The Padel Collective Front Desk Lead Austin, TX · Full time Company website

Apply for Front Desk Lead

The Padel Collective is a padel club opening in Austin in September 2026: five indoor climate-controlled courts, premium amenities and a café, with four outdoor courts to follow. We're building a hospitality brand across the U.S. on one idea: padel is a lifestyle sport, and it should feel like pleasure. Think Mediterranean summer, not gym session.

The Padel Collective seeks a full-time Front Desk Lead (Lead Host) to join the team on-site in Austin, TX. The Lead Host reports to the Manager and is the face of the Oasis: the first person a Guest meets and the last one they see, and the person in charge of the club when the Manager is not on site.

We're looking for an organized, hands-on Lead Host who likes people, likes the game, and wants the day to run well. As a Lead Host, you run the front desk and set the tone of the club. You'll welcome Guests, manage bookings, answer questions, assist with membership and retail sales, look after the Hosts, run events on the floor, and keep the space running the way it should. This role sits between Host and Manager.

Objectives

1.    Own Guest interactions: Greet by name, walk first-timers to their court, answer questions by phone and in person, and build relationships.

2.    Run bookings without error: Enter every booking as it happens, release cancellations immediately, confirm name and time back to the Guest, and check tomorrow's sheet before you leave.

3.    Own what's off: Report anything broken, dirty or missing to the GM the moment you see it, chase it, and confirm it's fixed.

Responsibilities

•      Welcome: Meet every Guest at the door with a real greeting. You set the mood of the room.

•      Guest Support: Field questions in person and on the phone about courts, memberships, coaching and how padel works. When something goes wrong, fix it yourself; the Manager only hears about what you can't.

•      Bookings: Run court reservations, clinics and event sign-ups in our club software. Keep the calendar accurate and current. Track all changes, cancellations and refunds.

•      Membership: Walk Guests through the options, and explain differences and policies. Handle renewals and cancellations, and keep in touch with members so renewals are a conversation rather than a reminder email.

•      Payments: Check Guests in and take payment for court time, memberships and retail on the POS.

•      The Space: Walk the whole club, not just the desk, several times a shift: courts, lounge, changing rooms, bathrooms. Flag what's broken, dirty or missing to management and chase it until it's fixed. Pitch in on small cleaning and maintenance jobs when the club needs it, tell the Manager what's running low before it runs out, and run the checklist at both ends of the day.

•      Hosts: You're the Host the other Hosts copy. Show new hires how we do things, hold the team to the checklist and the SOPs, help fill a shift when someone's out, and tell the Manager what you're seeing on the floor, good and bad.

•      Coordination: Keep coaches, management and the rest of the team in sync on schedules, events and what Guests need.

•      Retail: Assist with selling rackets, apparel and accessories, with enough product knowledge to make a recommendation.

•      Events: Run our tournaments, socials, clinics, leagues and corporate bookings on the floor, from sign-in and court allocation to setup and pack-down. Smaller events are yours end to end when the Manager is off site.

•      Admin: Answer emails, update member records, keep the paperwork in order, keep an eye on how events are filling, and give the Manager the numbers and notes they need for reporting and SOP updates.

What We Are Looking For

•      Two years or more in hospitality, retail or a sports club, including at least one leading a shift, opening or closing on your own, or training new staff. Restaurant, hotel or boutique fitness backgrounds preferred

•      Confident with booking software, POS, email, WhatsApp and other basic computer software, and able to teach them to a new hire

•      Strong written and verbal communication skills, including clear handover notes and short reports to management

•      Proactive: you see what needs doing and do it before someone asks, and you notice when others don't

•      Conversational: you start conversations with strangers easily and remember what they told you last time

•      Detail-oriented under pressure, and steady enough that the people around you stay steady too

•      Comfortable being the most senior person in the building for hours at a time

•      Padel background is a plus, not a requirement

•      Evening and weekend availability required

Compensation and Perks

•      Hourly rate: $18-20 per hour

•      Full-time employment

•      Room for growth and promotion for consistent performers

•      Off-peak access to club amenities and courts

•      Staff discount on café and pro shop, and a branded gear package at sign-on

Employment Eligibility

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. Employment verification and background checks are required upon hire.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Padel Collective is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any protected class status.