Derick
Facility Manager
Virgin Active South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Bloemfontein, Free State
Permanent
Posted: 29 April 2026 | Closing Date: 03 May 2026
Role Overview
This role sits within the maintenance and operations structure of Virgin Active South Africa (Pty) Ltd, focusing on ensuring that club facilities operate at optimal standards.
The Facility Manager is responsible for both preventative and reactive maintenance, health and safety compliance, contractor management, and overall facility performance within a high-usage fitness environment.
Core Purpose
The primary purpose of this role is to ensure that members experience a safe, clean, fully functional, and well-maintained club environment.
This is achieved through structured maintenance planning, rapid response to breakdowns, strict adherence to health and safety standards, and effective management of facility resources and budgets.
Key Responsibilities
1. Preventative Maintenance Management
You will be responsible for implementing and managing preventative maintenance across all major systems and equipment, including:
- Fitness equipment (out of warranty units)
- HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, air conditioning)
- Swimming pools and spa systems
- Hot and cold-water systems
- Saunas and steam rooms
- General building infrastructure
The focus is to reduce breakdowns, extend asset lifespan, and ensure continuous operational readiness.
2. Reactive Maintenance & Repairs
You will manage all reactive maintenance tasks logged in the maintenance system or job book.
This includes:
- Responding to emergency breakdowns
- Coordinating urgent repairs
- Ensuring downtime is minimised
- Escalating complex issues where necessary
3. Health & Safety Compliance
A major part of the role involves ensuring compliance with health and safety standards in line with company policy and applicable regulations.
Responsibilities include:
- Conducting safety audits
- Maintaining H&S documentation
- Ensuring staff adherence to safety procedures
- Managing risk identification and mitigation
- Ensuring safe working conditions at all times
4. Contractor and Supplier Management
You will liaise with external contractors and service providers.
This includes:
- Requesting and approving purchase orders
- Ensuring contractor work meets standards
- Monitoring service delivery and compliance
- Escalating issues to regional management where necessary
5. Team Leadership and Development
You will supervise and develop maintenance staff, ensuring:
- Continuous skills development
- Proper task allocation
- Performance monitoring
- Team coordination and accountability
You will also act as a leader within the club operational structure, including MOD (Manager on Duty) responsibilities when required.
6. Budget and Cost Control
You will be responsible for managing multiple maintenance-related budgets, including:
- Maintenance premises
- Physical plant
- Pools and water systems
- Consumables
- Health and safety costs
- Utilities consumption
The goal is to ensure cost efficiency without compromising service quality.
7. Utilities and Resource Management
You will monitor and manage utility usage, including:
- Electricity consumption
- Water usage
- Equipment efficiency
- Waste reduction initiatives
Investigating and addressing abnormal usage patterns will be part of your responsibilities.
8. Facility Standards and Brand Compliance
You will ensure that the facility consistently meets brand standards through:
- Routine inspections
- Maintenance audits
- Condition monitoring
- Corrective action implementation
Minimum Requirements
- Matric (NSC)
- Advanced technical qualification (engineering or facilities-related field)
- 2–3 years’ maintenance experience
- Hands-on experience with plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC, and plant equipment
- Strong understanding of health and safety principles
- Experience working independently
Key Technical Knowledge Required
- HVAC systems (chillers, cooling towers, ventilation systems)
- Electrical systems (including medium voltage)
- Plumbing and water systems
- Pools and filtration systems
- Boilers, steam systems, and hot water systems
- Building management systems
- Pumps, valves, and heat exchangers
- Carpentry and glazing
- Utility monitoring systems
Key Competencies
- Strong problem-solving ability
- Ability to work independently
- High attention to detail
- Strong organisational skills
- Leadership and people management ability
- Financial and budget awareness
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to manage pressure in a fast-paced environment
- Proactive and action-oriented mindset
Personal Attributes
- Adaptable to changing environments
- Hands-on and practical approach
- Safety-focused mindset
- Strong sense of accountability
- Service-oriented attitude
- Ability to take initiative
- Commitment to continuous improvement
Closing Summary
The Facility Manager role at Virgin Active South Africa (Pty) Ltd is a hands-on operational leadership position focused on maintaining world-class fitness facilities.
It combines technical maintenance expertise, health and safety compliance, team leadership, and financial control to ensure a safe and high-quality member experience at all times.
