Head Route Setter

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Head Route Setter of Bouldering Company, located in the Western Suburbs of Minneapolis, should have a strong passion for climbing, route setting, and mentorship. You will be expected to know the ins and outs of what’s required to set a bouldering gym – Setting a variety of boulder problems with a safety focus, wall management, managing a setting team, processing hold/volume orders, and maintaining and keeping an organized workspace.  The Head Route Setter is responsible for inspiring and leading a motivated, professional, and engaged team – all working together to create a vibrant and welcoming community of members. This is a full-time, in-person, position.

We believe that the routes on our walls are our most valuable product. They form the foundation of inspiration that the rest of the facility and community revolves around. The Head Route Setter has the unique responsibility of managing the consistency, quality, and variety of our routes by leading a team of route setters in the cultivation of motivating, approachable, thought provoking, challenges that educate and strengthen our members and guests.

Your primary role as the Head Route Setter is to:

• Lead – Inspire and motivate the team around a compelling vision and our core values.
• Manage – Collaborate, schedule, plan, hire, fire, oversee, strategize, and execute.
• Grow – Ensure that Bouldering Company is more vibrant year after year.
• Embody – Set the tone and embody the culture.
• Support – Invest in the people who work for you. Help them grow and thrive.
• Connect – Engage with our customers and with the community.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The position of Head Route Setter is broad and adaptive. Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Managing the route setting team. Providing ongoing training and feedback to ensure high quality boulder problems.
• Keeping a safe, pleasant working environment while setting.
• Hiring and training new route setters as necessary.
• Maintaining the organization and manage route setting equipment.
• Monitoring customer feedback and adjusting to best address the community’s needs.
• Always ensuring a healthy distribution of boulders.
• Maintaining communication with the GM/President for any issues with employees, safety, needs, etc..
• Communicating with management in coordinating events, comps, and development.
• Collaborating with coaches and instructors to ensure an environment that suits their needs.
• Providing growth opportunities for members of the route setting team.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary commensurate with experience
• 401K & company matching available
• Health insurance program available
• Long Term Incentive – Equity
• PTO
• Employee membership with access to all programs and classes
• Friends and family benefits

QUALIFICATIONS

• Employment history exemplifying the values and culture of Bouldering Company.
• Minimum of 6 years as a route setter, preferably at least 2 years as a head route setter.
• Ability to forerun V8+ boulder problems.
• Capable of consistently creating routes that inspire and challenge climbers of all abilities, dimensions, skill sets and backgrounds.
• Demonstrate a mastery of climbing movement and advanced techniques across the entire spectrum of climbing styles.
• Strong leadership skills
• Strong motivation and desire to continue to progress and develop both as a climber, route setter and gym operator.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Highly attentive to detail and organized.
• With the objective of setting world-class boulder problems that entertain, challenge, and ultimately fulfill climbers of all experience levels:
  • Develop and maintain a yearly setting budget in cooperation with the Executive Team.
  • Hire, organize, train, lead and manage a crew of route setters.
  • Willingness to work closely and cooperatively with Bouldering Company President in the overall vision and direction of the product.
  • Motivate, inspire, and lead through example.
  • Inspire a culture of safety, creativity and teamwork within the setting crew.
  • Interact frequently and in a positive manner with the local community.
  • Provide articulate constructive feedback to the route setting crew.
  • Develop and execute a system of route distribution for the gym.
  • Execute and maintain a routine cycle of new routes.
  • Maintain route setting equipment, climbing walls, and mats to the highest standard.
  • Respond and react accordingly to customer feedback.
  • Work closely with the Director of Programming and General Manager to ensure program needs are met.

APPLICATION

To apply, please send resumé and cover letter to info@boulderingco.com.

We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.