Events Manager at Virgin Active South Africa

Your Purpose...

• Is to “change people’s lives for the better through wellness”;
• We deliver social wellness experiences that enable people to meet their personal wellness goals, through holistic physical, mental nutritional and social wellbeing.
• We are looking for an experienced Events Manager to lead the planning, coordination, and operational delivery of events across a multi-site organization.
• The role sits within the Marketing team based in Cape Town and is responsible for translating marketing strategies into high-quality, well-executed events that drive brand engagement and commercial outcomes.
• This role is heavily focused on execution, logistics, vendor management, and cross-site coordination, ensuring events are delivered consistently, on time, and within budget.

Your Duties and Responsibilities...

Event Planning & Execution

• Plan, coordinate, and execute events across multiple locations including launches, activations, community events, and internal functions.
• Develop event timelines, run sheets, and operational plans for each event.
• Manage on-site event delivery, ensuring smooth execution and troubleshooting when needed.

Multi-Site Coordination

• Work with site managers and local teams to plan and implement events aligned with marketing campaigns.
• Ensure consistent event standards and brand experience across all locations.
• Manage event calendars across sites to avoid clashes and maximize impact.

Vendor & Supplier Management

• Source and manage external vendors including venues, production, catering, equipment hire, and entertainment.
• Negotiate contracts and manage supplier relationships.
• Oversee logistics including setup, breakdown, transport, and staffing.

Budget & Operations

• Develop and manage event budgets and track spend.
• Ensure events are delivered within budget and with strong ROI.
• Manage procurement and approval processes.

Marketing Collaboration

• Work closely with the Marketing team and business stakeholders to align events with campaign objectives.
• Coordinate event marketing materials, branding, and promotional activity.
• Provide feedback and post-event reporting on performance.

Reporting & Evaluation

• Track event performance including attendance, engagement, and marketing impact.
• Produce post-event reports and insights to improve future events.

Our Minimum Requirements...

We can’t live without…

• 4–7+ year’s experience in event management or event operations
• Proven experience executing large-scale or multi-site events
• Strong logistics, project management, and vendor coordination skills
• Ability to manage multiple events simultaneously
• Experience working within marketing teams or brand activations
• Strong budgeting and operational planning skills
• Willingness to travel between sites and work events when required
• Willingness to work after hours as required
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Strong operational mindset
• Calm under pressure during live events
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Problem-solver with strong execution ability

Core Interpersonal Skills:

• Emotional Intelligence- proven ability to anticipate the needs of others before they are voiced
• Active Listening- Able to genuinely hear concerns with the ability to defuse tense situations and ensuring members and staff feel heard and valued
• Cultural Awareness and Fluency- understand international norms, etiquette and diverse backgrounds to provide a welcoming environment for our international and VIP members
• Empathy – be able to understand, or and be aware of, someone else’s feelings especially during stressful situations, such as travel delays or billing disputes

Operational & leadership Skills Required:

• Attention to Detail, noticing the small things
• Resilience and Composure, be able to remain calm and optimistic under extreme pressure, during peak or periods or system failures
• Problem solving and conflict resolution – be able to turn challenges into opportunities by thinking and acting quickly to resolve issues before they impact a member’s experience
• Adaptability: be flexible to handle unpredictable shifts in processers, resource changes, last minute VIP guest arrivals, or sudden changes in event plans.
• Relatability – the capacity to connect with diverse stakeholders across all backgrounds
• Situational Awareness – constantly monitoring the environment to identify members who need support or help
• Curiosity- the ability to seek out and transform standard transactions into personalised stories and memorable experiences
• Time Management – the ability to efficiently meet stringent deadlines while maintaining a relaxed and unhurried demeanor for guests.
• Digital Fluency – must be proficient in new age technology and systems

 Closing Date 20 March 2026