Facilities Manager – Virgin Active South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Location: East London, Eastern Cape
Job Type: Permanent
Posted: 28 April 2026
Industry: Health, Wellness and Fitness
Division: Clubs Coastal – East London
Functional Area: Operations / Facilities Management
Experience Level: Not Applicable (Operational Technical Role)
Virgin Active South Africa is seeking a skilled and hands-on Facilities Manager to join its East London club within the Coastal Division. This role is central to ensuring that the club environment remains safe, fully operational, and aligned with the brand’s global vision of creating a Social Wellness Club that inspires people to live active and healthy lives.
In the fitness and wellness industry, facilities management plays a critical role in delivering member satisfaction. The quality, safety, and reliability of equipment and infrastructure directly impact the overall member experience. From swimming pools and HVAC systems to gym equipment and building infrastructure, the Facilities Manager ensures that everything functions smoothly, safely, and efficiently.
This is a highly technical, operational, and leadership-driven role requiring a strong balance between hands-on maintenance expertise and strategic facility oversight.
Role Purpose and Strategic Function
The primary purpose of this role is to ensure that all club facilities are maintained to the highest operational, safety, and brand standards. This includes both preventative maintenance (planned servicing and inspections) and reactive maintenance (emergency repairs and issue resolution).
The Facilities Manager plays a key role in enabling exceptional member experiences by ensuring that all physical infrastructure supports a safe, clean, and fully functional fitness environment.
In addition, the role contributes to cost control, energy efficiency, compliance with health and safety regulations, and overall operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities Explained in Detail
1. Preventative Maintenance Management
You will be responsible for ensuring that all preventative maintenance activities are completed timeously and according to Virgin Active South Africa (VASA) policies and procedures.
This includes maintenance of:
- Fitness equipment (out-of-warranty machines and systems)
- Swimming pools and spa systems
- HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems
- Hot and cold-water systems
- Saunas and steam rooms
- Building infrastructure and general facility components
Preventative maintenance is essential to reduce breakdowns, extend equipment lifespan, and ensure uninterrupted member service.
2. Reactive Maintenance and Emergency Response
You will manage all reactive maintenance tasks logged in the maintenance and Health & Safety job book. This includes responding quickly to emergency repairs to minimise downtime and ensure member safety.
Fast response times and effective troubleshooting are critical in maintaining operational continuity within the club.
3. Team Development and Technical Supervision
You will be responsible for upskilling Maintenance Operators and Technicians within the club. This includes training, mentoring, and ensuring that technical staff can perform their duties efficiently and safely.
Building a strong internal technical team reduces dependency on external contractors and improves response times.
4. Contractor Management and Procurement Oversight
You will liaise with external contractors where necessary and ensure that all contractor engagements are properly approved in collaboration with the Club General Manager and Regional Facility Manager.
No external work may proceed without proper authorisation and purchase order approval. This ensures financial control and compliance with company processes.
5. Escalation and Issue Resolution
Any maintenance issues that cannot be resolved internally must be escalated to senior management, including the Club General Manager and Regional Facility Manager.
This ensures that complex technical or financial decisions are handled at the appropriate management level.
6. Health and Safety Compliance
A major responsibility of this role is ensuring full compliance with Health and Safety (H&S) regulations.
You will:
- Conduct regular health and safety audits
- Ensure all documentation is properly filed and maintained
- Communicate safety policies to staff
- Ensure adherence to all operational safety standards
- Investigate and resolve safety risks
Safety is a critical priority in a fitness environment where members regularly use equipment and facilities.
7. Utilities and Resource Management
You will manage utility consumption within the club, including electricity and water usage. This includes identifying inefficiencies and investigating abnormal consumption patterns.
You will also work to reduce operational costs by improving energy efficiency and resource management.
8. Budget Control and Financial Management
You will assist the Club General Manager in managing multiple maintenance-related budgets, ensuring that spending remains within approved limits.
Budget categories include:
- Maintenance premises
- Physical plant maintenance
- Pool maintenance
- Water hygiene
- Grounds maintenance
- Consumables
- Health and safety
- Society expenses
Strong financial discipline is required to maintain operational sustainability.
9. Brand Standards and Facility Quality
You will ensure that all areas of the club meet Virgin Active brand standards. Any deviations in facility condition, cleanliness, or functionality must be addressed promptly.
Maintaining high standards ensures a consistent premium experience for all members.
10. Leadership and Club Support Functions
As part of the Head of Department (HOD) structure, you will support the broader club team where required and contribute to a positive and collaborative working environment.
You may also serve as Manager on Duty (MOD), ensuring smooth daily operations and assisting with overall club management responsibilities.
Minimum Requirements Explained
Matric (NSC) Qualification
Basic educational requirement for understanding technical documentation and operational procedures.
Advanced Technical Qualification
A trade qualification or advanced technical certification in fields such as electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or HVAC is required.
2–3 Years Maintenance Experience
Proven experience in facility or building maintenance is essential.
Hands-On Technical Skills
Practical experience in:
- Plumbing
- Electrical systems
- HVAC systems
- Plant and mechanical equipment
Health and Safety Knowledge
Strong understanding of workplace safety regulations and compliance requirements.
Microsoft Office Skills
Ability to use email, Excel, and Word for reporting and communication.
Utilities Management Experience
Understanding of energy consumption, water usage, and cost control.
Budget Management Experience
Ability to manage maintenance budgets and control operational costs.
People Management Experience
Experience supervising or leading technical teams is essential.
Technical Knowledge Areas
The role requires working knowledge of:
- Chillers and cooling systems
- Cooling towers and evaporative systems
- Electronic control systems
- Air-conditioning systems
- Building management systems
- Medium voltage electrical systems
- Water treatment systems
- Hot water vessels and boilers
- Steam generators
- Pumps and valves
- Heat exchangers
- Sand filtration systems
- Carpentry and glazing systems
- Plumbing infrastructure
This reflects a highly technical, multi-system environment requiring broad facility expertise.
Key Personal Attributes
- Strong adaptability in fast-paced environments
- Curiosity and willingness to learn continuously
- Strong sense of responsibility and ownership
- Ability to make quick and practical decisions
- High level of trustworthiness and integrity
- Strong problem-solving ability
- Action-oriented mindset
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to work independently
Work Environment
This role operates within a live fitness club environment where member safety, comfort, and experience are directly influenced by facility performance. The environment is fast-paced and requires immediate response to technical issues, often under time pressure.
You will interact with staff, management, contractors, and members, requiring strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Success Measures
Performance in this role is measured by:
- Facility uptime and equipment reliability
- Compliance with health and safety standards
- Timely completion of maintenance tasks
- Effective budget management and cost control
- Reduction in utility consumption where possible
- Member satisfaction and experience quality
- Efficiency of reactive maintenance response times
The Facilities Manager role at Virgin Active East London is a critical operational position that ensures the club environment remains safe, functional, and aligned with premium brand standards.
It requires a combination of technical expertise, leadership ability, financial discipline, and strong problem-solving skills. For individuals passionate about maintenance, engineering systems, and operational excellence, this role offers the opportunity to directly impact the member experience and overall success of the club environment.
