General Manager Wanted!!

Exciting opportunity in The Climbing Hangar!

Ahead of the launch of our epic new 24,000+ ft Southampton site, we’re looking for a passionate and experienced General Manager to lead our brand-new climbing facility. The Climbing Hangar in a nutshell is thrilling climbing, great music, and an amazing café to kick back to with friends.

Why the Hangar?

Join a team where community, adventure, and a love for climbing are at the core of everything we do. Supported by Verlinvest, a passionate and purpose-led brand championing our ambitious growth plans, we’re taking bold steps to bring the joy of climbing to even more communities.

If you’re ready to inspire bolder living through climbing, we’d love to hear from you!

NEED TO KNOW INFO

About The southampton site   

With heart-pounding climbs at every grade, we offer indoor climbing for everybody. It doesn't matter who you are, or how hard you climb, you'll get the same warm welcome at The Hangar.

In addition to an excellent café with loads of seating, the venue also boasts a fitness area for training and classes; a kid’s area; and a coworking space with hot desks.

While we believe indoor climbing is as much about "play" as it is about "progress", we'll have plenty of toys here for hardcore climbers, including Campus boards; Hangboards; a 50° Kilter Board; 40° Tension Board. There is something for everyone.

About The Hangar   

The Climbing Hangar started life in a Liverpool warehouse in 2011. Since then, we’ve grown to become a national business with sites across England, Wales, and Scotland. Our mission is simple – to inspire bolder living through indoor climbing.

We bring together epic climbing, fresh coffee and a fun filled community to cities all over the UK. We are passionate about climbing. But more importantly we’re passionate about the impact that a social, challenging, supportive, progressive and fun activity can have on people’s lives, regardless of ability, age or fitness.

We are obsessed with creating unforgettable experiences ,for climbers of all levels. As one of the leading climbing groups in the UK indoor climbing industry, we’re dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and fostering a community where adventure thrives. Our climbing facilities are more than just walls – they’re vibrant hubs of energy, creativity, and connection. Join us on this exhilarating journey as we inspire people to reach new heights and discover their inner strength #boldertogether

Job Role

As a General Manager, you will play a pivotal role in establishing a vibrant, customer-focused environment, managing day-to-day operations, and driving the success of the centre. This is an exciting opportunity to build a community hub for climbers while ensuring smooth operations and financial sustainability.

You will be crucial in driving the success of the new site opening and integrating yourself within the recruitment process to build your dream team. Liaison with Regional Managers and the Central Operations team will support you in implementing our market-leading customer engagement strategy.

You will need to understand the importance of attracting and retaining loyal climbing customers and delivering exceptional levels of customer service, whilst also maximising in-centre sales to meet site KPIs.

As a General Manager, you will be afforded considerable operational and financial control to deliver and refine our approach to meet the needs of your customers. Equally, you can expect significant involvement with budget and target setting. Your opinion matters!

Responsibilities

Site Launch & Opening – Oversee the successful setup of the new site, ensuring all facilities, equipment, and systems are operational before opening.

Training & Onboarding – Support in the recruitment, onboarding and training of staff across all departments to find and foster the best talent that aligns with our company values.

Leadership – Overseeing and ensuring the effective running of all site operations. Foster a positive workplace culture that emphasises teamwork, professionalism, and customer satisfaction.

Customer Acquisition/ Engagement – Customer retention is crucial to ensure the growth of memberships etc and to hit projected KPIs.

Community Engagement – Build relationships with local organisations to foster a strong climbing community. Along with staying informed about climbing trends and innovations to keep the centre competitive and relevant.

Financial Duties – Develop and manage the site's budget, ensuring financial targets are met. Ensure the financial performance and reporting to Regional Managers.

Customer Focus/Queries – Create a memorable experience for customers and be confident in handling customer queries/complaints.

Staff Welfare – Centre staff scheduling, management and payroll. Additionally, act as the main point of contact for all staff.

Administration – Handle weekly administration tasks to keep the site running smoothly.

Health & Safety – Ensure the site maintains health and safety procedures and professional standards to help guarantee the safety of your team and customers.

Benefits 

• Competitive salary - £37,000 pa
• 20% discretional annual OTE Bonus Scheme – share in our success!
• Friendly Hours – Flexible hours available – a 4-day work week option!
• Rota in advance (4 weeks) – we understand the importance of a work life balance.
• Free Climbing for you, +1 – as everyone should get in on the fun!
• Long service recognition – an appreciation of your hard work.
• Employee Referral Scheme – Bag yourself an extra £200*
• Employee Assistance Programme – Access to Headspace for yourself and up to 5 friends/family. Along with an onsite mental health first aider and access to counselling services.
• Training & Development Opportunities – We love helping our team develop their skills and take the next step in their career.
• Discounted gear from our retail range – get kitted out for that climb at a great discount.
• Partner discounts - from Black Diamond, Scarpa, Unparallel, and Evolv – WOW !!

Ideal Candidate

• Previous senior management experience is essential, ideally within the fast-paced Climbing or Hospitality industries
• A keen eye for detail – never compromising on standards
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills – positive first impressions are key!
• People management – able to lead by example & motivate a diverse team of people
• Passion or interest in climbing is highly desirable
• Experience driving a P&L – financial experience would be a bonus!
• Experience in driving a team to hit KPIs – motivating a team to success

How to Apply

If this role sounds like you and you have the passion to deliver and drive a new site and make a mark in the climbing industry, we would love to have you lead our team!

Email [email protected] to send us your CV and Cover Letter and remember to let us know which locations you would be interested in. We can’t wait to meet you!

*Please be advised that due to the large volume of applications we receive, we have the right to place applications on hold before the advertised closing date.

*All applications require a cover letter to express your personality and your interest in the role. A strong cover letter is your chance to stand out against the rest of the applicants!

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