Programs & Community Manager

Job Description

Job Description

About the role

The Programs & Community Manager is responsible for shaping how our organization connects with its members and the broader community. As a member of the Core Leadership Team, this role provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for programming, events, partnerships, outreach, and communications that strengthen engagement and support the long-term growth of the gym.

Success in this role requires strong judgment, creativity, and prioritization. You’ll work closely with the core leadership team and program coordinator(s) to design and evolve programs across youth and adult offerings and build meaningful community partnerships. You’ll help focus energy on the highest-impact opportunities, ensure programming remains sustainable and aligned with gym capacity, and serve as a public-facing representative of Happy Valley Partners in Climb’s soon-to-be-opening rock climbing facility in Boalsburg, PA

This is a hands-on leadership role. In addition to owning the long-term vision for programming and community engagement, you’ll help solve day-to-day challenges of running a community climbing gym. Our leaders collaborate across functions, support one another in operational needs, and step in where necessary to keep the gym running smoothly.

What you’ll do as the Programs & Community Manager

• Lead Programs & Events Strategy
  • Own the overarching vision and direction for programming across the organization
  • Partner with the Youth Program Coordinator to provide strategic direction and support youth programming, while directly leading programming for teen, adult, and community offerings.
  • Design, manage, and oversee a balanced calendar of classes, clinics, events, and special programming.
  • Evaluate program performance and adjust offerings based on participation, feedback, and impact.
  • Collaborate with the leadership team to align programming with interest areas, staffing, space, and financial constraints.
  • Make intentional prioritization decisions to focus the organization’s efforts on high-impact initiatives, including identifying and declining lower-impact opportunities.
• Build Community Engagement & Partnerships
  • Develop and maintain relationships with schools, local organizations, and community partners.
  • Identify and pursue outreach opportunities that expand awareness of climbing and the organization.
  • Represent the organization in the community through events and partnerships, serving as a key ambassador for the gym’s mission, culture, and values.
• Drive Thoughtful Communications & Program Enablement
  • Own the organization’s social media presence and content strategy.
  • Develop clear, consistent messaging for programs, events, and initiatives across internal and external channels.
  • Create and maintain supporting materials (program descriptions, curricula, instructional resources, marketing content, staff communications, etc.) to ensure programs are delivered consistently.
  • Partner with the Head Routesetter & Coaching Manager and Youth Program Coordinator to ensure alignment and visibility across all climbing program curricula, instructional content, and learning objectives
  • Help staff understand, promote, and deliver programs with confidence and consistency.
  • Help recruit, hire, onboard, and schedule instructors and other program staff, aligning staff strengths and expertise with programming needs.

What you’ll do as part of the Core Leadership Team

As a small business, Happy Valley Partners in Climb LLC expects strategic leaders to help shape the long-term success of the organization while also contributing to day-to-day operations, as needed.

All members of the Leadership Team are expected to:

• Own the strategic direction, continuous improvement, and long-term success of their areas of responsibility.
• Collaborate closely with the rest of the leadership team to solve problems, align priorities, and make intentional decisions about scope and bandwidth to ensure work is sustainable and appropriately resourced.
• Serve as a visible leader on the gym floor by supporting staff, answering questions, and handling customer & staff escalations professional and thoughtfully
• Participate in a leadership team on-call rotation to support operational emergencies and urgent issues when a floor supervisor is not on-site.
• Cross-train across operational areas and step in to support the team during busy periods, staffing shortages, or unexpected situations.
• Help maintain the organization's safety and operational standards by documenting incidents, following emergency protocols, and supporting compliance initiatives
• Actively and creatively contribute to the organization’s marketing efforts by generating ideas, promoting programs and events, and helping showcase the gym's mission.

Qualifications

Required

• 4+ years experience in programming, community engagement, marketing, events, or related roles (climbing, fitness, recreation, or community-based business preferred)
• 1+ years social media content creation or brand management experience
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Experience managing or coordinating multiple programs or initiatives simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize work and make tradeoffs in resource-constrained environments
• Comfort working cross-functionally with operational and instructional teams
• Passion for community-building and outdoor or movement-based spaces
• Current or ability to obtain, prior to working with minors, all required Pennsylvania clearances and certifications, including SafeSport and Pennsylvania Mandated Reporter Training.

Preferred

• Experience in climbing gyms, fitness facilities, or youth recreation programs
• Experience building partnerships with schools or local organizations
• Experience developing or scaling programming in a small business environment
• Event planning or community outreach experience
• Climbing Wall Instructor (CWI) Levels 1-3 Certification

Additional Information

This is a salaried position with an expected compensation range of $35,000 - $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and demonstrated skills. This role includes:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plan, and flexible paid time off
• Flexible overall schedule aligned with the needs of a community-based climbing gym. Evening and weekend availability required for operational support, classes, competitions, and special events. 

• Free gym membership, pro deals, and retail discount

About Happy Valley Partners in Climb

Happy Valley Partners in Climb, LLC is a Pennsylvania-registered Benefit LLC founded by a group of passionate community members committed to preserving and expanding access to climbing and community-focused recreation in the Centre County region.

We are preparing to open a 12,000 sq. ft. full-service indoor climbing facility in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, featuring approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of climbing wall space for bouldering, top rope, and lead climbing. Our goal is to create a welcoming gathering place where people of all ages and abilities can challenge themselves, build confidence, form lasting connections, and discover a lifelong passion for climbing.

As a Benefit LLC, we are committed to:

• Building community through movement
• Expanding awareness of and access to the benefits of climbing
• Promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:  Happy Valley Partners in Climb, LLC is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Happy Valley Partners in Climb, LLC does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, protective order status, military status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information, ancestry, pregnancy or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law. Happy Valley Partners in Climb, LLC prohibits harassment of any individual on any of the protected characteristics listed above.