We’re looking for a Development Administrator to join the AfrikaBurn team and help keep all the magic pieces of our Development work moving. This is a role for someone who gets an unreasonable amount of satisfaction from a good spreadsheet, a properly organised system and making sure things actually happen when they’re supposed to. You’ll work behind the scenes across our year-round development projects, helping coordinate people, programmes, information, applications, reporting and all the admin that turns wild and untapped creativity into real-world impact. If you’re organised, curious, good with people and detail, and interested in the work AfrikaBurn does beyond the fandango, we’d like to hear from you.

Here’s the spec:

DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR

Summary

AfrikaBurn is looking for a full-time, permanent Development Administrator to join our team in Cape Town.
We’re looking for an organised, detail-focused administrator who is comfortable working with data, deadlines and people. This role supports volunteer services, the Anathi programme, organisational development and resource mobilisation across AfrikaBurn’s year-round and event activities.

AfrikaBurn is the strategic driver of Burning Man culture in the Southern African region and plays a significant role in the arts and culture sector of South Africa. Best known for its flagship event in the Tankwa Karoo, AfrikaBurn is a public benefit organisation and the human scaffold that helps a diverse creative community bring numerous projects and experiences to life.

Key responsibilities

Organisational Support:

• Maintain governance records, policy files and compliance calendars;
• Coordinate meetings, minutes, internal communications, guides and development documentation;
• Support resource-mobilisation research, database maintenance and application documents.

Administration and Volunteer Data:

• Maintain accurate volunteer records, databases, participation data and skills information;
• Capture volunteer feedback, appreciation records, statistics and portfolio information;
• Maintain volunteer and Anathi asset inventories at HQ and Tankwa Town;
• Issue volunteer crew tickets and DDTs and support volunteer days and stipend administration;
• Support sign-up forms, links and QR codes and participate in shift-list reviews;
• Monitor sign-ups and onsite shift data, flag gaps and collect daily shift sheets;
• Produce sign-up-to-actual data variances for review and planning.

Communications:

• Assist with volunteer communications, content, media collation, invitations and thank-you messages.

Anathi Programme:

• Administer application forms, applicant communications, adjudication and outcomes;
• Prepare accurate data for grants, track no-shows and follow up on funds where required.

Event Operations:

• Run the Volunteer Booth’s daily operations during event week and update volunteer call-outs;
• Request and distribute volunteer event SWAG.

This position requires travel to Tankwa and occasional weekend and evening work, particularly around event periods.

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification.
• At least two years’ relevant experience in administration, programme support, project administration, volunteer services or a related environment.
• Strong administrative and organisational skills, with demonstrated ability to manage records, documentation, deadlines and multiple workstreams.
• Competence in Google Workspace, particularly Google Sheets, Docs, Forms, Drive and Gmail.
• Experience in accurate data capturing, database maintenance and compiling basic reports or statistics.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate professionally with applicants, volunteers and internal stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate, confidential records.
• Ability to work independently, follow established processes and escalate gaps or concerns appropriately.
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends and to travel to the AfrikaBurn event site when required.
• Based in, or able to work regularly from, Cape Town.

The following would be advantageous

• A certificate, diploma or other relevant qualification in Business Administration, Office Administration, Project Management, Development Studies, Community Development or a related field.
• Experience working in a nonprofit, community, arts, volunteer or event-based organisation.
• Experience administering application, grant, adjudication or selection processes.
• Experience supporting events, volunteer programmes or shift-management systems.
• Experience maintaining asset registers, compliance calendars or organisational filing systems.
• A valid driver’s licence.

Traits (We value these highly)

• Collaborative and enthusiastic about working with others
• Proactive in problem-solving and creating practical solutions
• Self-motivated, with a strong work ethic and good time-management skills
• Detail-oriented, methodical, efficient and meticulous
• Adaptable and able to work in a changing environment
• Conscientious, with a strong sense of confidentiality, ethics, duty and personal responsibility
• Respectful of collective decision-making and consultative processes
• Excellent interpersonal skills and able to work with people at all levels
• Able to embrace the unknown and remain composed in a pressured environment

To apply for this role, please submit a CV and covering letter to jobs@afrikaburn.com with the subject line: Development Administrator. Closing date 25 August