Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) Innovation Specialist Vacancy 2026 | Salary: R954,930 - R1,193,734 p.a.

Opportunity Overview

The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) is seeking an Innovation Specialist to join their team. This permanent, full-time position is based at the GEMS Head Office in Pretoria.

As an Innovation Specialist, you will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the GEMS Innovation Strategy. Your work will involve driving innovation initiatives, coordinating projects, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the organisation.

This opportunity is designed for individuals who can translate new ideas and trends into practical innovation opportunities for the Scheme. The annual remuneration package for this role ranges between R954,930 and R1,193,734, depending on qualifications and experience.

Minimum Requirements

• Education:
• Minimum 3-year Degree in Innovation Management, Strategy Management, Business Management, Healthcare Management, Engineering, Information Systems, or an equivalent qualification.
• A postgraduate qualification in Innovation Management, Strategy, Business Management, or related fields will be an advantage.
• Experience:
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in innovation management, strategy execution, project coordination, business improvement, transformation management, or related strategic and operational support roles.
• Experience in facilitating cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagements.
• Experience in innovation reporting, dashboard development, or innovation performance monitoring will be an advantage.

Key Responsibilities

The Innovation Specialist will provide support in implementing and operationalising the GEMS Innovation Strategy and Innovation Management Framework, including embedding an innovation culture and continuous improvement practices. Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the implementation and operationalisation of the GEMS Innovation Strategy and Framework.
• Coordinating innovation management processes, governance activities, and Innovation Committee processes.
• Coordinating the intake, evaluation, prioritisation, and tracking of innovation ideas, proposals, initiatives, and projects.
• Conducting innovation research, environmental scanning, and benchmarking on healthcare, digital, operational, and regulatory trends.
• Analysing operational, member, and stakeholder insights to identify innovation and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Supporting the development of innovation business cases, concept papers, proposals, and governance submissions.
• Coordinating innovation initiatives, pilot projects, and implementation activities across the Scheme.
• Facilitating collaboration and stakeholder engagement with internal divisions, service providers, strategic partners, and external stakeholders.
• Coordinating innovation workshops, ideation sessions, communication, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Supporting organisational change management, innovation adoption, and embedding an innovation culture.
• Supporting the implementation of Design Thinking, Agile, and continuous improvement practices.
• Preparing innovation reports, dashboards, presentations, and progress updates.
• Monitoring innovation Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), implementation progress, and benefits realisation.
• Maintaining innovation registers, reporting records, and governance documentation.
• Supporting the identification and mitigation of risks and issues related to innovation initiatives.

How to Apply

To apply for the Innovation Specialist position, please send your application via email.

• Email Address: jobs@gems.gov.za
• Closing Date: Tuesday, 28 July 2026