Padel Club General Manager

Lakeshore Sport & Fitness•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Union Padel Club is seeking an energetic, hospitality-driven Club General Manager to lead the club and help bring its vision to life. This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role for someone who loves people, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and believes great businesses are built one relationship at a time. The General Manager will be on the floor, welcoming members, supporting the team, creating memorable experiences, hosting events, solving problems, and building the culture that makes Union feel like a place people want to spend their time. This role is for an entrepreneurial leader who loves hospitality, community, sports, and creating something from the ground up.

Requirements

Experience leading teams and developing people.
Experience in hospitality, fitness, private clubs, sports, restaurants, entertainment, or other lifestyle businesses.
Experience in sales, networking, community engagement, and relationship building.
Ability to balance culture and hospitality with accountability and business discipline.
Ability to own both the details and the big picture.
Ability to lead with energy, positivity, and a genuine desire to help people.
Entrepreneurial mindset and enjoyment in building something new.
Confidence, approachability, organization, and adaptability.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.
Hospitality-first mindset and a passion for creating memorable experiences.
Natural ability to build relationships and enjoy being around people.
Preference for being on the floor rather than sitting in an office.

Nice To Haves

Plays padel or is excited to learn.

Responsibilities

Oversee the club's day-to-day operations, member experience, team leadership, programming, and business performance.
Lead with a hospitality-first mindset while working closely with ownership and department leaders to build a thriving, high-performing club.
Create an exceptional member experience by building a warm, welcoming, and hospitality-driven club culture.
Develop genuine relationships with members and guests, being highly visible and engaged throughout the club.
Ensure every interaction reflects Union's standards and values, and respond to member feedback with empathy, professionalism, and urgency.
Continuously identify ways to make the member experience better.
Oversee the daily operation of the club, maintaining high standards for facilities, cleanliness, safety, presentation, and service.
Partner with department leaders to create a seamless experience across the club and establish operating standards, processes, and procedures.
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, service, and profitability, and take ownership of issues to ensure quick and effective resolution.
Drive membership growth, engagement, and retention, partnering with sales and marketing teams.
Build relationships with local businesses, organizations, and community partners, representing Union Padel Club within the local community.
Identify opportunities to increase revenue and strengthen the overall business, helping establish Union as the premier destination for padel, hospitality, and social connection.
Develop and support leagues, tournaments, clinics, social events, and community programming.
Create a calendar of experiences that gives members reasons to visit the club beyond playing padel.
Partner with the food & beverage team to create memorable events and activations.
Encourage new ideas and continuously look for ways to make the club more engaging, building programming that attracts new members and strengthens relationships with existing ones.
Hire, train, coach, and inspire a high-performing team, creating a culture built on accountability, ownership, hospitality, and fun.
Set clear expectations, hold team members accountable for delivering exceptional service, and develop team members for growth.
Recognize strong performance, celebrate team successes, and lead by example.
Manage the club's budget and financial performance, monitoring key performance indicators.
Partner with ownership to establish and achieve business goals, making thoughtful decisions that balance member experience, team culture, and financial performance.
Understand the numbers and use them to drive better business decisions, taking ownership of the club's overall success.