. In this field-based role, you'll partner with new and recently opened clubs across the Midwest, providing training, coaching, and operational support during their critical first year of operation.
This role is offered by JEM Wellness Brands, the proud franchise operator of Crunch Fitness, the “No Judgment Gym” known for fun, effective workouts. Crunch ranks #1 in fitness and #32 overall on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 (2025), with 3M members, 500+ locations, and its new Crunch 3.0 gym design.
JEM is growing fast and committed to your future. Since 2022, we are currently at 12 clubs in 3 states and set a goal to open 75 new gyms by 2032. This year, we celebrated a Brookfield, WI opening with NBA star Trae Young and JEM leadership. We’re building a movement of self-improvement through purpose-driven work and people-first culture.
Position Overview
The Regional Training Manager (RTM) is a field-based Learning & Development leader responsible for driving training excellence, leadership development, and operational readiness for new club openings across the Midwest region. As a member of the S.W.A.T. (Specialized Workforce for Accelerated Training) Team, the RTM partners closely with field leadership and club teams to deliver hands-on training, coaching, and performance support throughout the entire new club lifecycle, from presale and team onboarding through Founders Day Sales (FDS), First Workout (FWO), and the club's first 12 months of operation.
Serving as a force multiplier, the RTM helps accelerate learning, strengthen execution, identify performance gaps, and develop high-performing, self-sufficient teams that can sustain long-term success. While the primary focus is supporting new gym openings and recently opened clubs, the RTM may also provide targeted training and development support to established Open & Operating (O&O) clubs based on business priorities and organizational needs.
This role requires extensive travel throughout the Midwest region, with occasional travel to other territories, and a strong commitment to maintaining a consistent and impactful field presence.
Regional Training Manager Responsibilities
New Gym Opening Training & Execution
- Serve as the primary S.W.A.T. training and development partner for assigned Midwest New Gym Openings (NGOs).
- Support the full new gym opening lifecycle, including presale, lead generation, sales ramp-up, staffing, training readiness, Founders Day Sales (FDS), First Workout (FWO), and post-opening development.
- Ensure leaders and team members consistently execute new gym opening playbooks, systems, processes, and performance standards.
- Develop and implement structured training plans aligned to each phase of the opening timeline.
- Evaluate team proficiency and operational readiness through observation, role-playing, assessments, and hands-on field support.
- Identify skill, knowledge, and execution gaps and provide targeted coaching and development solutions.
- Partner with S.W.A.T. and NGO leadership to identify risks, opportunities, and performance barriers that could impact opening success.
- Capture and share lessons learned and best practices to improve future new club openings.
First-Year Club Development
- Provide ongoing training, coaching, and performance support to newly opened clubs throughout their first 12 months of operation.
- Establish consistent leadership development and accountability rhythms following FWO.
- Partner with General Managers and department leaders to strengthen execution across memberships, personal training, operations, member experience, retention, and leadership effectiveness.
- Analyze business metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify trends and prioritize training and coaching needs.
- Conduct structured club visits, operational observations, follow-up coaching sessions, and development reviews.
- Support clubs facing operational, leadership, or performance challenges through customized development plans.
- Build leadership capability and team proficiency to facilitate a successful transition into standard Open & Operating (O&O) support.
Leadership Development & Talent Growth
- Develop high-performing General Managers (GMs), Assistant General Managers (AGMs), Personal Training Managers (PTMs), and frontline teams throughout presale and first-year operations.
- Deliver onboarding programs, workshops, role-play sessions, field coaching, and leadership development initiatives.
- Coach leaders on communication, accountability, performance management, team development, and operational execution.
- Assess individual and team capabilities and create development plans that drive measurable behavioral and business results.
- Identify high-potential talent and partner with leadership on succession planning and bench-strength development.
- Support the development, certification, and deployment of S.W.A.T. Specialists throughout the region.
Sales & Performance Development
- Train and coach teams on the complete sales process, including community outreach, lead generation, appointment setting, follow-up, objection handling, closing techniques, and membership conversion.
- Reinforce daily, weekly, and monthly performance expectations during presale and post-opening phases.
- Utilize KPIs and operational data to identify coaching opportunities and performance improvement initiatives.
- Partner with leaders to convert performance gaps into actionable training and coaching plans.
- Conduct real-time coaching, role plays, operational observations, and proficiency validations to improve execution.
- Help sustain sales momentum established during presale through FDS, FWO, and the first year of operation.
Operational Excellence & Brand Standards
- Train and coach teams on JEM and Crunch Fitness operational standards throughout the new club lifecycle.
- Conduct operational readiness assessments, field validations, and performance observations.
- Reinforce standards related to cleanliness, equipment readiness, safety, labor management, compliance, customer service, and the 5-Star Operations Model.
- Identify operational execution gaps and provide immediate coaching and corrective action support.
- Partner with club leadership to ensure corrective actions are implemented, monitored, and sustained.
- Promote consistent operational excellence as clubs mature and scale.
Learning & Development Initiatives
- Deliver impactful training programs across sales, service, leadership, culture, and operations.
- Contribute to the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of Learning & Development programs and cultural initiatives.
- Support the development, refinement, and adoption of training materials, operational playbooks, and learning tools.
- Measure training effectiveness through observations, performance outcomes, participant feedback, and follow-up assessments.
- Provide field-based insights and recommendations to enhance future training strategies, systems, and processes.
- Identify and share scalable best practices that can be replicated across future openings and the broader organization.
Open & Operating Club Support
- Provide targeted training and development support to Open & Operating clubs as business needs require.
- Assist with leadership development, performance improvement initiatives, operational validations, leadership transitions, and company-wide rollouts.
- Deliver short-term field support and training reinforcement while maintaining primary focus on new club openings and first-year club development.
- Ensure O&O support complements the organization's broader growth and operational objectives.
Culture & Cross-Functional Partnership
- Serve as a visible ambassador of The JEM Way, modeling professionalism, accountability, collaboration, consistency, and people-first leadership.
- Champion the SOUL framework: Speak It, Own It, Understand It, Live It.
- Foster a no-ego, all-in leadership mindset across S.W.A.T., field leadership, and club teams.
- Collaborate closely with partners across Operations, Fitness, Sales, Marketing, Learning & Development, Human Resources, and other business functions.
- Act as a liaison between field teams and organizational leadership by communicating opportunities, challenges, and execution gaps.
- Ensure teams have the resources, tools, training, and support required to deliver an exceptional member and team experience.
Required Skills & Experience
- 3+ years of experience in training, learning and development, operations, sales leadership, fitness leadership, or multi-unit field support.
- Experience supporting new gym openings, presale operations, or multi-location business expansions.
- Proven ability to deliver training, facilitate learning programs, and coach leaders and frontline team members in a field-based environment.
- Demonstrated success developing leaders, improving team performance, and driving operational execution.
- Strong understanding of sales processes, performance metrics, and operational standards.
- Experience analyzing business performance and translating insights into actionable coaching and development plans.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation, and influencing skills.
- Ability to build relationships and drive results across multiple stakeholders without direct authority.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and follow-through skills in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
- Ability and willingness to travel extensively (50% to 75%) throughout the assigned region.
- Experience with various tools, systems and platforms similar to ABC Fitness, Club Connect and MS Office.
- CPR/AED certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).
- Pre-Employment Screening: All offers of employment for this position are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check in accordance with company policy and applicable laws. This process helps ensure a safe and compliant workplace.
Preferred Experience
- Experience in the fitness, health club, hospitality, retail, franchise, or multi-unit service industry.
- 5+ years of experience in Learning & Development, Training, Operations, or Field Leadership roles.
- Experience leading or supporting multiple new gym openings from presale through post-opening operations.
- Background in leadership development, talent development, succession planning, or organizational training initiatives.
- Experience coaching General Managers, Assistant General Managers, department leaders, and frontline teams.
- Proven success driving improvements in sales performance, member experience, operational excellence, and leadership capability.
- Experience creating, implementing, or refining training programs, playbooks, and operational best practices.
- Experience working within a high-growth, geographically dispersed organization.
- Training certifications, facilitation certifications, or fitness industry certifications are a plus.
- Experience supporting cross-functional initiatives across Operations, Sales, Fitness, Human Resources, and Learning & Development teams.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, and move throughout club facilities for extended periods.
- Ability to work in both indoor and outdoor environments.
- Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to travel frequently and maintain an active field presence in support of club operations, training, and development initiatives.
Education Requirements
- High school diploma or GED required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Sports Management, or a related field preferred
Travel Requirements
- This field-based role requires 50% to 75% travel throughout the Midwest region.
- Travel will primarily support new gym openings and clubs within their first 12 months of operation.
- Maintain a strong on-site presence during key milestones, including presale, Founders Day Sales (FDS), First Workout (FWO), and post-opening development.
- Travel priorities will vary based on opening schedules, training needs, club performance, and business priorities.
- Occasional travel outside the region and to established clubs may be required to support training initiatives, special projects, and organizational needs.
Vehicle Use & Travel Requirements
- Must be able to travel regularly throughout the assigned territory using a personal vehicle.
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.
- Must maintain personal automobile insurance that meets company requirements.
- Must have access to a reliable vehicle suitable for frequent business travel.
- Must comply with all applicable traffic laws and company vehicle safety guidelines while conducting business travel.
Compensation (Salary)
$80,000 - $90,000 per year
Potential Annual Bonus of $20,000
Vehicle stipend of $700 per month
Benefits
- Comprehensive Health Coverage – Full-time team members are eligible for medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Income Protection – Short-term and long-term disability insurance available for full-time employees.
- Additional Coverage Options – Access to a variety of ancillary insurance plans for full-time employees.
- Retirement Savings – 401(k) plan with employee contribution options, available to all employees after six months of service available for full-time and part-time employees.
- Flexible Time Off – Enjoy flexible paid time off (salary employees only).
- Paid Holidays – Company-designated holidays throughout the year for salaried team members.
- Wellness Perks – Complimentary Crunch gym membership for all employees.
- Safety & Certification Support – Free CPR/AED re-certifications provided by the company for all employees.
Disclaimer
It is the responsibility of the candidate to obtain and maintain all required certifications at their own expense, including but not limited to Personal Training Certification, Group Fitness Certification, and CPR/AED Certification, as a condition of employment.
About JEM Wellness Brands
Founded in 2022, JEM Wellness Brands is a first-in-class health and wellness franchisee platform and an official franchise partner of Crunch Fitness. Our mission is simple: to empower people to feel good in their bodies, confident in their choices, and connected to a lifestyle of wellness. Through our portfolio of industry-leading brands, we do good by doing well.
We envision a world where wellness is accessible, inclusive, and deeply personal—where fitness, beauty, and recovery are not just services, but a way of life. Guided by our core values of Resilience, Service, Transformation, and Excellence, we strive to create meaningful experiences for our community, team members, and customers.
At JEM, culture is our heartbeat. We’re a team of passionate leaders and purpose-driven professionals who celebrate wins, support growth, and put people first—always.
Additional Requirements & Equal Opportunity Statement
All employees at JEM Wellness Brands must be 18 years of age or older.
Crunch Fitness Powered by JEM Wellness Brands provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and strictly prohibits discrimination or harassment of any kind. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Please note: Crunch Fitness Powered by JEM Wellness Brands does not offer visa sponsorship or support visa transfers for this position. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future visa sponsorship.
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