Vocational Rehabilitation Manager

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

Job summary

Discovery Limited is seeking a Vocational Rehabilitation Manager to lead the Disability Case Management function, shaping intervention velocity and rehabilitation pathways to improve member recovery and productivity. You will lead a high-performing team, ensure governance and regulatory compliance, and collaborate with stakeholders to deliver sustainable outcomes.

The role demands 8+ years in disability management, 3+ years people leadership, and experience across claims and rehab.

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ disability management experience.
• 3+ years people leadership experience.
• Claims and rehabilitation management experience representing the business and the industry as subject matter expert on insurance, employee benefits tax reform, regulatory interpretation, and governance standards.
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Occupational Health
• Masters Degree – Advantageous
• Business Leadership Qualification Advantageous

Responsibilities

• Driving disability and rehabilitation strategy by designing innovative intervention models that improve recovery outcomes, reduce disability claim duration, and support sustainable return-to-work.
• Leading a team of specialist case managers through coaching, performance management, capability building, succession planning, and the development of a high-performing clinical case management function.
• Providing clinical and operational oversight of complex and high-risk disability cases, ensuring best-practice decision-making, governance compliance, and excellent customer outcomes.
• Developing and implementing return-to-work frameworks that enable successful vocational rehabilitation, employer engagement, and improved workforce reintegration.
• Owning operational performance across the disability value chain, including caseload management, intervention velocity, service delivery standards, and productivity optimisation.
• Leveraging data and analytics to generate insights, monitor key disability metrics, identify trends, and deliver executive reporting that informs strategic decision-making.
• Delivering financial value through effective budget management, intervention cost optimisation, ROI evaluation, and the achievement of business case savings targets.
• Managing strategic external partnerships with healthcare providers, rehabilitation specialists, consultants, employers, reinsurers, and industry stakeholders to ensure quality service delivery and outcome-based performance.
• Influencing senior stakeholders by providing specialist disability management expertise, presenting recommendations to governance forums, and supporting key business decisions.
• Driving innovation and continuous improvement through the evaluation of emerging disability management practices, digital solutions, and future-focused rehabilitation models.
• Represent Discovery and the broader industry on local and international industry forums, fostering strategic stakeholder engagement, advancing industry perspectives, influencing policy discussions, and promoting best practices across the financial services and retirement fund sectors.

Job description

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Vocational Rehabilitation Manager

Business Unit:

Function: Clinical

Date: 14 Oct 2026

Vocational Rehabilitation 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 Discovery Corporate & Employee Benefits

Discovery Corporate and Employee Benefits is the first and only employee benefits provider to be shaping employee behaviour, creating healthier and wealthier workforces. It is an exciting business to be in as we reimagine the way retirement savings and life insurance is brought to companies and employees .

Key Purpose

To provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, clinical governance, and capability development for Discovery’s Disability Case Management function. The role is accountable for the implementation and execution of the Intervention Velocity Strategy, driving optimal return-to-work outcomes, reducing disability claim duration, and enhancing rehabilitation pathways to improve member recovery and productivity.

The incumbent is responsible for leading and developing a high-performing case management team, ensuring adherence to clinical best practices, regulatory requirements, and governance standards. The role provides expert leadership and direction on complex disability cases, supports evidence-based decision-making, and partners with key stakeholders to deliver sustainable outcomes for both members and the business. As the subject matter expert, the incumbent drives continuous improvement initiatives, promotes operational excellence, and contributes to the development of innovative disability management and rehabilitation strategies.

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

• Driving disability and rehabilitation strategy by designing innovative intervention models that improve recovery outcomes, reduce disability claim duration, and support sustainable return-to-work.
• Leading a team of specialist case managers through coaching, performance management, capability building, succession planning, and the development of a high-performing clinical case management function.
• Providing clinical and operational oversight of complex and high-risk disability cases, ensuring best-practice decision-making, governance compliance, and excellent customer outcomes.
• Developing and implementing return-to-work frameworks that enable successful vocational rehabilitation, employer engagement, and improved workforce reintegration.
• Owning operational performance across the disability value chain, including caseload management, intervention velocity, service delivery standards, and productivity optimisation.
• Leveraging data and analytics to generate insights, monitor key disability metrics, identify trends, and deliver executive reporting that informs strategic decision-making.
• Delivering financial value through effective budget management, intervention cost optimisation, ROI evaluation, and the achievement of business case savings targets.
• Managing strategic external partnerships with healthcare providers, rehabilitation specialists, consultants, employers, reinsurers, and industry stakeholders to ensure quality service delivery and outcome-based performance.
• Influencing senior stakeholders by providing specialist disability management expertise, presenting recommendations to governance forums, and supporting key business decisions.
• Driving innovation and continuous improvement through the evaluation of emerging disability management practices, digital solutions, and future-focused rehabilitation models.
• Represent Discovery and the broader industry on local and international industry forums, fostering strategic stakeholder engagement, advancing industry perspectives, influencing policy discussions, and promoting best practices across the financial services and retirement fund sectors.

Personal Attributes

• Integrity, honesty and reliability
• Highly motivated self-starter who takes initiative
• Ability to plan and control work-flow to effectively manage the team’s deadlines
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to apply knowledge in a practical setting
• Strong numerical and verbal reasoning skills
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment
• Problem solving

Education and Experience

• 8+ years’ disability management experience.
• 3+ years people leadership experience.
• Claims and rehabilitation management experience representing the business and the industry as subject matter expert on insurance, employee benefits tax reform, regulatory interpretation, and governance standards.
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Occupational Health
• Business Leadership Qualification Advantageous
• Masters Degree – 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.