Head of Data & Insights

About GymNation and Role Overview

GymNation is the fastest growing fitness brand in the Middle East, operating over 50 gyms across three countries, with plans for further expansion. At the core of our success lies a strong reliance on data to guide business strategy. We are seeking an outstanding Head of Data & Insights to elevate our data capabilities, drive commercial decision-making, and support growth, member retention, and scaling efforts across the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive enterprise-wide data and analytics strategy that aligns with our business goals and growth plans.
• Collaborate with the CTO and technology teams to enhance and scale current data warehouse infrastructure, pipelines, and governance frameworks.
• Establish a unified source of truth for vital business metrics across all clubs and countries served.
• Assess and deploy the optimal data technology stack, including platforms for data management, coding using Claude Code, and data visualization tools suited for our maturity level.
• Ensure strict data security, privacy, and protection standards are upheld, complying with regulations in the UAE, KSA, Bahrain, and PCI-DSS standards, in partnership with legal and technology teams.
• Use data insights to guide commercial functions—evaluating metrics like churn, retention, lifetime value, promotional effectiveness, pricing schemes, and ancillary revenue streams.
• Conduct competitive benchmarking and market analyses to reveal strategic opportunities and inform expansion decisions.
• Lead digital growth analytics focused on areas such as checkout funnel optimization, A/B testing, referral program performance, and conversion rates from leads to membership sign-ups.
• Develop marketing attribution models that identify the most cost-effective channels based on long-term member value, not just sign-up volume.
• Analyze and improve payment gateway performance including success rates, declines, and payment method utilization across different regions.
• Maintain and improve early-warning systems to detect risks like payment failures and involuntary membership churn.
• Champion standardized KPI frameworks and automated dashboards providing real-time insights for management and club leaders.
• Foster data literacy across teams by promoting self-service analytics accessibility.
• Build and expand a high-performing data and insights team, currently beginning with 1-2 analysts.
• Communicate complex analytics into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership, board members, investors, and external audiences.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• A minimum of 5 years in data analytics or business intelligence roles, including at least 3 years in a leadership or data function development position.
• Strong background in subscription or recurring revenue-based businesses, with a focus on payment lifecycle, churn, and collections is highly desirable.
• Experience in sectors such as fitness, telecommunications, SaaS, streaming, insurance, or subscription retail is valuable.
• Proficiency in advanced SQL for complex query writing and optimization.
• Hands-on experience with Claude Code and/or programming languages enabling dashboard creation outside of traditional BI tools.
• Familiarity with Python or R for data analysis, as well as ETL pipelines, data warehousing, and statistical modeling.
• Knowledgeable about Linux server environments, docker containers, Kubernetes orchestration, and experimentation methodologies like A/B testing.
• Demonstrated use of AI and automation tools to enhance analytics processes and output.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to distill complex data into simple narratives suitable for diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with a proactive, growth-focused mindset and a passion for leveraging data to boost revenue, minimize costs, and enrich member experiences.

Additional Information

• This leadership position offers direct influence over company strategy and the unique opportunity to shape how data drives commercial decisions at a high-growth fitness brand.
• GymNation supports relocation for outstanding candidates and provides a competitive remuneration package including benefits and eligibility for a Long Term Equity Incentive Plan (LTIP).
• The company has been certified as a Great Place to Work based on employee surveys.
• Perks include complimentary GymNation membership, a vibrant work environment with amenities like a pool table, dartboard, arcade games, and PlayStation 5, plus lively social events and office workouts.