Nov 2023

Climbing Centre Manager: Flash Climbing Centre

Permanent position, Full Time (38 hours per week)

Location: Solihull, West Midlands 

Role Summary: Flash Climbing Centre - the 'friendliest boulder only climbing centre in the Midlands' - is looking for a dynamic and experienced Centre Manager to work alongside our current team in Solihull, West Midlands.

We need someone who wants to remain in place for the long term and work with us to grow our independent centre to reach its fullest potential. Flash currently has 240m2 of climbable walls with an average of 190 routes, a custom built 1 x woody, training area, and corporate boardroom. Plus, we have just added Griptonite to our suite of climbing offerings. It doesn't stop there however, as we are constantly looking for ways to bring new offerings to our climbing community. This position offers an exciting opportunity to get involved with a young, growing, and ambitious independent indoor bouldering facility in the West Midlands.

Job Specification: We are looking for someone with previous management experience that is keen to push themselves and progress in a dynamic and fluid environment. Our ideal candidate will have a broad skill set encompassing knowledge of the climbing industry, managing a team, finance, health and safety, marketing, and customer service. As centre manager, you will be in charge of a small but dedicated team including the Head Route Setter, the coaching team and reception staff to manage the day to day running of the centre. The role reports directly to, and will be supported by, the Board of Directors. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong organisational and interpersonal skills, as well as have a good knowledge of the industry. Alongside our reception team, our Centre Manager is responsible for providing excellent levels of customer service in assisting Front of House to deliver a safe and welcoming environment for our customers. 

Hours: You will be expected to work at least 38 hours a week. These are flexible hours, but will include some work on the weekends and weekday evenings.

Salary: £28K to £32K (inc bonus) per annum based on experience and qualifications.

Staff benefits:

• A flexible 38 hour working week
• Pension Scheme
• 28 days of holiday pro rata
• Annual bonus scheme (performance related)
• Free climbing for you and a plus one
• Discount given on all shop stock
• 50% off food & drinks
• Training and development opportunities

Essential skills:

Financial – these include managing and working within the centre's budget, monitoring and controlling operating expenses, ensuring that pos records and staff payroll records are accurate and weekly banking is carried out. Requires experience with pos software (essential), and Rock Gym Pro (desirable).

Managerial skills – to successfully manage a diverse group of people, ensuring their skill development, and building a motivated team to ensure the highest quality of service is provided. This will include recruiting and training staff, managing the rota (using Rotacloud), maintaining accurate staffing records, and setting clear performance expectations.

IT proficiency – to manage our online booking system, update our website, keep all our social media feeds regularly updated, and use customer data to inform decision making.

Customer Service – our customers form our longstanding 'Flash' community, which is the lifeblood of our centre. As such, you will have excellent communication skills as you respond to all customer interactions; email, phone, or face to face, and treat all customers in a friendly manner with understanding, fairness and courtesy.

Organisational skills – essential to organise the day to day running of the centre, including organising and running (adult, university, youth) competitions, as well as facilitating staff to run coaching and other sessions whilst ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction.

Health and Safety – working closely with the Route Setting Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing climbing safety, continuously updating risk assessments, maintaining relevant databases, ensuring H&S policies are current and adhered to by all centre staff. To facilitate this, you will have CWI/RCI or other MLTB qualifications and/or relevant experience.

Awareness and initiative – you must be able to react quickly to any problems and deal with them in a calm and efficient manner.

Vision – we need someone who is motivated with the passion and imagination to develop a varied and dynamic set of climbing offerings to our customers based on your previous experience as duty manager in a leisure centre/climbing centre.

Desirable skills:

• Experience in route setting
• Up to date relevant first aid qualification
• Knowledge of, and previous experience in delivering NICAS.

Applicants are asked to send in their CV and cover letter to manager@flashclimbingcentre.co.uk 

Deadline for applications: Monday 4th December 2023 (midnight)

Interview date: ASAP as ideally we want the candidate to be in place to ensure time for a handover with the current manager. This means a start date 1st Feb 2024 or earlier.

Closing Date: 4th December
Salary: £28 - £32k pa