Job Summary

Job Title: RecWell Climbing Wall Lead –Student Service  

Division: Student Life 

Department: Recreation & Wellness 

Compensation: $11.25/hour                       

Hours/Week: Weekly average, approximately 4-12 hours per week. Required hours may include days, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Hours worked may be in any combination, at the discretion of the direct supervisor. 

Employment Summary  

The Division of Student Life is committed to making every experience at Purdue University a learning opportunity for students. Employment within our division provides you the opportunity to work with other great students and leaders. As part of your employment, we incorporate the Leadership and Professional Development Competencies and the Steps to Leaps Learning Pillars into your learning and performance management experience to ensure you are building the skills employers want.  

Job Description 

The Climbing Wall Lead is responsible for creating a safe, welcoming, and engaging climbing environment through quality instruction, diligent risk management, and exceptional customer service. This role teaches a variety of climbing courses and workshops, supports program development, and helps ensure the climbing facility operates efficiently and in accordance with established safety standards. Successful Climbing Wall Leads are dependable, organized, adaptable, and motivated individuals who demonstrate strong attention to detail, initiative, and a commitment to the climbing community.

Position Responsibilities

Instruction Responsibilities

• Instruct participants in safe climbing, belaying, and bouldering practices while teaching climbing techniques, movement skills, and equipment use.
• Facilitate climbing programs and workshops, including Top-Rope Belay Classes, Lead Belay Classes, Technical Skills Workshops, and Youth Climbing Programs.
• Deliver engaging, organized, and effective instruction while serving as a resource for climbing techniques, equipment, and safety practices.
• Inspect, maintain, and properly store instructional equipment.
• Complete required program documentation, assessments, and administrative tasks.
• Assist with the development, scheduling, registration, and administration of climbing courses, clinics, and workshops.
• Enforce safety standards, risk management practices, and operational procedures while maintaining a safe climbing environment.
• Communicate professionally with participants, staff, and supervisors while providing excellent customer service.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of climbing programs, operations, and participant experiences.
• Attend required staff meetings and trainings, including Fall In-Service training.

Climbing Wall Lead General Responsibilities

• Follow and model all Climbing Wall and departmental policies, procedures, safety standards, and risk management practices.
• Foster a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment for participants and guests.
• Respond appropriately to emergencies and changing priorities while maintaining a high level of service.
• Communicate professionally with staff and supervisors and maintain appropriate confidentiality.
• Fulfill scheduled shifts by arriving prepared, on time, and ready to work.
• Demonstrate a commitment to learning, growth, and continuous improvement through feedback and training.
• Complete additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Prerequisites & Qualifications

Experience: Experience in climbing instruction and/or route setting is preferred. 

Prerequisite(s) 

• Must have successfully completed a Purdue Recreation & Wellness Belay Competency assessment within the past 12 months.
• Must have strong knowledge of the sports of climbing and bouldering, including safety standards for top rope, lead climbing, and bouldering. 

Qualifications 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written. 
• Flexible and dependable with a strong attention to detail. 
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback effectively.
• Problem solving, logic and reasoning skills. 
• Customer service oriented. 
• Ability to multi-task and work within deadlines. 
• Ability to work independently and with a team. 
• Be timely and organized. 

Benefits Eligibility

FLSA Status

Transferrable Skill Development

Students employed in this role will develop and demonstrate a number of transferable skills essential for future employment success and be reviewed on these skills in their performance evaluation.   

Communication (Verbal, Written, Non-Verbal, Listen & Observe, Summarize & Distill Information) 

• ​Demonstrate professional verbal communication in all interactions 
• ​Demonstrate enthusiasm; engage and connect with customers to promote excellent customer experience 
• ​Verbally communicates to staff on situations that may arise due to problems 
• ​Written communication to complete accurate food usage records and food temperatures according to established procedures  

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Ways of Thinking (Systems Thinking & Planning, Reflective & Analytical Reasoning, Idea Generation, Decision Making, Problem Solving, Ethics) 

• ​​Utilize policies and knowledge to proactively make decisions and solve problems for area assigned 
• ​Develop new or novel ideas through critical thinking and creative processes that address issues and/or lead to change  
• ​Understand standards and expectations for personal and professional ethical behavior 
• ​Demonstrate knowledge of the position and operation 

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Collaboration (Organization Behavior & Teamwork, Appropriate & Productive Relationships, Helping Others & Working Together, Cultural Intelligence & Inclusion, Service & Social Responsibility) 

• ​​Working together with co-workers and demonstrate flexibility in a fast-paced, team atmosphere 
• ​Establish productive relationships with customers and staff 
• ​Acknowledge and support customers and staff with unique needs and differing backgrounds 
• ​Work independently to complete responsibilities  
• ​Proactively and willingly acquires new skills, tasks, procedures and projects 
• ​Provide support to fellow team members 

Self-Awareness (Self-Understanding, Continuous Learning, Initiative & Follow-Through, Personal Responsibility, Resiliency) 

• ​Demonstrate time management skills and attention to detail 
• ​Demonstrate initiative; Understand and respond to the various needs of customers and staff 
• ​Maintain positive attitude and enthusiasm in times of ambiguity and peak time of demand 
• ​Complete work independently in an efficient time manner 
• ​Demonstrate dependability and responsibility within operation 
• ​Demonstrate punctuality by always being on time to each shift