General Manager at Ballers Philadelphia – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Position: General Manager
Location: Ballers Philadelphia, 1325 North Beach Street, Philadelphia PA 19125
Reports to: COO/Partners
Employment Type: Full-time

About Ballers
Ballers is a premier social sports facility designed to bring the community together through a variety of athletic experiences. Featuring pickleball, padel, golf, squash, and field sports plus a full-service bar & restaurant, Ballers is the new hub for these dynamic sports in Philadelphia.

Position Overview
We are seeking a dynamic, highly visible General Manager to lead all aspects of Ballers Philadelphia. The ideal candidate comes from a combined racquet sports and hospitality background and understands how to deliver a high-touch guest experience while building a thriving sports community.

This role requires a GM who brings a strong local network in Philadelphia, ideally within racquet sports (pickleball, padel, squash), golf, field sports, and adjacent lifestyle / hospitality circles, and who can actively engage that network to recruit members, grow leagues, drive programming participation, and build revenue.

Key Responsibilities
• Serve as the chief leader responsible for all aspects of the operation, including associate and guest engagement, human resources, financial performance, food and beverage, sports operations, event sales, and asset management.
• Recruit, hire, lead, and develop the department heads and key leadership team; coach and guide their professional development and performance.
• Deliver exceptional member and guest experiences that reflect Ballers culture; ensure property knowledge, execution, and compliance with all brand standards.
• Own the operating rhythm of the facility: daily execution, operational standards, cleanliness, safety, service pace, and consistent quality across all touchpoints.
• Develop and implement business strategies to achieve membership, league participation, programming, and revenue targets.
• Be the face of Ballers in the market: maintain and grow relationships with local racquet sports communities, coaches/pros, clubs, tournament organizers, sponsors, partners, and neighborhood stakeholders.
• Activate a local network to drive business growth, including:
o Recruiting and converting prospective members
o Growing recurring leagues, ladders, clinics, and tournaments
o Building corporate events and group sales through community relationships
• Oversee financial performance including budgeting, forecasting, expense control, productivity, and cash flow management with a strong focus on revenue generation.
• Lead hiring, training, and performance management across the operation to build a high-performing, service-driven team.
• Monitor industry trends and the competitive landscape across racquet sports and hospitality; apply insights to programming, pricing, partnerships, and guest experience improvements.
• Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, teamwork, and pride in execution.

Experience / Requirements
• 10+ years of leadership experience managing a high-volume hospitality business and/or sports facility, with direct P&L responsibility.
• Strong preference for candidates with racquet sports leadership experience (pickleball, padel, squash, tennis) and the ability to build leagues/programming that drives repeat visits and membership value.
• Demonstrated ability to grow a business through community engagement—building membership pipelines, league participation, partnerships, and events.
• Established Philadelphia-area network, ideally within racquet sports and related lifestyle/hospitality circles, with a track record of activating relationships to drive business outcomes.
• Working knowledge of pickleball, padel, golf, squash, and field sports (rules, flow of play, and what makes a great player experience).
• Strong financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, revenue management, labor planning, and cost control.
• Proven leadership and team management skills, including hiring, coaching, and performance management.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills; calm, decisive operator who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).

Benefits
• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses
• Comprehensive health benefits package
• Opportunities for professional development and growth
• Free access to all Ballers facilities and programs