Head Route Setter

Climbing Business Journal; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Health insurance

G1 climbing membership

Career growth opportunities

Supportive work environment

Job summary

G1 Climbing + Fitness in Colorado seeks an experienced Head Route Setter to lead and grow our routesetting program. You will manage a team of setters, set a clear philosophy, and stay hands-on creating top-quality routes for all members.

The ideal candidate will lead with strong communication, mentor others, and partner with leadership to balance schedule, safety, and budget while delivering engaging climbing experiences.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of professional routesetting experience, including leadership.
• Strong forerunning, grading, and movement-analysis skills.
• Experience leading, mentoring, or supervising route setters.
• Experience with safe routesetting practices and working at height.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and overtime for events.
• Ability to set from ladders, ropes, and lifts.

Responsibilities

• Lead the routesetting program.
• Develop and mentor the setting team.
• Manage inventory and budget for routesetting.
• Maintain consistency in grading across the facility.
• Collaborate with coaches, programs, and leadership.
• Be an ambassador for G1 within the climbing community.
• Ensure safety culture and high-quality routes.

Skills

Leadership

Routesetting

Forerunning

Grading

Communication

Mentoring

Project management

Safety

Job description

About G1

G1 Climbing + Fitness is a locally owned, single-location climbing gym in Broomfield, Colorado. We are an employee-centric organization that believes when people are supported, challenged, and excited to come to work, they create a better experience for our members and guests.

Every leader at G1 has a meaningful impact on the direction of the gym. We value people who take ownership, care about the quality of their work, communicate well, and are always looking for ways to make things better.

We are looking for an experienced Head Route Setter to lead and grow G1’s routesetting program.

Routesetting is one of the most important products we provide to our members, and the Head Route Setter will own the quality, direction, and execution of that product. You will lead a team of setters, develop the setting program, manage the setting schedule and budget, collaborate with our coaching and programs teams, and remain hands-on in creating great climbing.

If you are passionate about routesetting, enjoy developing other setters, and want the opportunity to have a meaningful influence on the climbing experience at a gym, we would love to hear from you.

The Role

The Head Route Setter is responsible for the overall quality, safety, and direction of G1’s routesetting program.

You will lead a team of route setters while remaining an active and highly skilled setter yourself. You will establish and maintain a setting philosophy that provides an engaging, challenging, and rewarding experience for our entire membership—from first-time climbers to experienced climbers, youth participants, competitive athletes, and everyone in between.

The ideal candidate is both a great setter and a great leader. You should be able to identify what makes a climb work, communicate that effectively to other setters, accept feedback when someone sees something you don’t, and create an environment where the entire team becomes better over time. Putting up quality routes is half of the role; an equally important other half involves bringing out the best in the other setters and helping them become the best setters they can be.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the Routesetting Program
• Lead and Develop the Setting Team
  • Build a collaborative setting culture where team members share ideas, challenge one another, give and receive constructive feedback, and take ownership of the finished product.
  • Establish clear expectations for quality, productivity, professionalism, safety, and teamwork.
  • Provide regular coaching, feedback, and performance evaluations to route-setting staff.
• Forerun all setting team members’ routes and problems as appropriate.
• Provide specific, constructive feedback to setters regarding movement, grading, safety, creativity, and overall quality.
• Maintain consistent grading throughout the facility while recognizing that grades are ultimately a tool for communicating difficulty, not an exact science.
• Be willing to receive feedback from other setters and adjust when appropriate.
• Manage G1’s routesetting inventory, including holds, volumes, hardware, tools, ropes, and other setting equipment.
• Manage the routesetting budget in partnership with G1 leadership.
• Establish and maintain a strong safety culture within the routesetting department.
• Set from ladders, ropes, lifts, and other equipment as required.
• Identify and address damaged holds, hardware, walls, anchors, ropes, and other climbing equipment.
• Assist with routine facility maintenance and special projects when needed.
• Routesetting does not exist independently from the rest of the business. The Head Route Setter will work closely with G1’s leadership and programming teams to make sure the climbing experience supports the broader goals of the gym.
• Be available to work evenings and weekends when required for competitions and special events.
• Be an approachable and positive ambassador for G1 and its routesetting program.
• Engage with members and be receptive to constructive feedback about routes and problems.
• Help members understand routesetting decisions and encourage a positive relationship between climbers and the setting team.
• Represent G1 professionally within the broader climbing community.

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• At least 3 years of professional commercial routesetting experience, including significant experience in a leadership or head/lead setter role.
• Strong experience setting in both bouldering and roped climbing environments.
• Demonstrated ability to set for a wide range of abilities, ages, heights, and body types.
• Strong forerunning, grading, and movement-analysis skills.
• Experience leading, mentoring, or supervising other route setters.
• Strong understanding of safe routesetting practices and working at height.
• Ability to set from ladders, ropes, lifts, and other appropriate systems.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to give and receive direct, constructive feedback.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Willingness and ability to work evenings, weekends, and overtime when required for competitions and special events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Head Route Setter..
• Experience setting for youth and competitive climbing programs.
• Experience hiring, training, and developing route setters.
• Experience managing a routesetting budget and inventory.
• Experience with climbing wall construction, maintenance, or inspection.
• Ability to set and forerun at approximately V10 and 5.13+ level.
• USA Climbing Routesetting certification.
• Experience setting for USAC competitions

We recognize that no candidate will check every box. We are most interested in finding an experienced routesetter who has the technical ability, leadership skills, judgment, and attitude to build a great setting program and team.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Head Route Setter at G1 will:

• Build a routesetting team that is skilled, collaborative, accountable, and continually improving.
• Deliver consistent, high-quality routes and problems across the full range of G1’s membership.
• Maintain a setting schedule that meets the needs of the facility and our members.
• Develop setters through meaningful feedback, coaching, and professional development.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and efficient routesetting department.
• Manage the routesetting budget and inventory responsibly.
• Build strong relationships with coaches, programs, management, and members.
• Continually look for ways to improve the climbing experience at G1.

Most importantly, members should notice the difference. They should leave G1 excited about what they climbed, challenged by what they couldn’t climb yet, and looking forward to coming back.

Salary: $65,000 – $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

G1 offers competitive compensation because we want great employees to stay with us and build their careers here.

• Paid time off (PTO)
• Health insurance
• G1 climbing membership
• A supportive, employee-focused work environment
• Opportunities to grow within the organization

G1 Climbing + Fitness is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and respectful workplace and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Application Deadline: December 5, 2026

Expiration Date: December 5, 2026