Programme Manager

Discovery Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Discovery Health Systems in Johannesburg seeks a seasoned Portfolio Programme Manager to drive business transformation programmes within scope, time, and budget. You will ensure product value delivery to the Health business and report monthly on progress, risks and benefits.

Lead the PMO, mentor staff, and align interdependent projects with the programme roadmap, leveraging SDLC and agile practices to achieve defined outcomes.

Qualifications

• BSc IT/Engineering/CS or BCom Information Systems.
• 5–7 years’ experience managing projects in a systems development environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage business transformation programmes to time and budget.
• Provide portfolio reporting and governance across programmes.
• Lead PMO team, mentor staff and drive strategy execution.
• Coordinate interdependencies and roadmap alignment across projects.

Skills

Portfolio management

PMO leadership

SDLC familiarity

Stakeholder communication

Agile methodologies

Education

BSc IT/Engineering/CS

BCom Information Systems

Tools

MS Project

Jira

Portfolio management tools

Job description

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Business Unit: Discovery Health

Date: 19 Aug 2026

Discovery – Health Systems

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 Discovery Health Systems and the PMO

Discovery Health Systems strives to be a world leading healthcare technology organisation. We pride ourselves in creating world class solutions through our curious, innovative people who employ technical excellence to fully realise the immense potential of digital health technology to promote health and wellbeing for all South Africans and our customers globally.

Our high-performance organization prides itself in attracting the finest talent while continually challenging ourselves to create solutions that make a difference in our customers world. Our environment is energetic, high-tempo and supportive of motivated people striving to find excellent and relevant solutions.

The Project Office provides a world class service to internal and group customers by delivering through portfolios, complex programme and projects that support the strategic objectives of our business. The skills and expertise in the team allows a diverse offering in delivery of end-to-end services with expertise in portfolio and programme management – initiatives typically focused on elements such as strategy, product delivery, business transformation, technical & software development.

Key Purpose

• Taking a portfolio view, the Portfolio Programme Manager will manage business transformation programmes, as per defined methodology to ensure that the Programme goals and objectives are achieved within the overall scope, that overall delivery takes place within time and budget and ensure that product value is provided to the Health business to meets its objectives.
• They will be a key member of the PMO Management team that actively drives strategy definition and implementation, including measurement of projects and monthly\bi-annual reporting on all project deliverables in the department.
• Mentoring and coaching of PMO staff with the view to grow and development the team. May include direct line management responsibilities.

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

PORTFOLIO

Responsible for successful management of business portfolio against business objectives (based on portfolio metrics that are pre-defined)

Producing reports and artefacts on Portfolio initiatives

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT

• Facilitate in defining the product and programme objectives for business case approval
• Responsible for successful implementation of programme against business objective
• Planning and Management of interdependencies between projects and features (includes project and product roadmap)
• Manage programme progress. Manage and drive at epic and sprint level goals being achieved
• Manage the delivery backlog
• Reporting and presenting showcases of programme progress
• Resource management and allocation on the programme
• Management of programme risks, quality
• Programme closure & learnings
• Programme Benefit Management and returns tracking

Leadership & Line Management role in the PMO, including:

• Manage a team of project managers on the Programme
• Line Management responsibilities of PMO staff
• Mentor & guide the programme team and PMO colleagues where required
• Participate in PMO Peer Reviews
• Contribute to PMO Strategy & Objectives

Personal Attributes and Skills

• Manage Ambiguity
• Drives results
• Excellent facilitation and presentation skills
• Solid understanding of systems development life cycle
• Knowledge of Discovery Products and legacy systems environment
• Evangelist for progressive and fit for purpose Programme and Project Management and governance

Education and Experience

• BSc. IT/Engineering/Computer Science or equivalent from a recognized University
• OR BCom Information Systems
• Software project management/delivery experience
• At least 5-7 years’ experience managing projects in a systems development environment
• User interface analysis and/or Usability experience advantageous
• Good communication skills (written/oral and presentation).
• Solid understanding of SDLC (traditional and agile), including phases, technical jargon, and artefacts (input and output).

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.