Regional Operations Manager (Cape Town)

Job description

A Popular Bunch (Pty) LTD - Cape Town
Regional Operations Manager
Mid-Senior Level Cape Town Full-time permanent

Who are we:

a Popular Bunch (aPB) is a full-service experiential marketing and brand activation agency - we concept it, fabricate it, and activate it. From Red Bull F1 pop-ups to large-scale trade activations for Heineken, Remy Martin, and Discovery Bank, our campaigns live in the real world. We're a Level 1B-BBEE agency with a national footprint and a reputation for delivering complex, high-energy activations that actually work on the ground.
Our Cape Town office is a fast-paced, lean operation - and we need a sharp, hands-on Ops Manager to run it properly.

The role:

You'll own the day-to-day operations of the aPB Cape Town region. Thats means managing people, assets, vehicles, warehousing, logistics and client facing site work- all at once, without dropping a ball. You'll report to the Cape Town Regional Manager and work closely with the national operations team in Johannesburg.
This isn't a desk role. You'll be on-site, in the warehouse, and leading from the front.

What you'll be doing:

• Own and maintain the weekly operations planner - updated daily, no exceptions
• Plan, assign, and track daily operational tasks for the Cape Town ops and coordinator team
• Manage logistics for all upcoming event setup and brand activations - from supplier collections through to on-site execution
• Conduct weekly vehicle inspections and ensure the fleet is road-ready and parked in designated bays at end of day
• Coordinate supplier collections and deliveries in line with activation schedules
• Lead site visits and client-facing operations across the region, including high-profile activations (Red Bull, Heineken and others)
• Track all POS and brand assets moving in and out of the warehouse - accurate inventory, always
• Inspect POS materials and brand assets for damage; escalate and coordinate repairs or replacements as needed
• Monitor and manage ops staff overtime and shift efficiency
• Maintain accurate clocking records via the Uniclox biometric system and flag any missed-punch issues through the correct approval process
• Upload and maintain accurate event and activation records in the aPB Loveable ERP system
• Ensure all receipts, expense documentation, and purchase orders are submitted accurately and on time via CHASE

What we're looking for:

• 3-5 years' experience in an operations or logistics management role - events, activations, or field marketing industry strongly preferred
• Proven ability to manage a regional team and coordinate multiple activations simultaneously
• Strong inventory management and warehouse coordination experience
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills - both internal and client-facing
• High attention to detail and a natural ability to juggle moving parts without losing oversight
• Comfortable with digital ops systems - experience with ERP platforms, expense management tools, or time-tracking systems is a plus
• Valid South African driver's licence (essential)
• Cape Town based with flexibility to travel regionally when required

Bonus points:

• Experiential / FMCG activations background
• POS asset tracking
• Fleet management experience
• CHASE or similar expense platform
• Biometric clocking systems
• ERP or custom ops platform

Key competencies:

• Leadership and accountability
• Problem-solving under pressure
• Time management and prioritisation
• Adaptability in a fast-paced environment
• Strong admin and reporting discipline
• Team coordination and clear communication

Posted on 18 Sep 15:16, Closing date 17 Nov