Office & Events Manager: Africa in England

We are seeking a highly capable Office & Events Manager to play a critical leadership role within Duke Corporate Education’s Africa region. The role works in close partnership with the Regional Managing Director (RMD) and the Africa Leadership Team (LT) to enable effective leadership, ensure operational excellence, and support the smooth day‑to‑day running of the Johannesburg office. The role has end‑to‑end accountability for the planning and delivery of Duke CE Africa’s flagship in‑person events and convening platforms, ensuring a consistently high‑quality experience aligned to our brand and strategic priorities, working with our global leadership team. This role reports directly to the Regional Managing Director. This is a full‑time, office‑based role, based five days a week at the Campus in Bryanston.

Key Responsibilities

• Office Leadership & Operational Excellence: Manage the day‑to‑day management of the Johannesburg office, ensuring a professional, well‑run and welcoming environment for our ~25 employees, clients and visitors. Act as the visible owner of the office environment, providing structure, coordination and accountability across facilities, vendors and service providers. Oversee office procurement and consumables management, with appropriate tracking and cost discipline. Coordinate facilities maintenance and manage service providers to ensure service quality and timely resolution of issues. Support with preparation of briefs, prompts and materials for office‑related meetings. Own the end‑to‑end client and visitor experience within the Johannesburg office. Ensure consistently high service standards and professional reception aligned to Duke CE’s premium brand and values.
• Leadership Enablement & Strategic Support: Provide operational support to the RMD and Africa Leadership Team, including complex diary coordination, liaising with senior clients on meetings, travel planning. Act as a trusted operational partner and gatekeeper, anticipating priorities, managing competing demands, and supporting effective decision‑making across the leadership agenda. Draft, review and manage professional written communication aligned with leadership tone, business context and strategic objectives.
• Strategic Events & Convening Leadership Events: Lead the end to end delivery of Duke CE Africa’s flagship convening events and platforms such as the Women’s Month / Women’s Day platform. Partner closely with the LT to shape event strategy, positioning, narrative and experience design, ensuring alignment with Duke CE’s brand, purpose and regional priorities. Lead delivery of the Women’s Day event in collaboration with the Africa RMD, LT and Global Leadership Team on activities such as experience and journey design, speaker, partner and stakeholder engagement, venue strategy, negotiation and contracting, end‑to‑end delivery and execution oversight, and budget tracking. Serve as the primary point of accountability with venues, partners and external service providers for flagship events. Own the annual regional events calendar, including smaller but high‑impact engagements such as client breakfasts and leadership forums, in‑office culture and community moments. Support the LT with Business Development events. Ensure events are delivered to a consistently high standard.
• Financial Accountability & Governance: Coordinate and prepare expense submissions on behalf of the RMD, and on occasion, the LT, including collection of supporting documentation, assistance with reconciliation queries, coordination of travel‑related expenses, Uber trips and courier deliveries. Support submission of routine office‑related expenses via Concur in line with policy requirements. Liaise with Finance to ensure documentation is complete, accurate and submitted timeously. Ensure all expense claims prepared are coordinated for the RMD remain subject to the RMD’s formal review and approval, in‑line with Finance oversight responsibility for policy adherence and governance.
• Onboarding & Internal Support: Work with Global HR and the RMD to coordinate onboarding and offboarding processes for regional staff to ensure seamless Day 1 access, effective integration and compliant exits. Provide senior administrative and operational support to internal teams, resolving requests with efficiency, judgement and professionalism. Support accreditation and compliance administration (e.g. LIMS capture and moderation documentation) where required.

Skills & Competencies

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a senior office management, operations, and events manager role.
• Proven experience in end‑to‑end office management and operations, including oversight of day‑to‑day office functioning and service providers.
• Proven experience working closely with senior leaders to enable effective day‑to‑day leadership operating models.
• Demonstrated experience managing and owning high‑profile events or convening platforms, beyond logistical coordination.
• Strong stakeholder engagement experience with senior leaders, partners, and service providers.
• Exposure to international or multi‑region organisations is advantageous.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualification.
• Strong professional presence, sound judgement and high levels of discretion.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation capability, with the ability to lead multiple complex workstreams.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to translate intent into high‑quality delivery.
• Strong stakeholder management and professional communication skills.
• Calm, resilient and effective under pressure.
• Self‑directed, proactive and comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy.
• High attention to detail with strong accountability and follow‑through.

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver’s licence and reliable personal transport.
• Willingness and ability to work on site at our offices five days per week.

Employment Equity

Duke Corporate Education is an equal opportunity employer committed to employment equity. Applications are welcomed from all suitably qualified individuals in line with the organisation’s Employment Equity Plan and applicable legislation.