Bloc Garten, Chambers, Vertical Adventures Personal Trainer - Level 1 Columbus, OH · Part time Company website

Apply for Personal Trainer - Level 1

5.Life is a community-driven climbing company with multiple gyms designed to inspire a lifelong love for climbing. Founded in 1994 as Vertical Adventures, we’ve expanded to offer diverse climbing experiences tailored to each local community. Our spaces—ranging from traditional rock climbing gyms to bouldering centers and training facilities—welcome climbers of all levels, fostering an inclusive, family-centered environment. Rooted in core values of community, adventure, and growth, we believe climbing can transform lives, and we’re dedicated to building not just gyms but communities that embrace challenge and connection.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a Personal Trainer who shows up focused, prepared, and genuinely invested in the people they train.

What makes this role different? We give you the clients.

You won't be expected to sell memberships, hunt for leads, or build a client base from scratch. Our Personal Training Manager handles consultations, sales, and initial client placement so you can focus on coaching.

Your first month is fully paid training and onboarding with no clients. You'll learn our systems, shadow sessions, and complete climbing-specific training before beginning to build your client schedule.

And no — you don't need to be a climber. We'll teach you that part and pay you while you learn.

ROLE

As a Level 1 Personal Trainer, you'll work one-on-one with adults at Vertical Adventures.

Some of your clients may be climbers training for their next grade or trip. Others may have never touched a climbing wall and simply want a great personal training experience.

Your job is to meet each person where they are, help them make progress, and create the kind of training experience that makes them want to come back.

Schedule: Part-time, with hours growing as your client book grows. Sessions are scheduled around client demand rather than traditional fixed shifts.

Reports to: Personal Training Manager

RESPONSIBILITIES

You'll be responsible for:

• Planning and delivering safe, effective, individualized training sessions.
• Showing up on time, prepared, and ready to coach.
• Building strong relationships with your clients.
• Helping ongoing clients schedule their next sessions.
• Conducting monthly InBody assessments after completing required training.
• Setting and updating client goals based on progress.
• Tracking workouts, assessments, and client results in our systems.
• Completing required climbing-specific training.
• Maintaining your personal training, CPR, AED, and First Aid certifications.
• Staying within the professional scope of a personal trainer and using our referral process when appropriate.
• Participating in coaching, observed sessions, meetings, and continuing education.
• Helping maintain a clean, welcoming, and professional training environment.

What you won't be responsible for: Sales quotas or finding your own leads. Our Personal Training Manager handles consultations, package sales, and initial client placement.

RESULTS

We want you to know what success looks like from the beginning.

During your first month: Complete paid onboarding, learn our systems, shadow sessions, and begin your climbing training. You'll have no clients and no sales expectations during this initial training period.

During your first 60 days with clients:

Build toward approximately 20 sessions per week while developing strong client relationships and consistent rebooking.

By approximately 90 days:Complete your climbing module, work toward approximately 15 active clients, and be progressing toward Level 2.

Long-term success:Your clients rebook and renew. You're prepared for your sessions, documentation is completed, client progress is tracked, and your manager doesn't have to chase you for follow-up.

The measure that matters most? Clients want to keep training with you.

REQUIREMENTS

What You Need

• A nationally recognized, NCCA-accredited personal training certification, such as NASM, ACE, ACSM, NSCA, ISSA, or equivalent.
• Current CPR, AED, and First Aid certification, or a firm plan to obtain them before starting.
• Strong reliability and follow-through.
• The ability to connect with different personalities and adapt your coaching style to the individual.
• A willingness to learn and receive feedback.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Authorization to work as a W-2 employee.
• Successful completion of a background check consistent with applicable law.

Nice to Have — Not Required

• Climbing experience
• Experience with InBody or similar assessment tools
• Previous gym, fitness, coaching, or customer-facing experience

COMPENSATION & DEVELOPMENT

Pay range: $17.50–$26.00/hour, depending on the work performed.

• $26.00/hour: Client training sessions and client assessments
• $17.50/hour: Onboarding, shadowing, climbing training, administrative work, required floor time, meetings, cleaning, and required education

Client sessions are generally scheduled in 30-minute increments.

Every required working hour is paid. That includes required meetings, learning, administrative work, and time you're required to be at the facility — not just the time you're actively training a client.

You'll also receive:

• Paid onboarding and training
• Company-issued staff uniform
• Support toward continuing education/CEUs
• Monthly observed coaching sessions with written feedback
• Regular coaching and goal-setting with your manager
• A defined path for advancement within the Lizard Personal Training program
• Eligibility for applicable employee benefits based on 5.Life's benefit plan terms and eligibility requirements

Ready to Coach With Us?

If you're a certified trainer who cares about your clients, wants to keep developing your craft, and would rather coach than sell, we'd love to meet you.

As part of the interview process, we'll ask you to lead a short mock training session so we can see your natural coaching style.

5.Life is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants based on their qualifications, experience, and ability to perform the role and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.