Senior Manager, Strategy & Business Development

Overview

WHO WE ARE 

The first of its kind boutique fitness experience, SoulCycle revolutionized the fitness industry. Our signature 45-minute indoor cycling class is an immersive and intense mind-body-soul workout, where legendary instructors guide riders through class, helping them lose themselves in the ride, the music, the experience. Taking place in dark, candlelit studios, allowing riders to be grounded in the moment, SoulCycle rides connect our community through the experience and energy of the room. 

OUR MISSION 

To foster an open, diverse, & inclusive community, while embracing each unique individual exactly as they are. We empower each other by listening with an open mind, finding ways to learn and grow together, and always nurturing a sanctuary of trust. 

Job Description

Equinox is seeking a strategic, analytical, and execution-oriented Senior Manager, Strategy & Business Development to lead high-priority cross-functional strategic initiatives as well as drive new commercial partnership opportunities to grow the business. 

This role will not only serve as a strategic project lead to drive Equinox’s most transformative initiatives from strategy to execution, but will also help source new commercial deals to augment member acquisition opportunities at scale.  

The Senior Manager will operate as both strategist and operator, translating business objectives into actionable plans while ensuring initiatives are delivered on time, on budget, and with measurable business impact.  This role will also work closely with the Partnerships team to drive new opportunities, conduct due diligence, sizing the opportunity, supporting negotiations and assisting in execution of the deal.  

This is a highly visible role with significant exposure to senior leadership and an opportunity to help shape the future strategy at Equinox. 

Success in this role will be measured by the successful execution of strategic initiatives and newly formed partnerships. 

Responsibilities 

Strategic Initiative Leadership 

• Serve as the program lead for enterprise-level strategic initiatives with executive visibility. 
• Develop and manage project plans, governance structures, timelines, milestones, and success metrics. 
• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams across Marketing, Product, Technology, Club Operations, Group Fitness, Retail, and Analytics teams. 
• Identify risks, dependencies, resource constraints, and mitigation plans to ensure successful delivery. 
• Drive accountability across stakeholders and ensure initiatives remain aligned to business objectives. 
• Prepare executive updates, status reports, recommendations, and decision-making materials for senior leadership. 

Strategic Initiative Execution 

• Own the full project lifecycle for enterprise-level strategic initiatives — from scoping and planning through execution and post-launch measurement. 
• Translate ambiguous business challenges into structured project plans with clear milestones, owners, and success metrics. 
• Partner with senior leadership to define priorities and ensure all initiatives are tightly aligned with Equinox’s long-range strategy. 
• Identify and mitigate risks, dependencies, and resource constraints before they become blockers; escalate with solutions, not problems. 
• Leverage AI-powered project management tools and modern methodologies (Agile, Lean, hybrid) to optimize workflows and team performance. 

Business Development  

• Support Partnership team to drive new commercial deals at scale for the business 
• Engage with third parties, conduct diligence and assess competitive landscape for each opportunity 
• Build business model and evaluate revenue potential for each opportunity 
• Work closely with marketing team to validate opportunity and positioning 
• Work closely with legal and technology team to assess feasibility (if needed), negotiate terms and execute contract 

Analytics & Business Performance 

• Define success metrics and measurement frameworks for strategic initiatives and partnerships. 
• Partner with Analytics and Data teams to monitor performance and identify opportunities for improvement. 
• Translate insights into actionable recommendations for leadership. 
• Support business case development, forecasting, and investment prioritization decisions. 
• Track ROI and business impact of major initiatives. 

Qualifications

• 6–8+ years of experience in consulting, business operations, strategy, program management, business development, commercial partnerships, or related fields. 
• Experience leading large-scale cross-functional initiatives or partnerships from strategy through execution. 
• Exceptional project management, financial modeling, and organizational skills. 
• Strong executive communication and presentation capabilities. 
• Experience developing business cases, operating models, project plans, and strategic recommendations. 
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders across multiple levels of an organization without direct authority. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive progress in complex environments. 
• Experience in hospitality, wellness, fitness, consumer, membership, or subscription businesses preferred. 
• Comfortable networking with third parties to source new opportunities / deals. 
• MBA or consulting background preferred. 

Why This Role Matters 

• Equinox's ability to deliver exceptional member experiences depends on flawless execution across multiple teams, systems, and touchpoints. 
• Equinox’s ability to continue to innovate its acquisition channels and diversify its revenue channels. 
• This role serves as the connective tissue between strategy, business development, and execution, ensuring the company's most important member experience initiatives are successfully delivered and positioned for long-term impact. 
• This role will play a critical role in driving acquisition, improving retention, strengthening member loyalty, and advancing Equinox's long-term growth strategy. 

Pay Transparency: Min $140k – Max $150k 

Additional Information

AS A MEMBER OF THE EQUINOX TEAM YOU WILL RECEIVE: 

• We offer competitive salary, benefits, and industry leading commission opportunities for club employees 
• Complimentary Club membership 
• Perks and incentives with our products and services including Personal Training, Pilates, Spa and Shop 

NOTE: This job description is intended to describe the general requirements for the position. It is not a complete statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Other duties not listed here may be assigned as necessary to ensure the proper operations of the department.  

Equinox is an equal opportunity employer. For more information regarding our career opportunities, please visit one of our clubs or our website at https://careers.equinox.com/ 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Must have a legal right to work in the United States.