Title: HEAD ROUTE SETTER/Comp Team Head Coach
Employment Type: 30-40 hrs/wk
Pay Scale: Range $20/hr-$26/hr Dependent on experience
Application Contact: Sebastiaan Zuidweg – info@gravitylabclimbing.com – 303-947-4363
Opportunity to become the Head Route Setter/Head Coach and a core team member of Gravity Lab, located in Durango, CO!
Gravity Lab is looking for a head route setter with experience, creativity, initiative, leadership, and a passion for high quality setting. Essential duties include; managing route setting strategy and schedule, inventory, equipment/wall inspection, and route setting team development. This role also manages and takes a lead coach role for the Gravity Lab Youth Competition Team. Other duties include but are not limited to: General gym operations, facilities management and upkeep, staff development and training.
This position is part of the management team (GM, AM, HRS) and requires management skills and participation in regular leadership team meetings. Candidate will play an integral part in program and facility growth and evolution, staff development and other “big picture” management type roles.
Job Description: Head Route Setter
As the Head Route Setter for Gravity Lab, you will be in a unique position to curate, manage and grow a creative, proficient and passionate team of route setters with the ability to provide high quality, innovative and safe routes to engage all users.
Core Duties Include:
- Curate the Climbing Experience: Lead the vision for a diverse, creative, and balanced rotation of boulders and routes.
- Team Management: Help hire, train, and mentor the route setting staff, providing regular performance feedback and technical coaching. Run setter meetings and guide vision, risk and professionalism among your team.
- Forerunning & Quality Control: Forerun problems and routes (typically up to V7-V8/5.13a) to ensure grade consistency and movement quality.
- Competition Setting: Act as Chief Route setter for local competitions, coordinating schedules and specialized “comp-style” setting.
- Manage route setting with appropriate route quantity and quality to support membership base. Understands and has awareness of member base needs and how to attract strong climbers while creating accessibility for beginner climbers.
- Tool & PPE Upkeep: Maintain all route setting tools, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), ensuring compliance with industry standards
- Manage wall and hold maintenance programs, including equipment inspection and logs.
- Ordering holds and volumes within the Gym budget in collaboration with General Manager.
- Ensure safe route setting practices, with adherence to Gravity Lab’s risk management policy.
- Encourage feedback and suggestions from members and guests on how to best meet their needs.
- Maintenance and operations of all climbing related equipment (Training Boards, Hang Boards, Flooring Systems etc)
- Support daily operations of Gravity Lab when needed, including front desk operations, member and guest relations, supporting youth programming, coaching, training, etc.
Qualifications
- Minimum 2 years route setting experience
- Management experience preferred
- USAC Level 1 Certification or higher preferred
- Setting and forerunning routes up to grade 5.13 / V9
- CPR / basic First Aid
- Proficient at working at heights.
- Ability to meet the physical demands of the work, lifting up to 50 lbs, extended time setting routes for consecutive days, etc.
- Hardworking, professional, collaborative
- Highly organized, attention to detail
- Excellent communication and customer service skills
Job Description part 2: Head Youth Coach (Competitive Team)
The Head Youth Coach is the visionary leader of our competitive climbing program. This role is responsible for developing a safe, inclusive, and high-performance environment where young athletes can thrive physically, mentally, and socially within the framework of USA Climbing (USAC) competitive standards.
- Curriculum Development: Create and implement a comprehensive training season focused on skill development, physical conditioning, and mental preparation for USA Climbing (USAC) competitions.
- Practice Leadership: Lead high-energy practices 2 times per week, adapting training plans to meet individual athlete needs and group/team needs.
- Athlete Development: Provide individualized feedback, goal setting, and coaching strategies tailored to each athlete’s unique needs and competitive aspirations.
- Competition Support: Travel with the team to 2 USAC events, managing warmups, logistics, and athlete support in Isolation (ISO).
- Parent Communication: Maintain clear, professional communication with families regarding team schedules, progress, and behavioral expectations.
- Coach Mentorship: Mentor and train assistant coaches to ensure a consistent coaching philosophy across all youth programs.
- Certifications: Maintain current USAC Coach, SafeSport, CPR/First Aid, and CWA Work at Height certifications.
- Event Coordination: Help organize, set and run one local Youth USAC Comp per year.
- Recruitment & Growth: Drive recruitment efforts and manage the tryout process to ensure sustainable program growth and a vibrant team culture.
Qualifications
- Experience: Minimum 2+ years of experience coaching competitive youth climbing teams; prior experience as a competitive climber is a plus.
- Knowledge: Deep understanding of climbing technique, training methodologies, and the USA Climbing competition structure and rules.
- Leadership: Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, inspire, and manage a diverse group of young athletes and assistant coaches.
- Availability: Must have availability for practices (evenings/weekdays) and competition weekends, which will require travel.
- Required Certifications: Must possess or be willing to obtain
- USAC Level 1 Coach Certification (Level 2 preferred)
- Current CPR/First Aid Certification
- SafeSport Certification
