Head of Climbing — Route Setting & Coaching

Full-time | All Crag Studio Locations

International candidates welcome | Visa support provided

The Role

Crag Studio is looking for an experienced climbing professional to join us as Head of Climbing — Route Setting & Coaching.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role responsible for developing the climbing experience, route-setting standards, coaching methodology and athlete-development pathway across Crag Studio.

You will lead Crag Studio's route-setting and coaching functions, supported by our existing coaching team and developing route setters.

You will not be expected to personally deliver every coaching session or set every problem. Your role is to establish the standards, develop the people and systems, and remain sufficiently hands-on to ensure quality.

As Crag Studio expands into additional locations, you will also help build the teams and technical systems required to maintain consistent climbing and coaching standards across the network.

The Opportunity

This role offers significant ownership over how climbing develops at Crag Studio.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Define and develop our route-setting philosophy across all locations.
• Build, train and mentor an internal route-setting team.
• Develop our coaching methodology and structured progression pathways.
• Mentor and develop Crag Studio's existing coaches.
• Work directly with advanced and competitive athletes.
• Establish standards that can be replicated across future Crag Studio locations.
• Lead climbing preparation for competitions, events and training camps.
• Influence future wall design, holds, volumes and climbing infrastructure.
• Work with visiting coaches, setters and other climbing professionals.
• Contribute to the development of climbing in Hyderabad and the wider Indian climbing community.

This position would suit an experienced setter or coach ready to take broader technical leadership—or an established Head Setter, Head Coach or Climbing Director looking for the opportunity to build a climbing program as an organisation grows.

Route Setting Leadership

You will take overall responsibility for the quality, variety and progression of climbing across Crag Studio locations.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and maintain the route-setting philosophy and standards for Crag Studio.
• Plan reset schedules across locations.
• Lead key setting sessions while working alongside and developing the internal setting team.
• Set and oversee boulder problems and, where applicable, rope routes across a broad range of grades.
• Maintain a balanced mix of technical, powerful, coordination, dynamic and competition-style movement.
• Ensure climbing remains engaging and accessible for recreational members while providing progression for advanced climbers.
• Lead forerunning, grading and quality control.
• Establish consistency between locations.
• Train and mentor developing route setters.
• Bring in and work with guest setters where appropriate.
• Lead or support setting for competitions and special events.
• Maintain high standards for route-setting safety.
• Plan requirements for holds, volumes, hardware and setting equipment.

As Crag Studio grows, an important part of this role will be developing setters who can independently manage routine resets, allowing the Head of Climbing to increasingly focus on quality, team development and technical direction.

Coaching & Athlete Development

You will lead the development of Crag Studio's coaching system rather than personally delivering every class.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop structured progression pathways for beginner, intermediate, advanced and competitive climbers.
• Establish coaching methodology and session standards.
• Mentor and develop Crag Studio coaches.
• Observe coaching sessions and provide structured feedback.
• Develop assessment methods and measurable progression goals.
• Work directly with selected advanced and competitive athletes.
• Develop training plans covering technique, movement efficiency, strength, conditioning, mobility and competition preparation.
• Plan training cycles and competition simulations.
• Identify promising athletes and develop appropriate long-term pathways.
• Coordinate with strength & conditioning professionals and other specialists where appropriate.
• Maintain appropriate coaching and athlete-safety standards.

Routine beginner and recreational coaching will primarily be delivered by the Crag Studio coaching team, allowing the Head of Climbing to focus on coach development, program quality and higher-level athlete development.

Developing the Team

A major measure of success in this position will be the ability to develop people rather than simply perform the work personally.

You will:

• Recruit, train and mentor route setters.
• Develop coaches through regular training and assessment.
• Create clear technical standards for both setting and coaching.
• Build a culture of constructive forerunning and feedback.
• Help coaches improve their understanding of climbing movement.
• Identify future leaders within the coaching and setting teams.
• Develop systems that can be replicated as Crag Studio opens additional locations.

Over time, we expect the structure to evolve with dedicated senior route setters and coaching leads working under the Head of Climbing.

Competitions & Climbing Community

Crag Studio is actively involved in climbing competitions, athlete development and the broader climbing community.

The Head of Climbing will help:

• Prepare athletes for regional and national competitions.
• Plan and deliver competitions hosted at Crag Studio.
• Lead or participate in competition route setting and forerunning.
• Develop training camps and specialist workshops.
• Work with visiting coaches and route setters.
• Build relationships within the wider climbing community.
• Help expose Crag Studio athletes and coaches to different setting and coaching philosophies.

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for an experienced climbing professional with strong capability in either route setting or coaching and meaningful experience in the other.

You do not necessarily need to be equally accomplished in both disciplines.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have:

• Significant climbing experience.
• Strong route-setting experience and understanding of modern climbing movement.
• Coaching experience across different levels of climber.
• Experience working with youth and/or competitive athletes.
• A strong understanding of athlete progression and training.
• Ability to lead and develop other coaches and setters.
• Strong awareness of climbing and route-setting safety.
• Good communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to establish systems and standards rather than relying solely on personal execution.
• A collaborative approach to leadership.

Experience with competition route setting, competitive athletes, established commercial climbing facilities or multi-location climbing operations is particularly valuable.

Formal route-setting, coaching, climbing federation, strength & conditioning or first-aid qualifications are advantageous, but demonstrated experience and capability are equally important.

International Candidates

International applications are welcome.

We are interested in experienced climbing professionals from established climbing communities who would like the opportunity to take significant technical ownership while contributing to the development of climbing in a rapidly growing market.

Visa support will be provided.

About Crag Studio

Crag Studio has been part of Hyderabad's climbing community for over a decade and currently operates two climbing locations in Hyderabad, India.

We are entering our next phase of growth, with plans to develop a wider network of micro climbing facilities as well as larger full-scale climbing gyms.

Crag Studio was founded by the founder of Hyderabad Climbers, one of the communities that helped establish and grow climbing in Hyderabad. Our roots in the climbing community continue to influence how we approach our gyms, coaching, competitions and athlete development.

Our objective is to build a strong and sustainable climbing ecosystem—combining accessible recreational climbing with high-quality route setting, structured coaching and pathways for competitive athletes.

The Head of Climbing will have an opportunity to influence not only how we set and coach today, but how climbing standards and systems are built across the next generation of Crag Studio facilities.

Position Details

Position: Head of Climbing — Route Setting & Coaching

Location: Hyderabad, India

Coverage: All Crag Studio locations

Employment: Full-time

International candidates: Welcome

Visa support: Provided

Compensation: Based on experience and qualifications

• Start date: Flexible / mutually agreed