$30 – $35 per hour, depending on experience. Up to 18 regular hours a week.
Approach Climbing is a bouldering gym at 12080 Bridgeport Road in Richmond, with about 3,000 square feet of walls in 8 sections. We are hiring a head setter to lead our setting program and the existing team behind it.
What you’ll do
- Plan and run the set rotation across all eight sections, maintaining a bell curve of grades and range of styles on the wall at all times.
- Lead set days: assign setters, forerunners and hold-washing, make the setting plan, calls on grades and changes, and run the debrief.
- Maintain safe setting practices for the crew and for customers: close off and mark the areas being set, keep ladders, lifts and tools in good working order, and check that every boulder is safe to fall from.
- Coach and develop a small crew of setters, including apprentices, and help hire new ones.
- Keep the record of every boulder on the wall current, with its grade, section, setter and set date (we use KAYA today).
- Manage the hold, volume, and equipment collection, including ordering from suppliers. Propose and justify new equipment purchases.
- Gather and act on member feedback about the sets.
What we’re looking for
- Previous experience as a head setter, or management experience together with significant commercial setting experience.
- Range: you can set good boulders from beginner through hard grades, and forerun them honestly and consider feedback from your team.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Comfort working at height and with power tools, ladders and lifts, and a commitment to safe setting practice.
- First aid certification, or willingness to get it.












