Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: PureGym US

Location: New York, NY

Job Type: Full Time, Permanent

Category: Design Operations / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-04-09T16:29:25

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (1-2 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and manage external design and signage partners to ensure consistent brand execution across all PureGym US locations.

• Drive the visual and functional design of new gyms and refurbishments, balancing commercial performance, operational excellence, and member experience.

• Develop and implement innovative design solutions that enhance the member journey and align with PureGym's brand DNA and evolving formats.

• Oversee quality assurance, cost control, and continuous improvement initiatives for design and architectural services to support the property development pipeline.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Head of Design," the responsibilities heavily lean into operations and GTM execution for physical locations. This role requires a strategic leader who can translate brand vision into tangible, scalable, and operationally sound physical spaces. The emphasis on managing external partners, ensuring quality across numerous sites, and integrating with property development, equipment, and marketing teams positions this as a critical operational function supporting GTM strategy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide oversight and quality assurance for multiple external design and signage partners, including onboarding, coaching, and performance management.

• Maximize gym visibility through external signage design and awareness opportunities, securing necessary planning approvals.

• Develop optimized gym equipment layouts that adhere to key principles for safety, comfort, and member exercise requirements.

• Create internal elevations that align with brand principles, applying signage guidelines and brand color schemes.

• Develop bespoke design solutions for non-standard situations, ensuring brand DNA is applied effectively.

• Integrate optimal lighting solutions that balance illumination needs with energy efficiency goals.

• Provide input into architectural design to enhance member experience through considerations of sight lines, privacy, and overall ambience.

• Coordinate all design elements to deliver a coherent, member-focused journey that embodies the "Feel PureGym Good" ethos.

• Ensure design elements meet critical milestones to support the property pipeline and pass all major design approval stages.

• Strive for "right first time" design to minimize rework and unnecessary costs.

• Manage projects through quality stage gates, using feedback for continuous improvement of external partner performance.

• Maintain cost control of external architectural partners and identify opportunities for service cost reduction.

• Play a leading role in the continuous development of US gym formats, identifying areas for improvement and recommending innovations.

• Represent the Group Property Development function internally and act as an external ambassador for PureGym.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong operational focus on execution, quality control, and partner management, crucial for scaling a physical retail/fitness brand. The role requires not just creative design oversight but also a deep understanding of project management, budget adherence, and operational efficiency across a high volume of sites.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Extensive experience (10+ years implied) in leading design teams and operating at a senior level.

• Proven track record of leading external partners to deliver 100-150 multi-site projects per year.

• Experience in large-scale leisure, retail, hospitality, or rapidly growing organizations.

• Experience building relationships and performance managing 3rd party contractors and advisors.

Required Skills:

• Design Leadership: Ability to lead and inspire external design and signage partners, setting clear quality standards and strategic direction.

• Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple, high-volume multi-site projects, ensuring delivery against critical milestones and timelines.

• AutoCAD Proficiency: Essential experience with AutoCAD and ideally other design-focused applications for reviewing and approving technical drawings.

• Vendor & Partner Management: Expertise in identifying, onboarding, coaching, and performance managing external design and signage agencies.

• Strategic Planning: Ability to translate high-level strategy into actionable design plans and contribute to the development of evolving US gym formats.

• Brand Stewardship: Deep understanding of brand principles, DNA, and guidelines, with the ability to apply them consistently across diverse physical locations.

• Space Planning & Layout Optimization: Skill in developing efficient and member-centric equipment layouts and internal elevations.

• Quality Assurance: Robust processes for ensuring design quality, brand consistency, and adherence to operational standards across all sites.

• Stakeholder Management: Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams (Format Development, Equipment, Brand & Marketing, New Openings, Development) and external partners.

• Commercial Acumen: Ability to evaluate investment decisions, balance member/brand expectations with required financial returns, and manage budgets effectively.

• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for thinking "outside of the box" to resolve complex design and operational challenges under pressure.

• Lean Thinking & Process Optimization: Ability to identify and remove waste in design processes, driving efficiency and cost reduction.

• Communication & Influence: Excellent ability to convey complex messages simply and influence at a senior level.

• Adaptability & Proactivity: Hands-on, accountable, and able to react quickly in a fast-moving environment.

• Member Focus: Commitment to improving the member experience through design and operational improvements.

Preferred Skills:

• Passion for or interest in fitness and leisure.

• Experience in architectural design input and understanding of spatial ambience.

• Familiarity with lighting design principles and energy efficiency considerations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Person" section is rich with skills and experience requirements. These have been structured into Required and Preferred categories, with a strong emphasis on practical, operational, and leadership competencies essential for a GTM-focused design role. The mention of 100-150 multi-site projects per year indicates a need for highly efficient processes and strong vendor management capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a portfolio demonstrating experience in leading design for multiple, high-volume physical locations (ideally 100+ sites).

• Include case studies highlighting successful collaboration with external design and signage partners, detailing project scope, challenges, and outcomes.

• Present examples of optimized space planning and equipment layouts for fitness or similar environments, emphasizing efficiency and member experience.

• Demonstrate application of brand guidelines and development of bespoke solutions for diverse physical spaces.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their systematic approach to managing external design partners, including onboarding, performance management, and quality assurance frameworks.

• Be ready to articulate methodologies for ensuring design approvals and milestone adherence within a fast-paced property development pipeline.

• Prepare to explain how lean thinking and process optimization are applied to design workflows to reduce waste and costs.

• Outline strategies for continuous improvement in design processes, leveraging feedback from project stage gates and partner performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, a portfolio is critical for showcasing practical application of design principles in a high-volume, multi-site operational context. The emphasis is on process, efficiency, and partner management, not just aesthetic design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000 - $120,000 per year

Bonus: Performance-based bonus potential included.

Benefits:

• Medical insurance

• Dental insurance

• Vision insurance

• Short-Term Disability insurance

• Life insurance

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Legal and Identity Theft Protection

Working Hours:

• Full-time position, expected to align with standard business hours, with flexibility for hybrid work (1-2 days per week in the New York office). The role's senior nature implies that hours may extend as needed to manage high-volume projects and partner relationships.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicit. The benefits listed are comprehensive. The working hours are detailed, with a hybrid arrangement and inherent flexibility expected for a leadership role managing numerous external partners and projects.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fitness & Leisure (Specifically, Gym Operations)

Company Size: Part of PureGym Group, a leading UK-based gym operator with over 700 locations and 2 million members globally. The US expansion indicates significant growth potential and ambition.

Founded: PureGym Group was founded in 2008. This US role is part of a significant international expansion.

Team Structure:

• The Head of Design will be part of the Group Property Development function.

• This role requires extensive cross-functional collaboration with teams such as Format Development, Equipment, Brand & Marketing, New Openings, and broader Development teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on commercial performance, operational excellence, and member experience suggests that design decisions will be informed by data and performance metrics.

• Process Optimization: A core tenet of the role is identifying and removing waste through lean thinking, indicating a strong focus on efficient operational processes for design and development.

• Continuous Improvement: The role is expected to drive continuous development of US formats by identifying areas for improvement and implementing innovations.

Company Website: [PureGym US website information would typically be here, but is not provided in the input. The global site is puregym.com]

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of PureGym's international expansion is crucial. This role is instrumental in establishing and scaling the brand's physical presence in the US, requiring a robust operational approach to design execution. The "Everybody Welcome" mantra suggests an inclusive and collaborative company culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position, "Head of Design," indicating significant responsibility and strategic influence within the Group Property Development function. It sits at a directorial level, responsible for overseeing a critical operational aspect of the company's physical GTM strategy.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the Group Property Development function, suggesting a direct line to senior leadership responsible for physical expansion and facility management. Collaboration with multiple departments is key.

Operations Impact: The Head of Design directly impacts the commercial performance and operational efficiency of every new and refurbished gym. Their work shapes the member experience, brand perception, and the overall success of PureGym's US expansion. Effective design execution is critical for achieving scalability and profitability.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership: Opportunity to shape the future design strategy and physical brand identity for PureGym in the growing US market.

• Scalability Experience: Gain invaluable experience in managing design operations for rapid, large-scale multi-site expansion.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop strong relationships and influence across various business units, enhancing overall business acumen.

• Innovation Leadership: Lead the charge in format development and design innovation, contributing directly to market differentiation.

• International Exposure: Potential for international travel and collaboration with the UK-based parent company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential by being at the forefront of a major market expansion. The impact on scalability and brand consistency makes it a high-visibility, high-impact operational leadership position.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, with 1-2 days per week in the New York City office. The remaining days are remote.

Office Location(s): 45 West 45th Street, New York, NY 10036. This is a central Manhattan location, offering good accessibility.

Workspace Context:

• The New York office likely serves as a hub for strategic planning, team collaboration, and key stakeholder meetings.

• Remote work days allow for focused individual work, partner management, and flexibility.

• The role requires close collaboration with internal teams, suggesting a dynamic and communicative work environment.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time position, with a standard workweek.

• Hybrid arrangement allows for a blend of in-office and remote work, supporting process-oriented tasks and flexible collaboration.

• The nature of managing numerous projects and external partners may require some flexibility in working hours to meet deadlines and address urgent issues.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, offering a balance between structured office collaboration and remote focus. This is common for senior operational roles that require both strategic thinking and efficient execution.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio, assessing alignment with experience requirements and design leadership capabilities.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion on leadership style, experience managing external partners, strategic vision for PureGym's US design, and operational approach.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Format Development, Brand, Marketing, and Operations to assess collaboration skills and understanding of their needs.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely present a curated selection of their work, focusing on multi-site projects, partner management, and process optimization.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss cultural fit, long-term vision, and strategic impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Scale & Operations: Highlight projects involving 100+ sites, emphasizing execution, efficiency, and partner management.

• Showcase Process Improvement: Include case studies detailing how you optimized design workflows, managed costs, or improved quality through process changes.

• Demonstrate Partner Management: Provide examples of successful collaboration with external agencies, detailing how you onboarded, managed performance, and achieved outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics where possible to demonstrate the commercial performance, operational efficiency, or member experience improvements resulting from your designs.

• Brand Consistency: Illustrate how you maintained brand integrity across diverse physical locations and adapted brand DNA to specific site requirements.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach selecting and managing new design partners for the US market.

• Anticipate questions about how you would resolve a situation where an external partner is consistently missing deadlines or quality standards.

• Prepare to articulate your strategy for ensuring brand consistency and operational efficiency across a rapidly expanding network of gyms.

• Consider how you would contribute to the continuous evolution of PureGym's US formats based on member feedback and market trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review for this role is significant, focusing on practical application, operational execution, and the ability to manage complex, high-volume projects through external partners.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• AutoCAD: Essential for reviewing and approving technical drawings and site plans.

• Other Design-Focused Applications: Proficiency in tools like Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) would be beneficial for reviewing and providing feedback on design deliverables from partners.

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar platforms for tracking project progress, managing tasks, and coordinating with internal teams and external partners.

• Collaboration Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, or Google Workspace for communication and document sharing.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary analytics role, the Head of Design will need to interpret data related to member feedback, operational performance, and commercial success of gym locations to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but understanding how CRM data might inform facility needs or how design impacts customer acquisition/retention could be a plus.

• Automation in design workflows or partner management processes could be a focus for process improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is proficiency in CAD software for oversight. Beyond that, project management and collaboration tools are critical for managing the operational aspects of this role, especially with external partners.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Member Focus: A primary driver for all design decisions, ensuring an exceptional and welcoming experience for every member.

• Excellence & Quality: Commitment to high standards in design execution, partner performance, and overall facility quality.

• Efficiency & Lean Thinking: A drive to optimize processes, reduce waste, and deliver cost-effective solutions without compromising quality.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Upholding the "Everybody Welcome" mantra by fostering strong relationships with internal teams and external partners, and ensuring inclusive design.

• Innovation & Adaptability: A proactive approach to identifying areas for improvement and driving forward new ideas for gym formats and member experiences in a fast-paced environment.

• Accountability: Taking ownership of projects and outcomes, demonstrating a hands-on and results-oriented approach.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Strong emphasis on working collaboratively with diverse internal departments (Property Development, Marketing, Operations, Equipment) to achieve unified goals.

• Performance-Oriented Partner Management: A style that balances support and coaching with clear performance expectations and accountability for external design and signage partners.

• Open Communication: Encouraging clear, concise, and influential communication to convey complex design concepts and strategic objectives to various stakeholders.

• Feedback Integration: Actively seeking and incorporating feedback from members, gym teams, and internal stakeholders to drive continuous design improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture, particularly the "Everybody Welcome" ethos and the focus on operational efficiency, will heavily influence how this role operates and interacts with teams and partners.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design Operations: Managing the design and quality assurance for 100-150 multi-site projects annually requires robust processes and efficient partner management.

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Local Needs: Ensuring a consistent brand experience across diverse US locations while allowing for necessary site-specific adaptations.

• Controlling Costs and Driving Efficiency: Meeting ambitious growth targets while optimizing design and construction costs and minimizing rework.

• Managing Multiple External Partners: Effectively coordinating, motivating, and holding accountable a diverse group of external design and signage agencies.

• Integrating Design with Rapid Growth: Ensuring design keeps pace with PureGym's aggressive expansion plans and evolving format strategies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic GTM Impact: Deepen understanding of how design directly supports Go-To-Market strategies for physical retail/fitness spaces.

• Large-Scale Project Management: Gain expertise in managing complex, high-volume, multi-site development projects.

• Cross-Functional Business Acumen: Enhance understanding of various business functions through close collaboration with Brand, Marketing, Operations, and Development teams.

• Format Innovation: Contribute to defining and evolving PureGym's physical footprint and member experience in a key growth market.

• Leadership Development: Hone skills in leading and developing teams (both internal and external partners) at a senior level.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of a rapid expansion and operational scaling role, offering significant opportunities for professional development in managing complexity and driving strategic impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to selecting and onboarding new design and signage partners for a large-scale, multi-site rollout. What KPIs would you use to manage their performance?"

• "PureGym is expanding rapidly in the US. How would you ensure brand consistency and operational excellence across 100-150 new gyms per year, while also identifying opportunities for format innovation?"

• "Walk us through a situation where you had to resolve a significant design conflict or operational challenge with an external partner. What was your process, and what was the outcome?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about PureGym's expansion into the US market, and how do you see design playing a critical role in its success?"

• "Our company mantra is 'Everybody Welcome.' How would you ensure this inclusive ethos is reflected in our gym designs and the experience they provide?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by project type (new build, refurbishment) or by key responsibility area (partner management, space planning).

• Tell a Story: For each case study, explain the challenge, your approach, the solutions implemented, and the quantifiable results (e.g., improved visibility, cost savings, enhanced member feedback).

• Highlight Operational Aspects: Focus on the "how" – how you managed partners, controlled costs, ensured quality, and integrated design into the broader property development pipeline.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Briefly show examples of how you used AutoCAD or other relevant software to review designs or communicate requirements.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, technical details, and the rationale behind your strategic decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions will likely probe the candidate's operational rigor, leadership capabilities, and strategic thinking in the context of scaling a physical brand. The portfolio presentation is a crucial element to demonstrate practical experience.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Paylocity recruiting portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful multi-site design projects, focusing on those that demonstrate your ability to manage external partners, optimize space, ensure brand consistency, and drive operational efficiency. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords related to design leadership, multi-site project management, partner management, AutoCAD, lean thinking, and GTM strategy execution within the fitness, retail, or hospitality sectors. Emphasize your experience managing high volumes of projects (100-150+ annually).

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on telling a clear story of challenges, solutions, and results, with a strong emphasis on operational execution and partner management. Be ready to articulate your strategic vision for PureGym US.

• Research PureGym US: Understand their brand, mission ("high quality, affordable fitness to everyone, everywhere"), and their expansion strategy. Consider how design contributes to these objectives and the "Everybody Welcome" culture.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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