Research and Development Manager

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

Job summary

Discovery Health seeks a Senior Research & Development Manager to conceptualise and drive new and existing R&D projects in support of growth strategy. You will lead product innovation, align R&D priorities with corporate strategy, and oversee cross-functional teams to deliver market-ready solutions.

The role involves presenting updates to executive forums, driving exploratory analyses, and building a small team to support execution across Health R&D initiatives.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years’ experience in financial services in product development, problem-solving or analytics roles.
• Honours or Master’s degree in an analytical field (e.g., Computer Science, Statistics, Data Science, Actuarial Science).
• Experience in management consulting, actuarial, data science or related advisory roles is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Drive exploratory research to develop strategic insights and inform the innovation agenda.
• Develop the product strategy and R&D priorities aligned with the Discovery Health strategy.
• Lead complex R&D projects with cross-business impact and ensure smooth handover after execution.
• Present updates to executive forums (R&D Steercom, Health Exco, Health Product Committee, DHMS Board).
• Coordinate with Project Managers and Systems teams to execute R&D projects.
• Take accountability for product launches and post-launch review.
• Refine R&D processes to maximize business impact and ensure timely delivery.
• Build and manage a small team to support these activities.

Skills

Self-starter with action bias

Strategic thinker

Management and leadership

Problem solving

Communication skills

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Honours or Master’s in analytics

Job description

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Research and Development Manager

Business Unit: Discovery Health

Date: 16 Oct 2026

Discovery – Health| R&D Lab

Research and Development Manager

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 Discovery Health R&D Lab

The Health R&D Lab is responsible for driving the innovation and product development agenda for Discovery Health. Made of Actuaries, ex-Management Consults, and other professionals with a strong bias for creative problem solving, the team works closely with the CEO and executive team of Discovery Health to facilitate innovation that supports the business strategy. Our work is cross functional in nature, requiring coordination of project specific teams to drive items to completion, with product ownership transferring to the relevant business unit once execution is complete.

About the Position

We are looking for a Senior R&D Manager to conceptualise and drive existing and new R&D projects in support of the Discovery Health growth strategy. Bringing exciting new products and enhancements to the market is a key pillar of our growth strategy and the successful candidate will play a leading role in this.

Key outputs

The successful applicant will be responsible for but not limited to the following job functions:

The candidate will be required to:

• Drive exploratory research and analyses to develop strategic insights and identify core R&D questions, ideas, and solutions to inform the innovation agenda.
• Develop the product strategy and R&D priorities in line with the overall Discovery Group and Discovery Health strategy.
• Lead complex R&D projects which have an impact across multiple Discovery businesses, actively driving close collaboration within the team and with relevant business units to ensure buy-in and smooth handover post execution.
• Present regular updates to obtain executive input on key decisions. Relevant forums include but are not limited to the R&D Steercom, Health Exco, Health Product Committee, and the DHMS Board of Trustees.
• Drive project execution working closely with Project Managers, Systems teams, and other teams affected by a particular R&D project.
• Take accountability and signoff on product launches.
• Continuously refine the R&D Process solving for maximum business impact, broad input, cross-functional coordination, and timely implementation.
• Build, manage, and train a small team to support the above

Personal Attributes and Skills

The successful candidate would need to have the following competencies:

• Self-starter with a bias for action and a strong drive for excellence
• Strategic thinker
• Management and leadership skills
• Exceptional problem solving skills
• Strong communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation)
• Networking and cross-functional coordination skills

Education and Experience

The following requirements are Essential:

• 5-10 years' work experience in financial services, preferably in a product development, problem-solving, or analytical role, eg. Management Consulting / Actuarial / Data Science.
• Honours or Master's degree in an analytical field, eg Computer Science, Statistics, Data Science, Actuarial Science.
• The following would be 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.