Head Setter

Bouldering Project’s mission is to foster meaningful human connection with the most inspiring and inclusive climbing, movement, and community spaces. We care deeply about humans. We’re driven by the pursuit of better. We create joyful places and pathways for climbing, fitness, yoga, and social experiences that inspire people to challenge themselves and engage in a lifestyle centered around health, friendship, and purpose.

Head Setter

The head setter, in collaboration with the Director of Route Setting, will be responsible for overseeing and implementing all aspects of climbing, climbing training, and route setting at Bouldering Project – SoCo. This role also involves supporting route setters and route setters-in-training in their development, maintaining the highest degree of quality in climbing, as well as hiring and staffing for route setting needs. The Head Setter will work with the General Manager on the overall management of the climbing and safety at the gym. The Head Setter will contribute to forwarding the goals and mission of the climbing at Bouldering Project as a vital part of the gym’s offerings.  The Head Setter will also be responsible for and facilitate both USAC sanctioned and non-sanctioned competitions hosted at the gym.

General Responsibilities

The Head Setter is, in many ways, the figurehead of climbing at BP and must conduct themselves accordingly. The Headsetter will be responsible for providing the highest quality of climbing in the industry with the richest diversity of movement possible at each level. They will be expected to collaborate closely with the Bouldering Project’s Director of Route Setting to continually support, develop, and advance route setting at BP.

Route Setting

• Develop and maintain a route setting schedule, distributing a difficulty and length/height concentration for climbs within the gym in an appropriate manner.
• Maintain and improve BP’s circuit system.
• Track and maintain appropriate distribution throughout the gym.
• Be available on a regular basis to meet with groups and to advertise at Bouldering Project.
• Communicate regularly with the General Manager about the status, quality, and offers of the climbing at the facility.
• Communicate with Programs Coordinator to create and maintain routes for youth and special programming.
• Communicate with the Head Coach to create appropriate training opportunities for the teams.
• Point-person for the quality control for routes and climbing for the gym, acting as an arbiter and modifier of climbing routes during forerunning.
• Cleaning of walls and surrounding areas as required.
• Maintain a hands-on approach to the setting rotation, contributing boulder problems to each set.
• Organize and implement appropriate and industry-leading safety systems during setting.
• Organize, facilitate, and set routes for competitions at the gym.
• Be able to support, train, and set roped terrain
• Manage, maintain,  and inspect roped equipment.

Staff Management, Training, and Collaboration

• Develop a working relationship with the assistant head setter and share the workload in an efficient manner
• Design, organize, implement, and oversee a setter safety-training program in order to protect our staff and customers.
• Maintain the highest standards of risk management, in line with CWA and other industry standards.
• Participate with General Manager to hire talented and qualified setters and apprentice setters.
• Schedule setting staff via organized, economical, and efficient staffing systems.
• Maintain employee motivation and job satisfaction through dynamic leadership.
• Communicate with staff to understand availability and share scheduling.
• Maintain discipline and professionalism among staff.
• Ensure setter staff quality by participating in assessment and evaluation.
• Communicate with General Manager and setter staff, as needed, to ensure staff quality.
• Develop programs and standards to train setting staff as well as opportunities for continued professional development of the setting team.
• Work with the other market setting teams along with the Director of Route Setting to share ideas, personnel, and innovations across the Bouldering Projects.

Wall Maintenance, Equipment Acquisition, Storage and Maintenance

• Collaborate with General Manager to maintain hold, volume, and tool stock.
• Maintain organized, clean, and efficient shop for hold storage, washing, and volume repair.
• Ensure that holds and equipment remain clean, functioning, and of high quality.
• Research new offerings in setting and holds.

Training Area, Adult, and Group Instruction

• Regular time in the climbing areas interacting with customers.
• Collaboration with fellow managers to develop climbing class offerings (instructional and training).
• Develop, set, and improve the climbing training areas.

Scope of Work

Considerable autonomy in setting and climbing programming under the direction of the General Manager.  Considerable input and collaboration with all other aspects of the facility (operations, youth, fitness, and yoga). The Head Setter will Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervise a team of setters, apprentice setters, and wall maintenance crews.

Working Conditions

Many duties require the availability to work a flexible schedule based on business needs and events, including possible evenings and weekends. Duties often occur before and after regular business hours.