Retentions Agent

In a nutshell (your purpose)…

• Is to “change people’s lives for the better through wellness”;
• We deliver social wellness experiences that enable people to meet their personal wellness goals, through holistic physical, mental nutritional and social wellbeing.
• The purpose of this role is retaining members in line with the retention strategy to members that have cancelled or have requested cancelation of their membership.

A day in the life (your duties & responsibilities)…

• Proactively handle cancellation requests via outbound/inbound calls and written correspondence.
• Engage with members to understand their concerns and offer tailored solutions that encourage continued membership.
• Apply strong objection-handling and negotiation skills to maximize retention outcomes.
• Use structured call flows and in-house methodology to identify member needs and match them with appropriate offerings.
• Deliver empathetic, professional service aligned with Virgin Active’s values: being inspiring, always improving, doing the right thing, and having fun.
• Adapt quickly to different campaigns, products, and retention strategies as required by the business.
• Maintain compliance with all regulatory, contractual, and quality standards.
• Accurately document all member interactions, offers, and outcomes in line with POPI and internal systems.
• Address member queries, feedback, and complaints promptly and professionally.
• Collaborate with other departments and leadership teams to support business goals and drive retention success.
• Support business targets by reducing churn and improving member loyalty.
• Work collaboratively with other departments and leadership teams to support the achievement of business outcomes and drive member retention success.
• Prompt the business loyalty program

What we need from you (our minimum requirements) …
We can’t live without…

• Matric or equivalent qualification
• Up to 3 years’experience in retentions, sales, or customer service within a contact centre environment.
• Ability to work across multiple campaigns, adapting quickly to changing business needs.
• Excellent persuasion, negotiation, and communication skills.
• High emotional intelligence with the ability to manage sensitive conversations effectively.
• Commitment to member loyalty, with a focus on reducing churn and maximizing retention.
• Ability to maintain compliance with all regulatory, contractual, and quality standards.
• Skilled in accurate documentation of customer interactions and retention outcomes.

Core Interpersonal Skills:
• Emotional Intelligence- proven ability to anticipate the needs of others before they are voiced
• Active Listening- Able to genuinely hear concerns with the ability to defuse tense situations and ensuring members and staff feel heard and valued
• Cultural Awareness and Fluency- understand international norms, etiquette and diverse backgrounds to provide a welcoming environment for our international and VIP members
• Empathy – be able to understand, or and be aware of, someone else’s feelings especially during stressful situations, such as travel delays or billing disputes

Operational & leadership Skills Required:
• Attention to Detail, noticing the small things
• Resilience and Composure, be able to remain calm and optimistic under extreme pressure, during peak or periods or system failures
• Problem solving and conflict resolution – be able to turn challenges into opportunities by thinking and acting quickly to resolve issues before they impact a member’s experience
• Adaptability: be flexible to handle unpredictable shifts in processers, resource changes, last minute VIP guest arrivals, or sudden changes in event plans.
• Relatability – the capacity to connect with diverse stakeholders across all backgrounds
• Situational Awareness – constantly monitoring the environment to identify members who need support or help
• Curiosity- the ability to seek out and transform standard transactions into personalised stories and memorable experiences
• Time Management – the ability to efficiently meet stringent deadlines while maintaining a relaxed and unhurried demeanor for guests.
• Digital Fluency – must be proficient in new age technology and systems