General Manager

Red Cedar Climbing

Port Townsend, WA

Position: Gym Manager

Hours: Full-Time, Salaried

Pay Range: $75,000-85,000/year

Benefits Eligible: Health, retirement, PTO, membership

Red Cedar Climbing is a full-service climbing gym coming soon to Port Townsend, WA. Located an hour northwest of Seattle on the Olympic Peninsula, our seaside, forested town is long overdue for a community space to climb, learn, and gather. So, we’re making it happen.

RCC’s mission is to provide a homegrown space for lifelong and aspiring climbers, kids of all ages, and seniors. Currently, we are in the architectural design and permitting phases and will open our doors in late 2027/early 2028. The gym will be approximately 8,000sqft with 6,000sqft of climbable surface. There will be designated areas for fitness, retail, meetings and parties, and a mezzanine for viewing and hanging out.

Recruiting you early in this process is a win-win. We benefit from your insights, support, and participation, while you get to shape the business you will be managing. Your position will commence when you are hired, not when the facility opens to the public.

Importantly, you’ll be given a financial stake in the success of Red Cedar Climbing, with the details of that stake negotiated and based on skills and experience. Frankly, it’s in our best interest to create an experience of value, inspiration, and commitment for you—and the sooner you’re on board, the more you can participate in making this a reality.

During the pre-opening phases, you will work alongside the owner to help to create, build, and launch the business. This includes community outreach with potential customers and local businesses, designing programs and operations, and the thousand other things it takes to open a gym.

A passion for climbing and experience with climbing gyms are important attributes. But a history of management, community building, and relating with human beings are truly vital. You’ll be assembling a team, interfacing with vendors and staff, and welcoming all patrons and potential customers. You will be expected to know how to run a successful climbing gym through team management, customer outreach, operational capabilities, and more.

Responsibilities

The GM position is all-encompassing and fluid; something new every day. Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Manage all day-to-day operations of the gym
• Coordinate 6-10 staff members
• Develop a staffing model and manage the team, including
• Hiring and firing
• Training and scheduling
• Performing performance reviews
• Scheduling and leading regular meetings
• Grow revenue by:
• Executing communication and email campaigns to customers
• Production of print and digital marketing campaigns
• Facilitating community engagement
• Organizing events
• Initial development, launch, and management of programming, including:
• Youth clubs and teams
• Partner with schools
• Adult and senior climbing classes
• Initial six months of organization of climbing clinics
• Coach youth clubs/team, if needed initially
• Assist in route setting, if needed initially
• Manage POS software—generate weekly staff schedules, oversee accounts receivable, and prepare weekly deposits
• Track and determine individual and team performance
• Facility management—schedule inspections, cleaning, and maintenance tasks
  

Benefits

• $75-85,000 with opportunity for bonus possibilities based on growth and retention
• Equity in the business (TBD)
• Company contributed healthcare
• Company contributed 401k
• PTO
• Free membership with access to all programs and classes
• Retail and industry discounts
• Friends and family benefits
  
  

Qualifications

• High school diploma, some college preferred
• Experience in a customer service–focused industry
• Three or more years of management experience
• Strong knowledge of the climbing industry, including in-depth understanding of operations
• Ability to lift and move up to 50lbs
• CPR/first aid experience (or willing to obtain certification)
• Redpoint, Excel, and Google Drive
  
  

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Detail-oriented and problem-solving savvy
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
• A commitment to work long days, nights, and weekends when needed
• Embodiment of “human skills” such as work collaboratively, tuck your ego away, listen to others (and reflect what you heard), possess inquiry before opinion, lead the troops when the chips are down, make tough decisions, and be open to receive feedback. In other words, the stuff that really matter.