Part-Time Routesetter

Scrapyard Climbing Collective | Holland, Michigan

About the Role

As a routesetter at Scrapyard, you’ll work with our setting team to create thoughtful, engaging climbs for a wide range of climbers. You’ll help maintain a climbing environment that feels fresh, challenging, approachable, and fun.

Routesetting experience is welcome, but it isn’t required. We’re open to applicants at any experience level. If you have the right attitude, a willingness to learn, and a genuine interest in climbing and movement, we’re interested in talking with you.

What You’ll Do

• Set creative and engaging boulder problems and/or routes for a broad range of abilities
• Forerun climbs and give thoughtful, constructive feedback to other setters
• Work collaboratively with the setting team rather than treating setting as an individual pursuit
• Strip walls, wash holds, organize equipment, and help maintain the setting workspace
• Consider accessibility, movement variety, body diversity, and the overall member experience when setting
• Help maintain a safe, organized, and positive work environment
• Continue learning and developing as a routesetter

Who We’re Looking For

You might be a great fit if you:

• Enjoy climbing and are curious about movement
• Like creating things for other people to experience, not just climbs you personally enjoy
• Work well on a team and can both give and receive feedback
• Are dependable and willing to contribute to the less glamorous parts of routesetting
• Care about creating a welcoming climbing environment
• Are willing to experiment, make mistakes, learn, and improve
• Understand that climbers come in different sizes, strengths, abilities, backgrounds, and climbing styles
• Bring creativity without needing your ideas to always be the ones that win
• Have been climbing for at least 3 years (Soap box moment here: This is not about climbing ability or strength. We look for this because it takes some time with rock climbing to develop the emotional maturity and confidence in your own climbing to engage in routesetting in a healthy way. We’re not sure 3 years is even enough time to do this, but we see this as a bare minimum. You need enough time to develop a healthy relationship with climbing before adding the complexity of routesetting to it.)

Previous routesetting experience is a plus, but not a requirement. We’re interested in developing new setters as well as hearing from people who already have experience.

The Physical Side of the Job

Routesetting is physical work. Setters should be comfortable with tasks such as:

• Repeatedly lifting and carrying climbing holds and equipment
• Working on ladders and at height
• Using drills and other routesetting tools
• Climbing and forerunning throughout the workday
• Bending, reaching, pushing, pulling, and working in physically demanding positions

More Than Routesetting

Scrapyard is a climbing gym, but we also want it to be a place where people feel like they belong.

That means our setting team has an important role in our culture. The climbs we put on the wall communicate who the gym is for. We want setters who are excited about making climbing challenging and inviting, people who care about the beginner working on their first problem just as much as the experienced climber looking for their next project.

We don’t expect you to arrive knowing everything. We do expect curiosity, humility, creativity, reliability, and a willingness to contribute to the team.

Position Details

Position: Part-Time Routesetter
Location: Scrapyard Climbing Collective, Holland, MI
Schedule: 16-18 hours per week; Monday/Wednesday 8/9am-4/5pm (This schedule is not negotiable).
Experience: All experience levels encouraged to apply
Compensation: $14-$16/hr starting based on experience

Benefits/Perks:

• Working with a great team
• Paid bi-monthly at middle and end of month
• Growth opportunities based on interest and initiative
• Scrapyard gym membership for self plus free day passes to share with whoever you want
• Retail and merchandise discounts and Pro Deals
• Ongoing training in climbing skills and techniques

Interested?

Send us a short introduction at the link below. If you’ve never set before, don’t let that stop you from applying. We’d still like to hear why you think routesetting might be a good fit for you. We’re less interested in finding someone who already knows everything than in finding someone who will make our setting team and our climbing community better. No need to submit a resume or cover letter at this time. We’ll be in touch if we want to hear more from you! Applications will be accepted through Sunday, August 16th.

Scrapyard Climbing Collective is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to be an inclusive and welcoming community for all. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment. We do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status or any other basis protected by state, federal or other applicable law in any of our activities or operations. These activities include but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of climbers in all of our programs. We hold all staff, regardless of position, to the highest possible standards.