Fitness Specialist

Salary: $48,994.00 - $77,067.00 Annually
Location : East Suffolk Rec Center, Suffolk, VA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 4648
Department: PARKS&REC-RECREATION
Opening Date: 08/25/2026
Closing Date: 9/7/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


Description
Under general direction, performs supervisory work involving planning and coordinating of fitness programs at the Recreation Centers. Work involves planning and implementing fitness programs, scheduling and coordinating activities, supervising participants in the fitness center, ensure safe work out practices are utilized by participants, provide orientations to fitness equipment, training staff on safe working out practices and giving fitness equipment orientations, recording and depositing revenues, administering budget, preparing statistical reports, and supervising division personnel. Reports to the Recreation or Athletic Supervisor.


To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Essential Job Functions

• Conducts fitness equipment orientations and supervision of participants to ensure safe work out practices are adhered to.
• Trains staff on safe work out practices and the delivery of fitness equipment orientation to participants.
• Prepares and distributes statistical reports on facility usage.
• Records revenue for the facility and processes deposits while administering the budget for the facility.
• Plans and implements fitness programs in the Recreation Centers.
• Inspects equipment and makes recommendations on new equipment acquisitions.
• Cleans equipment and performs routine maintenance.
• Performs other related duties as are assigned.

Required Qualifications
Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science, Sports Medicine or a related field and a Fitness Trainer certifications from ACSM, AEA, NSCA, or IFPA obtained within 6 months of employment and 2 years of relevant experience in the fitness industry; Requires a valid driver's license.
Supplemental Information

• Knowledge of the fitness and recreation functions as applied to City government. Knowledge of fitness operations and government operations, activities and functions.
• Knowledge of modern practices and principles of accounting and budgeting as applied to municipal government.
• Knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration.
• Ability to make administrative decisions independently and in accordance with established laws, regulations and City policies and procedures.
• Ability to exercise considerate judgment in analyzing and applying standards to a variety of situations.
• Ability to analyze complex organizational and administrative problems and to formulate, develop and present recommendations for their solution.
• Ability to exercise tact, courtesy, firmness and fairness in contact with department heads, City Council, employees and the general public, and in the application of regulations and guidelines.
• Ability to make effective oral and written presentations before large groups of people.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants, and receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.
• Ability to read a variety of reports, correspondence, charts, forms, permits, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, permits, etc., using prescribed formats. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.
• Ability to apply principles of rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including emergency response codes, and fire, medical and legal terminology.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; understand and apply the theories of algebra and geometry.
• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.

Seasonal Employees- No Benefits
Part-time Employees - Sick Leave (See below)
Full Time Employees are eligible for the following benefits;

Retirement (Virginia Retirement System employer) for employees hired on or after 1/1/14 - Hybrid Members
Hybrid plan members contribute 4 percent of creditable compensation to the defined benefit plan and 1 percent to the defined contribution plan each month. Members may voluntarily contribute up to an additional 4 percent in 0.5 percent increments to the defined contribution plan each month. Members can increase or decrease their voluntary contributions on a quarterly basis. With the mandatory and voluntary contributions to the defined contribution component of the plan, members can contribute a maximum of 5 percent with a 3.5 percent match from the employer. Members invest in various investment options that best fit their needs.
Vested after 5 years in the defined benefit part of the plan. Vested in phases based on years in the Defined Contribution part of the Plan. The retirement eligibility for a full or reduced retirement pension in the Hybrid Plan is very detailed. Please contact the Virginia Retirement System or the Human Resources Department for details.

Paid Time Off (PTO) Yearly earnings
120 Hours (1-59 months), 144 Hours (60-119 months), 168 Hours (120- 179 months), 192 Hours (180 and over)
Sick Leave
Part Time employees earn 4 hours per month Sick leave accrues at the end of the month and may be accrued with no ceiling.

Personal Leave
All regular full time employees are granted 24 hours of personal leave each calendar year. Personal leave must be preapproved and is not cumulative.
Health Insurance
Coverage available for you and your eligible dependents using pre-tax payroll deductions if elected.
Supplemental Insurances
Employees may purchase the following supplemental insurance policies: short term and long term disability, cancer, accident, supplemental hospitalization, and group universal life insurance.
Employer Sponsored Short Term and Long Term Disability
Provides disability coverage for employees work and non-work related disabilities. Work related disabilities are covered starting on day one (1). Non work related disabilities are covered starting on day eight (8), after you have been employed for one year.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employees may participate in the Health Reimbursement, Dependent Care Reimbursement and Premium Reimbursement Accounts. All deductions are made on a pre-tax basis and will reduce your taxable income.
Life Insurance
The city pays the entire premium for life insurance coverage in the amount of 2 times annual salary for natural death and 4 times annual salary for accidental death.
Optional Life Insurance
Employees have the option of electing additional life insurance coverage in the amount of 1, 2, 3 or 4 times their annual salary. Employees may only purchase optional life insurance on spouses and children if they are enrolled in optional life insurance for themselves.


Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
12 weeks of job protected leave for leaves approved in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act. Employees receive continuation of health insurance, job protection and consideration for a comparable job when available, or an equivalent job, upon return to work.
Funeral Leave
24 hours of paid leave of absence in case of death in immediate family.
Holidays
Suffolk follows the Virginia State holiday calendar as set by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jury Duty
Time off with pay with difference between jury pay and regular pay or use annual leave and keep check.
457 Deferred Compensation, ROTH IRA, Traditional IRA
Offered through ICMA Retirement Corporation as a way to shelter a portion of your salary from income taxes and save for retirement.
Employee Assistance Program
Offers employees and immediate family members (3) free, confidential counseling sessions related to a broad range of issues such as marital or family conflict, job or personal stress, alcohol or drug abuse, financial or legal worries, etc.

Worker's Compensation
Should an employee have an on the job injury, he/she could be eligible for Workmen's Compensation Benefits, except in cases of willful neglect.

Pay Days
Employees will be paid on the 15th and last working day of each month.
Credit Union
A Suffolk Credit Union is available to employees.
Legal Services
Employees may prepay for access to legal assistance.
Notary Public Services
Services available in the Human Resources Department.

Alternative Work Schedule For some positions -Offers 4 Alternative Work Schedule options to provide employees with greater control over their personal and professional time, as well as reducing absences.
01


Do you have a Bachelor's Degree or higher in Exercise Science, Sports Medicine, or a closely related field?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

03


Indicate your current CPR/First Aid/AED certification:

• CPR
• First Aid
• AED
• None
• All of the above

04


Are you available to work some weekends?

• Yes
• No

05


Are you available to work some holidays?

• Yes
• No

06


Are you available to work some evenings?

• Yes
• No

07


Do you have a current Personal Trainer certification from ASCM, NASM, NSCA, NETA or other accredited program?

• ASCM
• NASM
• NSCA
• NETA

Required Question