The Bowling Club is Hiring an Operations & Partnerships Manager in Johannesburg | R23000 p/m

• Reporting to: Co-Founders (Milan Rendall & Sishii)
• Start: Immediate (Late 2025)
• Type: Full-Time employee (6-month probation)
• Salary Range: R23,000 – R28,000/month (negotiable based on experience and aligned with lean startup rates; performance-based growth path)

Employment Details | Full Time Role

Hours: Flexible hybrid schedule with mandatory in-person availability on key shoot, meeting or event days.

Role Purpose | Ops and Partnerships Manager

The Operations & Partnerships Manager is the engine that keeps The Bowling Club moving.

You’ll work directly with the founders to manage day-to-day operations, build strategic partnerships, and make sure our creative machine — spanning music, live experiences, and content — runs on time and on budget.

You’ll handle people operations, hiring, admin systems, and vendor relationships, while helping shape how we collaborate with production partners, freelancers, and sponsors across our key assets: Camomile Sessions, The B-Side Podcast, Camomile Live, and The Sishii Brand.

This is a startup-facing leadership role for someone who thrives in creative chaos, builds structure without killing energy, and wants to be part of a team reimagining how entertainment brands grow in Africa.

Key Outcomes | 6–12 Months

Operational Stability:

• Work with Milan to reduce monthly operational inefficiencies and ensure all projects ship on time across all IP assets.
• Work with Milan to establish systems for contracts, invoicing, and tracking deliverables.

Talent & Team Structure:

• Hire or onboard key support roles (Admin VA, Producer, Social Media Manager, Editor).
• Develop a smooth workflow between core team, freelancers, and external partners.

Partnerships & Vendors:

• Identify, negotiate, and onboard 3–5 high-value partners (production, venue, PR, or co-production).
• Convert 30% of fixed spend into performance-based or trade agreements.

Governance & Reporting:

• Build a simple dashboard/reporting cadence with Milan (cash burn, output and partner performance).
• Lead monthly ops reviews and manage cost-control actions.

Culture & People:

Create a work environment that blends accountability with creativity — one that mirrors the energy of the artists and brands we collaborate with.

Core Responsibilities | Accountabilities

Operations & Admin

• Oversee daily operations across all assets at The Bowling Club.
• Implement and maintain internal systems for scheduling, contracts, payments, and communications.
• Support Milan on budgeting, vendor management, and financial tracking.
• Collaboratively manage hiring pipelines, onboarding, and basic HR functions.
• Coordinate logistics for shoots, events, and collaborations.

Partnerships & Vendor Management

• Build relationships with production partners, venues, service providers, and brand collaborators.
• Negotiate co-production and revenue-share deals that align with company goals.
• Track partner deliverables, renewals, and performance metrics.

Team & People Operations

• Manage workflows across internal team and freelancers (Producer, Editor, Designer, Social Media).
• Conduct weekly check-ins and coordinate cross-functional priorities.
• Foster a culture of transparency, feedback, and ownership.

Systems & Process

• Develop and maintain dashboards and trackers (project progress, contracts, deliverables).
• Collaborate with Milan to introduce light automation in production, admin and reporting.

Core Responsibilities | Accountabilities

Operations & Admin

• Oversee daily operations across all assets at The Bowling Club.
• Implement and maintain internal systems for scheduling, contracts, payments, and communications.
• Support Milan on budgeting, vendor management, and financial tracking.
• Collaboratively manage hiring pipelines, onboarding, and basic HR functions.
• Coordinate logistics for shoots, events, and collaborations.

Partnerships & Vendor Management

• Build relationships with production partners, venues, service providers, and brand collaborators.
• Negotiate co-production and revenue-share deals that align with company goals.
• Track partner deliverables, renewals, and performance metrics.

Team & People Operations

• Manage workflows across internal team and freelancers (Producer, Editor, Designer, Social Media).
• Conduct weekly check-ins and coordinate cross-functional priorities.
• Foster a culture of transparency, feedback, and ownership.

Systems & Process

• Develop and maintain dashboards and trackers (project progress, contracts, deliverables).
• Collaborate with Milan to introduce light automation in production, admin and reporting.

Must-Have:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 4+ years of experience in operations, project management, or partnerships — ideally in media, entertainment, or agency environments.
• Strong organizational and negotiation skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and teams simultaneously.
• Excellent communication — written, verbal, and interpersonal.
• Fluent with LLM’s (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Grok, Claude), Google Workspace, Notion/Airtable, and CRM or workflow tools.

Nice-to-Have:

• Prior experience in influencer marketing, brand partnerships, or creative production.
• Comfort with financial tracking or cost reporting.
• Network within Johannesburg’s creative and entertainment industries.

Alignment Looks Like:

At The Bowling Club, we care deeply about:

1. Integrity — We do what we say we’ll do.
2. Craft Excellence — We take pride in our creative work and execution.
3. Humility — We stay teachable, no matter how talented we are.
4. Respect — We treat people like collaborators, not commodities.

We’re looking for someone who:

1. Balances creative empathy with operational rigour.
2. Thrives in fast-moving, startup-style environments.
3. Loves problem-solving, relationship-building, and helping artists shine.
4. Feels comfortable saying “we can fix that” instead of “that’s not my job.”

What Success Looks Like:

• By month 6, The Bowling Club runs on rails — projects are on time, partners are reliable, and the team feels supported and connected.
• You’ll be a big part of the reason the creative engine hums smoothly while the brand grows sustainably.