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Spa & Fitness manager

Mather Place (Wilmette, IL)
At Mather Place, wellness is not an add‑on—it’s a way of life. As the Spa & Fitness Manager, you will lead a comprehensive, hospitality‑driven wellness experience that integrates fitness, aquatics, spa/salon services, and holistic signature programs into meaningful, high‑quality offerings for residents across the continuum. In this highly visible leadership role, you will design, implement, schedule, and measure individualized and group wellness programs across indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as virtual and on‑demand platforms, ensuring programs reflect diverse abilities, interests, and goals. You will manage wellness amenity spaces and equipment, oversee and develop independent contractors and wellness specialists, and collaborate closely with external vendors, community partners, and internal Resident Engagement colleagues to ensure program excellence, safety, and innovation. This is a full‑time, salaried (exempt), 100% in‑person leadership role offering scheduling flexibility across days, evenings, and weekends, ideal for a passionate wellness professional who thrives on relationship‑building, program creativity, and operational excellence.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • Ensures that Mather brand standards for resident engagement and wellness are the drivers behind strategic planning of fitness center, spa services, and signature wellness initiatives, supporting autonomy, achievement, and affiliation within individuals and the community system.
  • Develops schedule and manages delivery of fitness and holistic wellness programs within Get Fit, pool, spa/salon, signature ContinuWell initiatives, in virtual/on-demand programs, and in indoor and outdoor spaces across the continuum.
  • Designs and implements fitness and wellness programs that address diverse strengths, abilities, interests, and needs. Adapts programs to reflect needs and interests of full continuum.
  • Manages fitness and spa amenity spaces including fitness equipment space, group exercise studio, pool, salon/spa spaces, indoor and outdoor wellness amenity areas. Maintains amenity spaces in line with Mather standards for presentation, engagement, and safety.
  • Performance manages, schedules, and develops Exercise & Wellness Specialists, spa/salon providers, independent contractors. Provides development and training opportunities for exercise & wellness specialists and other colleagues, best practices for adapting wellness programs (including, but not limited to movement, diverse fitness modalities, meditation/breathwork, outdoor experiences, wellness coaching, etc.) across continuum. Follows Mather policies for contractor usage.
  • Optimizes use of fitness & spa budgets across the continuum: provides quality experience and strategically utilize contractors, supplies and services, etc. Drives revenue generation opportunities via personal training.
  • Manages creation and utilization of quality on-demand virtual wellness offerings.
  • Coordinates with Engagement Manager to ensure effective communication of programs: via community calendar, resident portal, in-house broadcasts, and signage in line with Mather brand standards.
  • Collaborates with Resident Engagement colleagues in supporting resident wellness needs and interests through group programs, personalized experiences, and high-quality resources; promotes new wellness initiatives within the community.
  • Gathers and reports outcomes measures on engagement and impact of programs offered.
  • Supports elements of team member wellness opportunities as requested. Serves on wellness committee as ambassador for community, encourages team member participation, promotes wellness efforts within community.
  • Maintains strong relationships with residents across continuum: Participates in resident committees, supports resident-led initiatives, identifies ways to engage with residents regularly to seek input and feedforward.
  • Supports Director of Resident Engagement in developing key relationships & partnerships that support resident engagement related to Health and Wellbeing: including wellness initiatives, fitness/ movement experiences, etc.

Secondary Functions:

  • Maintains a courteous and professional manner through interactions with others. Communicates with key staff, residents and families in a timely manner.
  • Attends in-services and committee meetings.
  • Participates in Quality Assurance Process Improvement processes regarding resident engagement.
  • Provides support to broader Resident Engagement team/community engagement as necessary and contributes to collaboration and communication within the experience center.
  • Complies with Mather Code of Conduct, Policies, Compliance Program, and all applicable laws and regulations in performance of one’s job duties; reports all known and suspected violations to his/her supervisor or manager, Mather Compliance officer, a Human Resources representative, or the confidential team member helpline.
  • Demonstrates understanding of and commitment to the company Mission, Core Values, and IRBI
  • philosophy.
  • Uses discretion in handling confidential information, incorporating all Federal, State and local privacy and confidentiality requirements. Ensures Mather consent protocols are followed across continuum for resident content.
  • Assists with interviewing and training team members, independent contractors, interns and volunteers in order to create high quality programming.
  • Supports adoption of technology for community engagement and identify methods to strengthen experience of technology engagement within community (resident portal, in-house broadcast, digital signage, etc.).
  • Establishes, operationalizes, engages team members in, and sustains a Quality Assurance Process Improvement process.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Required:

  • Bachelor’s degree in fitness, wellness, or related field or equivalent experience.
  • Experience working with older adults.
  • Experience in health promotion programs and fitness center management.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Positive, engaging, and collaborative attitude, strong listening skills, strong 1:1 and group facilitation skills.
  • Ability to lead by example.
  • Strong time management and organization skills.
  • Self-initiator requiring minimum supervision.
  • Ability to use or learn a variety of tech-based services and platforms; i.e. Microsoft Outlook, Zoom, YouTube, resident facing portals, and A/V set-ups.

Preferred:

  • Knowledge of holistic wellness initiatives, ACSM or other health-related certification.
  • Master’s Degree in health/wellness promotion.
  • Experience serving older adults across continuum of care with diverse abilities and needs.
  • Various fitness and/or wellness certifications a plus.

 

The salary range is a good faith estimate of the range Mather reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of the posting. The actual salary base wage paid to an individual will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to specific skills or certifications, years of experience, geographic location and market changes. The position is also eligible to participate in Mather benefit plans and Employee Appreciation Fund. 

Salary Pay Range

$68,000 - $74,500 USD

Benefits

Mather offers a competitive benefits package.*

 

Team members are eligible for:

  • A generous paid time off (PTO) program including vacation days/personal days, sick days, and holidays. This is an “earn-as-you-go” plan that rolls over year to year, offering long- and short-term flexibility.
  • A 401(k) program with per pay-period employer match and annual employer contribution (available to those age 21 or better)
  • Convenient, subsidized parking (or public transportation for certain locations)
  • Wellness Spending Account: up to $300 available annually for Wellness related expenses such as gym memberships, financial planning, etc. 

Benefits-eligible team members can take advantage of:

  • Medical, dental, and vision plans
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Adoption Assistance Reimbursement
  • Tuition reimbursement for continuing education
  • Extended illness benefits
  • Employee wellness programs
  • Short- and long-term disability insurance
  • Life insurance is available to benefit eligible team members.

 

*Benefits are subject to change without notice. Benefits details dependent on employment status.

About Mather Place

Mather Place is an independent living rental community for those 62 and better, located in the heart of Chicago’s North Shore in Wilmette, Illinois—a short walk from Old Orchard shopping center. Mather Place includes 179 independent living apartment homes, as well as two restaurants, a fitness center, an art studio, a library, and more.

Mather Place is located at 2801 Old Glenview Road in Wilmette.

About Mather

Based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather is a unique, non-denominational, not-for-profit organization founded in 1941. Dedicated to developing and implementing Ways to Age WellSM, we create programs, places, and residences for today’s young-at-heart older adults. Mather has received a national certification as a Great Place to Work®, and has been selected as a Nation’s Best and Brightest in Wellness Award recipient four years in a row.

Mather is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to an inclusive workforce. Candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

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