Summary

AfrikaBurn is looking for an Event Production Manager to join our Operations portfolio on a phased fixed-term appointment aligned with the annual event-production cycle.

We’re looking for an experienced production professional who can turn approved operational plans, portfolio requirements and site layouts into coordinated, safe and workable on-site delivery. This role is the practical bridge between Operations, DPW, portfolio leads and specialist service providers.

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

Integrated Layouts and Site Production Planning:

• Develop the project plan for site infrastructure and layout planning;
• Coordinate and consolidate the OCC and portfolio layouts with portfolio leads, DPW, Site Managers and technical specialists;
• Ensure layouts reflect approved operational needs, access requirements, safety controls, infrastructure services and practical build constraints;
• Identify spatial conflicts, missing information, sequencing dependencies and unrealistic expectations before on-site work begins;
• Maintain controlled versions of approved layouts, verify positioning on site and check completed work against the approved plans.

Portfolio Requests and DPW Coordination:

• Develop and maintain a consistent process for portfolio infrastructure and service requests;
• Clarify what is required, why it is required, when it is needed and what constitutes acceptable completion;
• In collaboration with the DPW Lead translate portfolio requests into practical DPW work packages, quantities, locations, deadlines and service requirements;
• Provide DPW with clear, consolidated and prioritised information and confirm shared understanding of deliverables, sequencing and completion standards;
• Lead or attend production meetings, troubleshoot delivery issues and escalate matters outside the role’s delegated authority;
• Control changes and prevent informal or conflicting instructions from bypassing the agreed production process.

Production Schedule and Readiness:

• Develop and maintain the integrated production schedule for the build, event and strike;
• Identify critical-path activities and dependencies and raise risks before deadlines are missed;
• Coordinate milestones across layouts, DPW works, logistics, grid power, sanitation, signage and service providers;
• Confirm readiness through inspections, completion records, testing evidence and outstanding-item lists;
• Provide regular progress, risk and escalation reports to the Operations Manager.

Critical Infrastructure and Service Providers:

• Coordinate implementation of the approved temporary grid-power plan, including the capture of portfolio power needs, installation, testing, fault correction and required sign-offs;
• Coordinate implementation of the approved sanitation and sewerage plan and monitor responsibilities, servicing frequencies, operational records and escalation routes;
• Support logistics service providers to deliver the approved movement and delivery plan for rentals and fuel-store management, including strike handovers;
• Coordinate the approved R355 road-safety signage rollout and maintain evidence of installation and serviceability;
• Escalate safety, technical, contractual, budget, health, environmental or compliance risks to the Operations Manager.

Health and Safety Implementation:

• Support implementation of the approved H&S plan, risk controls, safe-work procedures and PPE requirements within DPW production activities;
• Coordinate with the appointed H&S or Event Safety function and ensure actions are communicated to the responsible AfrikaBurn leads;
• Conduct or participate in production walkabouts and raise unsafe conditions or practices for immediate correction;
• Record hazards, near misses, non-conformances and corrective actions and follow them through to closure;
• Ensure incidents are reported through the approved process and exercise delegated stop-work authority where there is an immediate and serious risk, pending accountable review.

Documentation, Change Control and Close-out:

• Maintain current production plans, request and issues registers, schedules, action lists, change records and completion evidence;
• Document significant decisions and ensure revised instructions reach all affected teams;
• Contribute to event debriefs and capture recurring production problems, lessons learned, as-built changes and required system improvements;
• Support supplier and project close-out by confirming completion, outstanding defects, return obligations and handover of critical operational records.

This is a phased annual appointment: four days per month from October to December, eight days in January, and full-time from February through May. The role includes intensive on-site work before, during and after the annual event, with variable hours and urgent troubleshooting during build and strike. Conditions may include heat, dust, wind, uneven terrain and long walking distances.

Minimum Requirements

• At least five years’ project-management experience.
• Practical experience in event production, site operations, construction coordination, facilities, infrastructure or a comparable multi-contractor environment.
• Experience translating plans, layouts and stakeholder requirements into practical delivery.
• Ability to read and interpret site plans, layouts, schedules, scopes of work and basic technical information.
• Experience coordinating teams and service providers who do not all report directly to the role.
• Working knowledge of temporary infrastructure, logistics, contractor management and on-site health and safety implementation.
• Experience with issue tracking, change control, readiness checks and production reporting.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to translate between technical, operational and portfolio perspectives.
• Comfort working in remote, resource-constrained and rapidly changing environments.
• Availability for intensive on-site work and variable hours during critical production periods.
• The following would be advantageous
• Large-scale event, festival, film, construction or live-production experience.
• Experience with temporary electrical distribution, sanitation systems or road-safety implementation.
• H&S representative, incident-reporting or basic risk-assessment training.
• Experience working in a nonprofit, volunteer-led or community-based organisation.
• Competence in mapping, spreadsheets, shared planning and digital task-management tools.
• Traits (We value these highly)
• Strong spatial and systems thinking across layouts, services, movement and timing
• Clear, practical communication across technical, operational and portfolio teams
• Calm troubleshooting and sound judgement under pressure
• Assertive follow-through without creating unnecessary conflict
• High attention to detail while retaining awareness of the overall event system
• Ability to distinguish what can be resolved operationally from what requires escalation
• Reliable documentation, prioritisation and deadline management
• Commitment to safety, environmental responsibility, collaboration and AfrikaBurn’s ethos
• To apply for this role, please submit a CV and covering letter by close of business 3 October 2026 to jobs@afrikaburn.com with the subject line: Event Production Manager.

We reserve the right not to make an appointment to this position.