Head of Strategic Projects DCDS

Discovery – Connect

Head of Strategic Projects

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.

About the Area

People increasingly want to transact faster, on their terms, in fluid, and dynamic ways. Discovery Connect facilitates this need as a direct sales channel, leveraging the best of technology with the best in people. We are often a client’s first impression of Discovery so we must have the best Discovery ambassadors in our team. At the forefront of client acquisition methodology, Discovery Connect continues to be one of the fastest-growing divisions in the group. Representing all product lines (including Discovery Bank) there is an opportunity for forward thinkers, innovators, and people who thrive on complexity in a growing business.

Key purpose

• As the Head of Strategic Projects at Discovery Connect, you will be responsible for operational implementation and excellence of all Discovery Connect’s Strategic Growth objectives.
• You will be required to deliver business value and address meaningful business problems and opportunities.
• This includes the ideation implementation of innovative ways to deliver on key business goals.

• Develop and maintain Commercial relationships with key lead generation sources for the Connect business.
• Reporting and tracking of initiatives to ensure accountability to Discovery Businesses

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to:

• Stakeholder management and engagement - collaboration with key stakeholders, such as but not limited to, Commercial partners, Discovery Connect, Sales and Distribution, Vitality Servicing, Health Admin and Billing, Marketing and other product houses and teams where necessary.
• Provide SME input and steer on projects linked to Discovery Connect’s Objective items under the Growth stream and ensure action items are monitored with upward feedback to key stakeholders.
• Define different solutions to implement the new initiative to improve Discovery Connect Sales and operational excellence.
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders to decide on the best solution operational process.
• Compile and present the Change Initiation documents where required.
• Define the business requirement, review/update the business case and requirement specification document linked to the project.
• Review the proposed system solution and define change management solution to implement system solution.
• Measure the effectiveness of the solution.
• Report on progress of initiatives
• Ensure operational areas are furnished with reporting to monitor performance and suggest operational changes where appropriate.

Personal attributes and skills

• Ability to make prompt, clear decisions, which may involve tough choices and considered risks.
• Exceptional interpersonal and networking skills at different levels.
• Strong analytical ability with numerical and qualitative data.
• Strong presentation and PowerPoint skills.
• Strong verbal communication skills.
• Decision-maker with a solution-oriented approach that is able to identify, drive, and implement effective decisions.
• Dynamic, strategically minded visionary who adapts to changing circumstances.
• Identifies opportunities for continuous improvement in the organization.
• Previous experience with Discovery products (advantageous)

Education & Experience

• Analytical tertiary education background B Comm or BSc preferably at post-graduate level.
• Management consulting experience advantageous

• Product owner experience advantageous
• Proven track record in business analysis and/or operations management
• Experience in Discovery's or processes and products preferable
• At least two year management experience advantageous
• Interpersonal relationship skills
• Proven experience of successful implementation of business process change projects
• Understanding of corporate organizations
• Understanding of Business Processes
• MS Office including strong PowerPoint skills.
• Understanding of data and statistics

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.