Holdwasher/Forerunner - Route Setting

Movement; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 23,000 - 25,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free gym membership

In-gym discounts

Guest visits

Potential 401(k) eligibility

Paid time off

Health benefits

Job summary

Movement is seeking individuals for Gateway positions at the Callowhill gym to gain hands-on exposure to routesetting. These part-time roles involve holding washing and forerunning tasks, with 2–6 hours per week in 2–3 hour shifts, under supervision.

Prior setting experience is not required, and opportunities for growth exist after the 3-month program. Roles are designed for applicants with little to no setting experience, focusing on safety, teamwork, and fundamentals of routesetting.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Strong desire to explore the craft of routesetting.
• Ability to thrive in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.
• Solid work ethic and ability to manage your own workflow.
• Attention to detail.
• The ability to communicate effectively – communication is your jam and you do well with constructive feedback.
• The ability to always follow and promote safe practices.

Responsibilities

• Learn and adhere to all workplace safety expectations and requirements.
• Washing holds and volumes using a power washer and other means.
• Assist in work zone prep and clean up.
• Assist with sorting holds, bolts, screws, and other routesetting materials.
• This is not an Apprentice Routesetting position, so you will not be trained on or permitted to participate in any work-at-height tasks.
• Learn the criteria we use to assess quality of our routesetting product.
• Climb and test our product as needed and instructed by the Head Routesetter or supervisor.
• Forerunning (i.e. climbing) and climbing product to help grade routes.
• Be open to feedback and willing to perform as directed.

Skills

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Safety conscious

Job description

About the Gateway Program

Movement is actively looking to build diverse routesetting teams that represent the communities we serve. The Routesetting Gateway positions provide an opportunity for individuals interested in the craft of setting to gain insight & knowledge of our process while supporting our production effort. You will learn more about the ins & outs of the Movement setting program and develop a core set of skills and an understanding of the routesetting role. Please Note: This is role is specifically designed for applicants with little to no setting experience. We encourage everyone who is interested in the craft to apply.

We intend to hire applicants for our Callowhill location. Each team member in a Gateway position may be expected to perform both Hold Washing and Forerunning based on the needs of the facility. These are temporary positions that will run for 3 months as agreed upon at the time of hire. Upon completion of the program, future opportunities are possible but not guaranteed. Our goal is to enable greater awareness of routesetting and increase the probability of finding a career in routesetting. These roles may also function as a means for additional hours for team members to broaden their involvement in the gym. This role is approximately 2-6 hours per week typically in 2-3 hour shifts, depending on the needs and any existing commitments to other roles at Movement. Team members in Gateway positions will report directly to the Assistant Director of Setting or Head Routesetter of their home gym and will be responsible for managing the workflow of their day in an efficient and productive manner.

About Hold Washing

When scheduled for Hold Washing, you will work with the setting team to perform many of the maintenance tasks required in the routesetting process. This is an opportunity to communicate with the current setting team and learn more about the planning/design process of Routesetting.

What you’ll be doing:

• Learn and adhere to all workplace safety expectations and requirements
• Washing holds and volumes using a power washer and other means
• Assist in work zone prep and clean up
• Assist with sorting holds, bolts, screws, and other routesetting materials
• This is not an Apprentice Routesetting position, so you will not be trained on or permitted to participate in any work-at-height tasks

About Forerunning

When scheduled for Forerunning, you will work with the setting team to assess climbs for equitability, consistency, grade accuracy, quality of movement, and overall set collectivity. This is also an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the Movement setting program.

What you’ll be doing:

• Learn and adhere to all workplace safety expectations and requirements
• Assist in work zone prep and clean up
• Learn the criteria we use to access quality of our routesetting product
• Climb and test our product as needed and instructed by the Head Routesetter or supervisor
• Assist with sorting holds, bolts, screws, and other routesetting materials
• Forerunning(i.e. climbing)
• Climb product to help the routesetting team grade the routes/problems that are set each day
• Be open to feedback and willing to perform as directed
• Your climbing will help the setting team ensure all routes and problems are safe, can be executed in a manner that is appropriate for the assigned grade, and that are accessible to a wide range of climbers
• This is not an Apprentice Routesetting position, so you will not be trained on or permitted to participate in any work-at-height tasks
• Additional tasks and projects may be assigned

What success looks like:

• You approach each day with an eagerness to learn
• You’ve learned and adhered to all workplace safety expectations and requirements
• You understand Movement's Routesetting program workflow and standards
• You’ve displayed a strong work ethic and the ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment
• You’ve consistently exceeded expectations for the role

What you’ll bring with you

Gotta have:

• You must be 18 years of age or older
• Strong desire to explore the craft of routesetting
• The ability to thrive in a team-oriented and collaborative environment
• Solid work ethic and ability to manage your own workflow
• Attention to detail
• The ability to communicate effectively – communication is your jam and you do well with constructive feedback
• The ability to always follow and promote safe practices

Bonus points for:

• Lead climbing proficiency
• Ability to climb at least 5.11 and/or V5

We believe that a diverse backgrounds and experiences make our team stronger. Even if your background doesn’t 100% match the qualifications listed above, we encourage you to apply and share how your unique experience and transferable skills would make you successful in this role.

Additional Details

• This role is based in Callowhill – applicants will be assigned this primary location but may have opportunities to support other locations as agreed upon
• This is a part-time position
• Starting pay at 16.50 - $18.00/hr, based on experience
• Benefits include free membership, in-gym discounts, guest visits, potential 401(k) eligibility, paid time off, health benefits
• Internal candidates who apply should be in excellent standing with their current director/management team
• New hires will complete a screening process
• Scheduled shift times may vary from week to week or month to month

Applications will be accepted until 11/15/26