Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the launch and daily operations of our new climbing facility in Southampton.
- Company: The Climbing Hangar is all about thrilling climbs, great music, and a vibrant café culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, free climbing for you and a friend, and a competitive salary with bonuses.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team focused on community, adventure, and inspiring others through climbing.
- Qualifications: Previous senior management experience and a passion for climbing are essential.
- Other info: We offer training opportunities and discounts on climbing gear to help you thrive.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 41000 £ per year.
The Climbing Hangar is growing and to bring our 10th site to life, we are on the hunt for an experienced General Manager, who thrives on building great teams to have loads of fun and achieve great results.
Do you have what it takes to support the success of our next adventure?
Find out more below…
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
Job Status: Permanent, Full Time
Location: The Climbing Hangar Southampton
Start date: Please get in touch for more information
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 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. Stay 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.
Compensation & 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
- 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 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!
#J-18808-Ljbffr
General Manager - Southampton employer: The Climbing Hangar
Contact Detail:
The Climbing Hangar Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager - Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with The Climbing Hangar's values and community focus. Show your passion for climbing and how you can contribute to building a vibrant community hub during the interview process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your previous experience in managing teams and driving customer engagement. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully motivated a team to achieve KPIs, as this will resonate well with the hiring managers.
✨Tip Number 3
Research local climbing trends and community initiatives. Being knowledgeable about the local climbing scene will demonstrate your commitment to fostering relationships with local organizations and enhancing customer retention.
✨Tip Number 4
Be ready to share your ideas on creating memorable customer experiences. Think about innovative ways to engage customers and enhance their visits, as this aligns with the role's emphasis on exceptional customer service.
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager - Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to showcase your personality and passion for climbing. Make sure to express why you are excited about the General Manager role at The Climbing Hangar and how your experience aligns with their values.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV, emphasize your previous senior management experience, particularly in the climbing or hospitality industries. Be specific about your achievements in driving team success and managing financial performance.
Showcase Customer Service Skills: The Climbing Hangar values excellent customer service. Include examples of how you've created memorable experiences for customers and handled queries or complaints effectively in your past roles.
Express Your Passion for Climbing: Mention your interest or passion for climbing in both your CV and cover letter. This will help demonstrate that you align with the company's culture and mission of fostering a love for climbing.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Climbing Hangar
✨Show Your Passion for Climbing
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for climbing and how it aligns with the values of The Climbing Hangar. Share any personal experiences or stories that highlight your love for the sport, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Discuss your approach to fostering a positive workplace culture and how you motivate diverse teams to achieve their goals, especially in high-pressure environments.
✨Understand Financial Management
Be ready to discuss your experience with budget management and driving financial performance. Highlight specific instances where you successfully met financial targets and how you plan to apply this knowledge at the new site.
✨Engage with Community Building
Talk about your strategies for building relationships with local organizations and fostering a strong climbing community. Show that you understand the importance of customer retention and engagement in achieving the centre's KPIs.
