Job Description

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), located in Princeton, N.J., is a leading national philanthropy dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime. To get there, we must work to dismantle structural racism and other barriers to health. Since 1972, we have focused on developing and promoting innovations in health and healthcare to improve the lives of millions. Through funding, convening, advocacy, and evidence-building, we work side-by-side with communities, practitioners, and institutions to achieve health equity faster and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right.  

At RWJF, we work toward three Generational Goals to transform health in our lifetime: Economic Inclusion for Family Wellbeing, Equitable and Accountable Public Health and Healthcare Systems, and Healthy and Equitable Community Conditions.

We take seriously our responsibilities, and we pledge to work in ways that reflect our Guiding Principles. These are rooted in equity and influence everything we do at RWJF. Equity, diversity, inclusion, and collaboration enable our staff’s wide range of experiences, passions, and perspectives to strengthen our ability to address our nation’s most pressing health issues and support a culture of belonging. Part of this work includes actively shaping an inclusive organization where all staff members thrive as we build and use our capabilities, voice, and power to advance health equity. RWJF offers a collaborative, collegial, and creative work environment. With a career at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, you will make a difference.  

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

As RWJF tackles structural racism as a barrier to health, the New Jerseydepartment’s role has evolved from atraditional funder to a strategicgrantmaker, thought partner, impact investor, convenor, and anchor. The New Jerseydepartmentclosely aligns with and brings to bear RWJF’s voice, resources, and institutional assets to improve health and wellbeing in the state. This approach—informed by grantees, intermediaries, partners, and community members—has redefined RWJF’s role as a philanthropic anchor institution that is responsive, accountable, andisin a durable relationship with NewJersey communities with the greatestbarriers to health equity.

The New Jerseydepartment advances

• building and bridging power with and across communities

• shifting narratives about health and wellbeing

• advancingpolicies, practices, and systems change that promotehealth equity statewide

We pursue this work in two ways: developing and implementing New Jersey-focused strategies in close collaboration with community members and strategic partners, while alsoleveraginglearning, tools, and best practices from across RWJF’s national portfolio and other departments to strengthen outcomes in New Jersey. Our investments focus on intermediaries, community-based partners, nonprofits, grassroots groups, and other organizations driving policy andsystemschange and movement-buildingthroughout NewJerseyusingplace-based grants, infrastructure support, co-funding, leadership development,impact investments,convening, narrative and communicationsupport, collaboration, and sustained partnerships. Weprioritize investments in historically marginalized communities that have faced persistent barriers to achieving health and wellbeing

Reporting directly to theassociatevicepresident for the New Jerseydepartment, theseniorprogramofficer (SPO) serves as a senior strategic leader with responsibility for advancing and implementing the New Jerseydepartment’s priorities through strategy,relationship development and grantmaking aligned with the Foundation’s broader strategic framework. The SPO is expected to exercise significant judgment and leadership in shaping programmatic direction, stewarding key partnerships, and making day‑to‑daydecisions related to strategy implementation, grantmaking, and field engagement, while partnering closely with theassociatevicepresident and departmental leadership on overall strategic direction.

We are seeking a candidate with direct experience working to advance advocacy, policy or practice change, and other system change strategies thatimpacthealth equity. Candidates will have strong networks across New Jersey, a commitment to andexpertisein integrating methodologies that interrogate and address equity, structural racism, and intersectional forms of oppression at all levels of their role. They will also bring an unwavering commitment to marrying science, advocacy, and the lived experience of communities that have been historically marginalized in New Jersey to the role. 

As with staff at all levels of RWJF, the senior program officer is expected todemonstratea passionate commitment to equity and the Foundation’s missionandGuiding Principles

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development and Monitoring:

• Manage a robust grantmaking portfolio and budgetCenter equity, structural racism, and intersectional forms of oppression inlearning, program development, program management, and strategy development, including adoption/adaptation ofequitablegrantmaking processes. 

• Design and implement new initiatives and bodies of work that advance theNew Jerseydepartment and organizational goals andobjectives

• Serve as a strategic thought partner with theassociatevicepresident and other staff inidentifyingstrategicobjectivesand direction. 

• Evaluate new proposals for alignment with strategicobjectives  

• Practice trust-based philanthropy behaviors (clarity, responsiveness, feedback, transparency, reducing burdens) and cultivate, nurture, and sustain trusting relationships with grantees, community partners, and field leaders to inform program development, implementation, and management of programs.

• Partner with grantees on capacity-strengthening (strategy, partnerships, sustainability, leadership transitions, governance, learning).

• Play a lead role in shaping, stewarding, and learning from intermediary partnerships that are central to the New Jerseydepartment’s strategy, ensuring alignment with equity goals, community accountability, and systems‑change outcomes.

• Leverage deep knowledge of New Jersey’s policy, advocacy, healthcare, and community‑based ecosystems toidentifyopportunities for systems change and to inform investment, partnership, and engagement strategies across the state.

Learning and Dissemination:

• Track progress of programs and grants toward department goals andobjectives, synthesizing andintegrating the learnings to inform and evolve strategic directions.

• Actively learn about field advancements and the external environment and apply those learnings to program and strategy development. 

• Document anddisseminatelearning from program investments and activities.

• Contribute to influencing change through sharing knowledge and connecting leaders and organizations, applyingexpertiseand strategic advice. 

• Connect grantees to technicalassistance, peer learning,convenings, and other RWJF resources (e.g.,communications, research/evaluation, policy).

• Work with departments across the Foundation to share learnings widely and shape conversationsand actions through websites, social media,and more

Team Functioning:

• Partner/collaborate with associate vice president and team to provide insight and guidanceon strategicdirection, programmatic strategies, grantmaking, grant management, and community partnerships.  

• Provide coaching/mentorship to team members and in the development of teammembers;may oversee the work of program associates and interns as assigned. 

• Collaborate in a highly matrixed environment by highlighting the connections across work/teams and connecting people internally and externally.

• Model and cultivate team norms, with particular focus on equity and racial sensitivity.

Foundation and Field Contributions:

• Represent the Foundation publicly regarding strategy, program direction, program funding, and grantmaking results.Convene andfacilitategrantee and other partner meetings for shared learning and networking. Respond to public inquiries about the application processes.

• Provide external thought leadership in support of RWJF’s Generational Goals and theNew Jerseydepartment’s strategies.  

• Lead, contribute to andparticipateoncommittees, workgroups,andinternal Foundation groups and teams and carry out other responsibilities assigned.

• Contribute to Foundation-wide projects related to strategy and operation initiatives.

• Perform other projects and responsibilities, as assigned.

• The SPO will be expected to balance visible external leadership with behind‑the‑scenes strategic partnership, adapting their approach based on the needs of the field, the department, and the Foundation.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Deep social justice values and commitment to the practice of racial justice,health equity,and the Foundation’s vision, values, andGuiding Principles

• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, including fluency with related concepts of structural racism, intersectionality,and other systemic biases and their impact on health

• Successful experience fostering an inclusive environment working effectively as part of amultidisciplinary team with people from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.

• Education and experience equivalent to an advanced degree and extensive experience and proven leadership in the field for specific content knowledge related to equity and antiracism in healthcare.

• Written, verbal, and analytical skills;demonstratedpersuasive and respectful presentation skills for communications to be used with internal leadership, external partners, and communities we are working toreach ona range of complex issues.

• Ability to strategically manage and disperse large sums of grants through budgeting and strategic financial projections

• Comfort with using socialmediatools to further RWJF’s work.

• Familiarity with, but not necessarily a professional background in philanthropy and philanthropic processes.

• Ability to travel, including site visits andrepresentingRWJF at outside meetings. 

• Ability to provide mentorship/guidance to encourage the development of staff. 

• Minimum of seven (7) years' experience related to the required qualifications.

• Candidates whose experience exceeds theminimumrequirements will be givenparticular considerationfor a higher placement within the salary range:

• Nine (9) years of demonstrated experience working in New Jersey to advance justice, equity‑centered policy, advocacy, and systems change —such as through state or local policy engagement, advocacy coalitions, intermediary organizations, healthcare or public health systems, or community‑rooted initiatives—with established relationships and credibility across New Jersey’s nonprofit, civic, policy, and community landscapesand familiarity with organizing strategies, coalition dynamics, and advocacy pathways (local/state).

• Twelve (12) years of demonstrated experience working in New Jersey to advance justice, equity‑centered policy, advocacy, and systems change —such as through state or local policy engagement, advocacy coalitions, intermediary organizations, healthcare or public health systems, or community‑rooted initiatives—with established relationships and credibility across New Jersey’s non-profit, civic, policy, and community landscapesand familiarity with organizing strategies, coalition dynamics, and advocacy pathways (local/state).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

Thesenior program officerwill perform job duties in a typical business office environment. Specific physical abilities required by this job include operating basic office equipment.The incumbent willbe requiredto attend meetings, both in person and off-site via phone or videoconference. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. RWJF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

POSITION’S ASSIGNED OFFICE LOCATION
This position is assigned to our Princeton, N.J. office.

HYBRID: FLEXIBLE PURPOSE (HFP) EXPLAINED
As of January 1, 2023, the Foundation has implemented a model we call Hybrid: Flexible Purpose (HFP). RWJF’s new operating model is the infrastructure (e.g., policies, practices, protocols, procedures, systems) that forms the basis for how the day-to-day operations aremanaged,culture is built and nurtured, and mission is delivered. This model is designed to meet the needs of the organization while giving employees as much flexibility as possible. On-site participation isdeterminedby job responsibilities, organizational and team-level requirements, and mandatory gatherings throughout the year. While there are no fixed days per week, all employees are expected to plan their time on-site and cover commuting expenses as needed to meet those expectations. Learn more about our operating model and in-office requirements

SALARY

The non-negotiable starting salary for this position is $161,500 Candidates who the Foundationdetermineshavedirectly relatedexperience exceeding theminimumrequirementsoutlined abovemay beprovideda higher starting salary of up to $177,650 All salary offers are non-negotiable.

BENEFITS

RWJF offers comprehensive health and retirement benefits to employees, generous paid time off, and more. Why work at RWJF? Learn more about the benefits of working at RWJF.

TRANSITION STIPEND

A transition stipend is providedtoall new hires to aid in costs related to transitioning to a new job

HOW TO APPLY

• Applicants shouldsubmita resume andrequiredletter of interest by the stated deadline.

• Internal RWJF applicants shouldsubmita resume and letter of interest through the Internal Jobs Hub appinWorkday.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Monday,April 20,2026, by10 a.m. ET.