Routesetter - Greater San Francisco Bay Area

Touchstone Climbing Inc.

Berkeley (CA)

On-site

USD 32,000 - 41,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision plan

Medical FSA

Mental health services

Paid time off

Free gym membership

Guest passes

Pro deals & staff discounts

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Touchstone Climbing Inc. is seeking routesetters with at least two years of full-time experience to join our California teams. You’ll create routes and boulder problems, maintain equipment, and work across multiple gyms with a focus on safety and accessibility.

We encourage diverse applicants from the climbing community. Your role involves setting, forerunning, and adjusting climbs for various grades, collaborating with staff, and upholding Touchstone’s setting philosophy and standards.

Qualifications

Be able to on-sight a minimum of 5.12- on lead and lead belay; comfort with higher grades is a plus.
Extensive familiarity with routesetting tools and hardware used in climbing gyms.
Proficient with climbing equipment such as Gri-gri, RIG, ascenders, micro traxion, carabiners, etc.
Self-directed, motivated, and efficient with attention to detail.
Courteous, professional, and open to constructive criticism.
Safety-conscious at all times while performing routesetting duties.
Demonstrated passion for routesetting and climbing.
Reliable and able to work at multiple gym locations in the region.
Willingness to collaborate with crew members and gym staff.

Responsibilities

Show up on time and ready to work with all necessary equipment.
Assess daily routesetting needs and plan the rotation of climbs.
Set up work area perimeter and ‘short-fix’ anchors as needed.
Stage all setting equipment and tools in the work area.
Strip holds, hang lines, and prepare walls for setting.
Maintain a clean work area and store tools properly.
Set, forerun, and modify climbs appropriate for grade and assignment.
Collaborate with crew members and gym staff as an equal contributor.
Follow Touchstone safety standards and leave sites in good condition.

Skills

Lead climbing 5.12-

Routesetting tools

Climbing gear

Self-motivation

Professional communication

Safety awareness

Passion for routesetting

Reliability and attention to detail

Multi-location work

Tools

Impact driver

Angle grinder

Reciprocating saw

Pressure washer

Bolts

Screws

Gri-gri

RIG

Ascenders

Micro Traxion

Carabiners

Job description

In addition to competitive pay, outstanding benefits, free gym membership, and other perks, joining our team connects you with all we have going on in our dynamic community.

About the Role

Touchstone is looking for routesetters with at least two years of full-time experience (or equivalent) to join our team. Enthusiastic, friendly, hard-working individuals with a passion for climbing and fitness are encouraged to apply. Touchstone routesetters work at various gyms throughout California, each offering unique experiences, terrain, and challenges. Routesetting crew members collaborate to create fun and creative boulder problems and routes in varying styles while prioritizing safety and accessibility in the workplace, for our team, and our community. This opportunity is for creative, adaptable, self-motivated, team-players that can work efficiently both independently and as part of a team. We want our staff to reflect the communities we serve, so we strongly encourage BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks to apply.

Job Summary:

To set and maintain a rotation of climbing routes and boulder problems of various difficulties ranging from beginner to expert, while adhering to Touchstone Climbing’s setting philosophy and standards.

Responsibilities:

Show up on time and ready to work with all necessary equipment.
Assess daily routesetting needs.
Set up work area perimeter and ‘short-fix’ anchors.
Stage all setting equipment and tools in the work area (ladders, ropes, aid bolts, bins, etc)
Strip holds from walls and hang additional working lines
Maintain a clean work area.
Wash, sort, and store unused holds. Sort, store and maintain bolts and screws. sort out broken holds, bad screws, and bolts
Set, forerun, and modify climbs to be appropriate for their grade, accessibility, and assignment.
Work cooperatively with other crew members and gym staff and work to be an equal contributor to the day’s tasks.
Work efficiently while adhering to Touchstone’s safety standards.
Store all setting gear and equipment, and clean up work areas before leaving the gym.

Skills and Qualifications:

Be able to cleanly on-sight a minimum of 5.12- on lead, and lead belay. Comfort climbing more difficult grade levels is a ‘plus’.
Very competent in the use of various routesetting-related tools (Impact driver and bits, ratchets, wrenches, angle grinder, reciprocating saw, pressure washer, bolts, screws, etc).
Comfortable using various climbing equipment (Gri-gri, RIG, ascenders, micro traxion, carabiners, etc.)
Self-directed, self-motivated, and efficient.
Courteous, professional, and non-defensive to constructive criticism.
Safety Conscious at all times.
Passion for routesetting and for climbing
Reliable, hard worker, with attention to detail.
Ability to work at multiple locations in the region.

Physical Requirements:

Comfort working at heights up to 60 feet.
Comfortable working on a ladder, in a harness, or from a rope.
Must be able to safely lift 40 lbs. without assistance.
Able to haul up to 50 lbs. of setting tools and equipment in a haul bag while setting routes.
Ability to lift large awkward holds and volumes.
Ability to work in various environments such as tight or enclosed spaces, heights, and temperatures to complete work assignments
Ability to bend at the waist, sit, kneel, lie horizontally, climb, walk, grasp, etc., as the job may require
Taking personal care physically by stretching, working out opposing muscle groups, and communicating when feeling physically overworked, strained, or injured to allow for modification of daily duties

Travel Required:

Bay Area routesetters are regularly scheduled to work at our 6 gyms in the region.

Disclaimer:

This is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder may expand beyond those outlined here.

Compensation and Benefits:

The pay range for this role is $23 - 30/ per hour . Individual compensation decisions are based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to; facility location and type, membership volume, experience, and job/position tenure.

At Touchstone, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including:

Health Insurance – Choose from two Kaiser Permanente plans:
90% employer-paid coverage for employees and 70% for dependents of Kaiser’s top-tier, no-deductible, low-copay plan
100% employer-paid coverage for employees and 70% for dependents of a higher-deductible Kaiser plan
Dental Insurance – 80% employer-paid coverage for employees and 65% for dependents
Vision Plan - 100% employer-paid coverage for employees and 70% for dependents
Medical FSA - All employees are eligible to make Pre-tax contributions to a Flexible Spending Account for medical expenses
Mental Health Services - Access to Modern Health and Calm
Paid Time Off – Vacation and sick leave provided
Free Gym Membership – Access to all Touchstone facilities for employee and a +1 membership for a partner, family member, or friend
Guest Passes - Unlimited guest passes to get a non-member entry to a gym free of charge when accompanied by the employee
Pro Deals & Staff Discounts – Discounts on gear purchased at our gyms and industry pro deals
Flexible Work Schedule – Supporting work-life balance