Executive Associate

Discovery Health: Health New Markets

Executive Associate

About Discovery

Discovery’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. We seek out and invest in exceptional individuals who understand and support our core purpose, and whose own values align with those of Discovery. Our fast-paced and dynamic environment enables smart, self-driven people to be their best. As global thought leaders, Discovery is passionate about innovating in order to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.

People who thrive at Discovery have the following personal and professional attributes:

Values-driven, optimistic, learns on the fly, resilient, instils trust, people-savvy, drives results and a problem-solver.

Further, Discovery leaders are characterised by the following:

Inspirational leaders who live the values and believes in the core purpose, humble, treat others with care, dignity and respect, ensure that the business case prevails, have a strong bias for action, understand that people are Discovery's greatest asset, build an environment for optimal performance, set ambitious goals and implement the highest standards, never stop learning, have and express strong beliefs and views, yet are open-minded and support the chosen path.

Job Purpose

The Executive Associate (EA) to the Chief Growth Officer (CGO) for Discovery Health is a senior, business critical role that acts as a strategic and operational extension of the CGO.

The role exists to amplify the impact of the CGO, ensure the effective running of the CGO’s office, and drive complex, high visibility initiatives across Discovery Health’s Health New Markets portfolio. This role blends executive governance, strategic administration, and hands on leadership of cross functional projects that require direct CGO and Executive oversight.

The Discovery Executive Associate programme runs over two years and is renowned for providing a unique opportunity for the best EE talent to enjoy accelerated growth and development through working with and exposure to Discovery’s most senior leaders.

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

If you have an entrepreneurial mind-set, are hungry for growth, appreciate calculated risks and can assume responsibility for bringing strategic projects to life, then this role will liberate you to realize your full potential. 

As an Executive Associate to the Chief Growth Officer your core accountabilities will be: 

1. Strategic Administration & Governance Leadership

• Own the smooth, disciplined running of the CGO office, ensuring focus, cadence, and follow‑through across competing priorities.
• End‑to‑end responsibility for governance forums relating to Health New Markets team (Exco, SteerCos, Board committees), including:
• Agenda design
• Board‑quality packs and collation of pre-reads
• Minutes, matters arising, and action tracking
• Act as the primary integrator between the CGO, HNM Managing Executives, leaders in various cross-functional teams.
• Ensure timely, decision‑ready submissions of Board and Exco documentation, with strong strategic narrative, execution clarity, and risk articulation.
• Operate as a trusted filter, sounding board, and challenger to the CGO.
  
  

2. Strategic Cross‑Functional Programmes

• Lead and run largescale, high‑impact strategic initiatives that span multiple functions and business areas.
• Own initiatives that require direct CEO, or Health Exco engagement.
• Preparation of proposals for strategic partnerships, new business and new products for both external and internal distribution.
• Translate strategy into execution through:
• clear problem framing
• integrated workplans
• dependency and risk management
• executive‑level progress reporting
• Proactively unblock bottlenecks, resolve trade‑offs, and course‑correct to protect outcomes.

3. Strategy, Insight & Executive Decision Support

• Partner with the CGO and Health New Markets Managing Executives to shape:
• growth strategy and emerging opportunities for the portfolio
• required investments (capex, resources, including trade‑offs)
• strategic priorities
• Lead or commission detailed research and targeted analysis to support executive and Board decision‑making
• Collate, analyze and draw insights on business performance for the HNMs area
• Prepare Exco- and Board‑quality presentations, speeches, and strategic narratives.

4. Thought Leadership, Communications & External Profile Support

• Support and shape the CGO’s internal and external thought‑leadership presence, including:
• LinkedIn content
• Keynote presentations
• Industry and partner forums

Personal Attributes and Skills

Discovery’s Executive Associates must be exceptional. They must demonstrate: 

• Exceptional strategic judgment, analytical capability, and commercial acumen
• Strong executive presence with ability to influence and challenge at C‑suite level
• Comfort operating in high ambiguity and pace
• Ability to move seamlessly between big‑picture strategy and execution detail
• Outstanding written, verbal, and visual communication skills
• High levels of discretion, resilience, and personal integrity
• Ability to work effectively and deliver within a complex matrix organisation
• Exceptional analytical, problem solving and research skills
• A passion for personal development and growth with high learning potential

Education and Experience

• Relevant degree/s at post graduate level or higher, with a strong analytical or business focus.
• 5-8 years experience in top tier consulting, corporate strategy or senior cross-functional programme leadership roles
• Extensive business and/or technical experience with a proven track record of innovation, entrepreneurship, delivery and performance.
• Prior health, financial services, or regulated‑industry experience (advantageous)

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY   
                             
The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.