Routesetter, Head

About Bouldering Project

Bouldering Project is more than a climbing gym—we’re a community. We’re driven by a shared belief: that climbing, movement, and connection should be accessible to everyone. From first-timers to seasoned climbers, families to fitness enthusiasts, and our own teammates—we create inclusive, inspiring spaces where people move, grow, and belong. With world-class climbing, yoga and fitness offerings, and welcoming community spaces, we’re proud to serve nine markets across the U.S.—and we’re just getting started.

About the Role

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 the new Farwell on Water location in St. Paul, MN.

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. 

The Head Setter is, in many ways, the figurehead of climbing at BP and must conduct themselves accordingly. The Head Setter 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 Head of Route Setting to continually support, develop, and advance route setting at BP.

What You’ll Do

Job duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• 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 Manager to create and maintain routes for youth and special programming.
• Communicate with the Head Coach to create appropriate training opportunities for the teams.
• Communicate with the Adult Programs Coordinator to create and maintain an adequate distribution of boulders for adult leagues and collaborate in circuit session programming.
• 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 and train roped access. 
• Manage, maintain, and inspect roped equipment. 
• Setting with the other gym (s) in the market at least 1 day a week. 
• Work with the other Headsetter (s) in market with support and events for market wide setting. 
• Routesetting up to 4 days a week. 

Staff Management, Training, and Collaboration

• 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 Head of Route Setting to share ideas, personnel, and innovations across the Bouldering Projects.

Wall Maintenance, Equipment Acquisition, Storage, and Maintenance

• Collaborate with the General Manager to maintain hold, volume, and tool stock. 
• Maintain an 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 up, and continually 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 perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

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

•  5–10 years of climbing experience
• Proven leadership skills to inspire and guide a team
• Ability to lead and forerun across all BP circuits, including our mint circuit (V10+)
• USAC Level 2 (or higher) certification preferred
• Background in roped access a plus
• Experience in route setting leadership
• Flexibility to work weekdays, evenings, and weekends to support programming and events