Executive Associate - Temporary Position

Discovery Health

Executive Associate to Chief Digital Officer

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 to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.

About the Chief Digital Officer’s Portfolio

The Chief Digital Officer’s Portfolio at Discovery Health offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of healthcare through innovation. It encompasses our digital platforms, Discovery Health App and HealthID—which together create a powerful, integrated ecosystem serving both healthcare providers and members. Additionally, the portfolio includes Discovery Healthcare Services, a dynamic and fast-growing set of ventures focused on disrupting the healthcare supply side through cutting-edge technology and scalable service models. The portfolio also includes Special Projects which supports Discovery Health to conceptualise, pilot and implement new products, businesses and services. This is a space where your work will directly contribute to transforming how healthcare is accessed, delivered, and experienced.

Role Overview

The Chief of Staff / EA to the Chief Digital Officer (CDO) will serve as a trusted strategic advisor, operational integrator, and project driver across the CDO’s diverse portfolio—including Health Digital Products, Discovery Healthcare Services (DHCS), and Special Projects. The role is responsible for enabling the execution of the CDO’s priorities, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring optimal communication, planning, and decision-making across teams and partners.

Key Outputs / Job Responsibilities

• Strategic Support to the Chief Digital Officer

• Act as a thought partner to the CDO by contributing to strategic debate and shaping executive-level discussions.
• Prepare briefings, reports, and presentations for internal and external engagements.
• Manage the CDO’s strategic agenda and ensure alignment across the digital and healthcare services portfolios.

• Strategy Execution & Initiative Management

• Translate strategic goals into actionable project plans and oversee execution, ensuring alignment with Discovery Health’s broader vision.
• Drive and/or manage cross-functional initiatives—especially where there is no clear business owner—ensuring milestones are met and value is delivered.
• Support the incubation, piloting, and scaling of new digital health products, services, and partnerships

• Operational Excellence & Process Enablement
  • Monitor and enhance key operational processes to improve execution and accountability across teams.
  • Support performance tracking and reporting across the Digital Product and DHCS teams.

• Manage compliance reporting, governance, and audit preparations for both internal and external stakeholders.

• Business Development & External Partnerships
  • Support identification and pursuit of new growth opportunities with insurers, healthcare partners, and third-party service providers.
  • Prepare proposals and investment cases for strategic partnerships or business model innovations.
• Communications & Executive Deliverables
  • Draft, edit, and refine executive-level communication including board presentations, thought leadership, internal updates, and public speeches.
  • Coordinate message alignment across teams and contribute to strengthening the narrative around Discovery Health’s digital and healthcare services evolution.
• Research, Analysis & Insights
  • Lead or coordinate research on emerging trends in digital health, healthcare delivery models, and technology innovation.
  • Provide decision-support analysis to the CDO and executive team on key strategic and operational issues.

Key Skills

• Strategic Thinking & Analytical Ability

• Strong capacity to structure complex problems, interpret data, and synthesise insights to support high-impact decisions.
• Experience with business strategy, digital innovation, or operational improvement.

• Project & Programme Management

• Proven ability to lead or coordinate cross-functional projects, manage multiple workstreams, and deliver outcomes against tight timelines.

• Executive Communication

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing executive-level materials including board presentations, strategy documents, and proposals.

• Stakeholder Management

• Strong interpersonal skills to influence and collaborate with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

• Business Acumen & Market Awareness

• Understanding of healthcare, technology, and/or service-based business models, with the ability to identify growth opportunities and evaluate business cases.

• Digital Literacy

• Comfort with digital product environments, including familiarity with digital health platforms, agile ways of working, and analytics tools.

Personal Attributes

• High Integrity & Discretion

• Trusted to handle confidential matters and sensitive executive-level communications with professionalism.

• Resourcefulness & Proactivity

• Self-starter who anticipates needs, adapts to ambiguity, and independently drives solutions without always needing direction.

• Detail-Oriented Yet Strategic

• Able to switch seamlessly between big-picture thinking and tactical execution; delivers high-quality work at all levels of abstraction.

• Resilience & Emotional Intelligence

• Maintains composure under pressure, builds relationships with empathy, and thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

• Curiosity & Learning Orientation

• Constantly seeks to understand emerging trends in healthcare and technology; keen to grow within a complex, mission-driven organisation.

Education and Experience

• Relevant degree/s with a strong analytical or business focus, and a proven record of academic excellence (Actuarial, Engineering, Mathematics, Finance etc.)
• Client centred – senior level consulting experience within a top tier consulting firm such as McKinsey, Bain, and BCG etc.
• At least 3 - 5 years business experience
• Extensive business and/or technical experience with a proven track record of innovation, entrepreneurship, delivery, and performance.

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.