Vocational Rehabilitation Manager

Johannesburg, South AfricaFull-timeSeniorOn-sitePosted 19 Oct 2026

Job Overview

Discovery Corporate and Employee Benefits is hiring a Vocational Rehabilitation Manager at 1 Discovery Place, Sandton. The role provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, clinical governance and capability development for Discovery’s Disability Case Management function, and is accountable for implementing 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 leads and develops a high-performing team of specialist case managers, ensures adherence to clinical best practice, regulatory requirements and governance standards, and provides expert direction on complex and high-risk disability cases. As subject-matter expert, the manager partners with healthcare providers, rehabilitation specialists, employers and reinsurers, drives continuous improvement and innovation in disability management, and represents Discovery on local and international industry forums.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive disability and rehabilitation strategy through innovative intervention models that reduce claim duration and support sustainable return-to-work

• Lead specialist case managers through coaching, performance management, capability building and succession planning

• Provide clinical and operational oversight of complex and high-risk disability cases

• Develop and implement return-to-work and vocational rehabilitation frameworks, including employer engagement

• Own operational performance across the disability value chain: caseloads, intervention velocity, service standards and productivity

• Use data and analytics to monitor disability metrics and deliver executive reporting

• Deliver financial value via budget management, intervention cost optimisation, ROI evaluation and business-case savings targets

• Manage external partnerships with healthcare providers, rehabilitation specialists, consultants, employers and reinsurers

• Present recommendations to governance forums and influence senior stakeholders

• Represent Discovery on industry forums and influence policy discussions across financial services and retirement funds

Required Qualifications

• Relevant Allied Health degree

• Postgraduate qualification in Vocational Rehabilitation or Occupational Health

• 8+ years’ disability management experience

• 3+ years’ people leadership experience

• Claims and rehabilitation management experience, representing the business as SME on insurance, employee benefits tax reform, regulatory interpretation and governance

• Group Life / Risk Insurance experience

• Business leadership qualification and/or Master’s degree advantageous

• Strong numerical and verbal reasoning, problem-solving and communication skills

Skills & Requirements

Vocational RehabilitationDisability Case ManagementReturn-to-Work ProgrammesOccupational HealthClinical GovernanceGroup Life InsuranceClaims ManagementEmployee BenefitsTeam LeadershipData & AnalyticsBudget ManagementStakeholder EngagementRegulatory Compliance