Job Description

Business Unit:

Vitality RSA

Function:

Actuarial Sciences

Date:

29 Apr 2025
Discovery Vitality SA
Actuary

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 Vitality

Discovery Vitality offers the ideal platform for the best actuaries to grow, own key responsibilities and challenge their abilities and currently has roles available to close to or recently academically qualified Actuaries. The successful candidate will form part of the Vitality Research & Development Lab team.

Key Purpose

The Vitality Research and Development Lab is looking to recruit an exceptional individual join a small high-performing team involved in Vitality-related launch projects, assessing, advising and planning future product changes using knowledge of actuarial, commercial, market and economic principles. We are looking for a smart, self-driven person who is innovative and a natural problem solver and who delights in being challenged. This is a rare opportunity for someone who wants to walk the path of true innovation as you venture into a stimulating and exciting career.

Areas of responsibility may include but are not limited to:

Design and plan the approach for bringing a conceptual project and product to completion, including:
- Researching and developing new product ideas
- Analysing data and taking conceptual ideas through to product design and pricing
Demonstrate thought leadership in product design and development. Clearly identify key issues and propose a series of analyses and well-reasoned recommendations. Present recommendations in a coherent and compelling way to a range of external and internal stakeholders, including the Vitality R&D Steercom, PHP R&D Steercom and Bank Product Forum. Co-ordinate and manage interactions with teams outside of the R&D Lab. Drive projects to operational handover.

Competencies

Strong analytical, problem solving and research skills Ability to think creatively and pursue innovative, alternative approaches Ability to deal with complexity, ambiguity and constant change, especially pivoting focus and priorities as business needs change Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions Keen interest in business dynamics and strategic challenges Sophisticated written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders High level of attention to detail Passion for personal development and growth, with a high learning potential Commitment to excellence and high-quality delivery A passion for delivering high caliber results with a sense of urgency and bias for action Excellent time-management skills with the ability to prioritize deliverables and manage stakeholder expectations Ability to cope with business pressures and setbacks Ability to think with a commercial and growth mindset

Education and Required Work Experience

Strong Matric results, with Higher Grade Mathematics Bachelor's degree in actuarial science (post-graduate qualifications being advantageous) Close to (1 to 2 exams away) or recently academically qualified as a fellow actuary 2 years' worth relevant work experience with a proven record of innovation, delivery and performance Advanced experience in data handling, actuarial modelling and lateral problem-solving skills

Behavioural Competencies

Highly analytical and logical thinking style Critical thinking, able to interrogate and assimilate information in a meaningful way Curious and eager to know "why" Creative when necessary and innovative in problem-solving approaches An ability to communicate technical complexity to a non-technical audience A sharp focus on delivering high caliber results and exceeding stakeholder expectations Interest in leveraging the analytical power of large datasets intersecting with the Behavioural Science domain Comfortable with change and a fast-paced work environment Passionate about mentoring and molding more junior team members Keen to pursue a career outside of a traditional actuarial environment whilst still applying actuarial and statistical principles in a non-traditional way

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.
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.