Deputy General Manager - Southampton

The Climbing Hangar; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited climbs for you and a buddy

28 days annual leave

Employee referral scheme £200

Cafe discount

Exclusive gear deals

Wellbeing support on-site

Job summary

The Climbing Hangar Southampton is seeking a Deputy General Manager to support the centre and help create an experience that keeps climbers coming back.

You don't need a climbing background but you must be a people-first leader who develops teams, builds communities and delivers strong commercial results. This full-time role covers reception, retail, coaching and cafe operations, with a focus on safety and exceptional customer service.

Qualifications

• Supervisory or managerial experience leading teams in customer-focused environments (hospitality, leisure, retail, fitness or similar).
• Right to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Champion a welcoming, inclusive, customer-focused environment.
• Support staff in achieving membership sales, retention and customer loyalty.
• Create an exceptional customer experience for climbers of all ages and abilities.
• Build relationships within the local climbing and wider community.
• Oversee day-to-day operations across reception, retail, coaching and café.
• Ensure the highest standards of health, safety and safeguarding.
• Support events, competitions and community initiatives.
• Work closely with teams across Operations, Marketing, Finance and People.

Skills

People leadership

Team development

Community building

Customer focus

Job description

We're looking for a Deputy General Manager to support in one of our centres and help create the kind of experience that keeps people coming back for more.

You don't need to have a climbing background, but you do need to be a people-first leader who loves developing teams, building communities and delivering great commercial results.

The NEED-TO-KNOW INFO:

Where: The Climbing Hangar Southampton - Third Ave, Southampton SO15 0LD

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Hours: 40 hours per week

Working hours:Weekdays, evenings and weekends

What you'll do

Every day looks a little different, and that's exactly how we like it.

You'll be responsible for supporting the success of the site, including:

• Championing a welcoming, inclusive, and customer-focused environment
• Supporting staff in achieving membership sales, retention and customer loyalty
• Creating an exceptional customer experience for climbers of all ages and abilities
• Building relationships within the local climbing and wider community
• Overseeing day to day operations across reception, retail, coaching and café
• Ensuring the highest standards of health, safety and safeguarding
• Supporting events, competitions and community initiatives
• Working closely with teams across Operations, Marketing, Finance and People

What's in it for you?

• Friendly hours with your rota set 4 weeks in advance
• Unlimited free climbs for you and a buddy (plus your kids, if you have them)
• Discount on food and drinks in our cafe
• 28 days annual leave per year (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Employee referral scheme to bag an extra £200*
• Exclusive deals on climbing gear
• Long service recognition
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (free 24/7 wellbeing support for work-related and personal issues), plus on-site Mental Health First Aiders and counselling
• Training and development, including coaching, first aid and safeguarding

Who we're looking for

All of our Deputy General Managers bring something different, and that's what makes our teams special.

We're looking for someone who:

• Can balance commercial performance with great customer experiences
• Enjoys building strong local communities and partnerships
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same
• Has supervisory or managerial experience leading successful teams, ideally in hospitality, leisure, retail, fitness or a similar customer-focused environment
• Is committed to safeguarding and creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome
• Has the right to work in the UK

It's not essential, but it's also nice if you:

• Have a passion for climbing or an interest in the industry
• Have experience growing memberships, sales or customer engagement
• Have experience delivering, teaching, instructing or coaching in any setting
• Hold qualifications in first aid, safeguarding or coaching

who are we?

Our story started in a warehouse in Liverpool back in 2011, when our Founder wanted a new place to climb with his mates. What started out as a simple project grew into an important mission:

To inspire bolder living through indoor climbing.

These days, we care more about how our members’ climbing journey nourishes and connects them than what that journey is. Climb up, fall off, spend more time on the mats with your mates. It doesn’t matter to us because finding joy in how they do something is more important than what they do – and all of us find joy in play.

Play is a secret superpower in climbing and in life. And, at The Climbing Hangar, play is what we do best.

We’re now an open, trusted and welcoming space where old-school climbing and new-to-climbing coexist.

We’re a place for everybody, and people tell us that they feel like they belong here. That’s the whole point.

We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to ensuring equality for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. All employment decisions are made based on merit, skills and experience.

*Find out more about our Employee Referral Scheme