Operations & Partnerships Manager | Johannesburg | Full Time

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.

Primary Collaboration | Reporting Lead

Reports directly to Milan (CEO) and works closely with Sishii (Chief Creative).

Collaborates with:

Media and Event Producer (content & live production)

Admin/Virtual Assistant (logistics, follow-ups)

Social Media Manager (asset execution)

External partners (studio, venue, merch, PR, sales, talent)

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.”

A Winning Outcome

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.

When we started The Bowling Club, it wasn’t because we wanted to build another agency or production company. We wanted to build a home (a place where creators, brands, and fans could make things that actually mean something). Things that live beyond the scroll, start real conversations, and leave culture a little better than we found it.

What began in a small studio at UCT in 2018 has grown into a community of people who believe in the power of story, music, and media to connect us. Every asset we create — from a podcast or performance to a live show or brand partnership — exists to help people belong. That’s our north star. To help creators sustain their craft, to help brands show up meaningfully, and to help audiences see themselves in the work.

We’ve built The Bowling Club slowly and intentionally: bootstrapped, audience-first, and guided by heart. Our team is small, but our vision is huge: to shape the future of the African creator economy by showing that advertising impact and creative integrity can scale together.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably someone who wants to build things that last. Someone who values excellence but doesn’t lose the joy of why we do this. We’re looking for people who care — about process, about people, about culture. Because what we do only works when we work with people who bring both ambition and soul to the table.

Joining The Bowling Club means joining a team that lives at the intersection of creativity and community. We’re obsessed with craft, allergic to shortcuts, and deeply committed to leaving a mark that matters. If that sounds like you, then you already belong here.

With gratitude,

Sishii and Milan