Communications Program Officer

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

Reporting to the director, Communications Grantmaking, the communications program officer (PO), Media Partnerships is responsible for the development, implementation and management of initiatives that advance the Foundation’s strategic goals. The PO will synthesize information, build relationships with external partners, and apply equity principles to ensure equitable grantmaking processes. They will collaborate with various departments including Research, Evaluation and Learning, Communications, Policy, New Jersey, Law, and Finance to assess the impact of grantmaking and contribute to strategic and operational improvements.

RWJF has redesigned its Communications Department around three integrated teams: Voice Strategy sets direction, the Communications Studio brings that strategy to life, and Operations provides the infrastructure that enables the work. The PO role sits within the Voice Strategy team.

As with staff at all levels of RWJF, the communications program officer is expected to demonstrate a passionate commitment to equity and to the Foundation’s mission and Guiding Principles.

RWJF is an institution in transformation. We are redefining our long-term outcomes with communities at the center and reexamining foundational questions about how and where we work. 

Successful candidates will bring a track record of navigating organizations under transformation: creating clarity while new structures settle, earning trust across teams absorbing change, holding standards when the ground is shifting, and helping institutions tell the truth about themselves as they pursue their mission with confidence.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Embed equity into communications grantmaking by ensuring investments reflect RWJF’s health equity priorities, elevate field-informed perspectives, and reach audiences across diverse contexts.
• Build and strengthen a network of grantees and partners that enables coordinated messaging, shared priorities, and amplification of field-driven narratives aligned to RWJF’s goals.
• Shape and deploy communications investments by identifying and prioritizing opportunities that advance Voice Strategy, strengthen RWJF’s role in the field, and activate external partners as credible messengers to influence priority audiences.
• Steward grantmaking decisions with discipline by developing clear recommendations, surfacing tradeoffs, and ensuring alignment to communications priorities before execution.
• Advance learning by synthesizing grant progress, field insights, and partner input to inform future communications investments and improve impact over time.
• Represent the Foundation publicly and participate in grantee meetings.
• Lead committees and work groups to achieve team objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Commitment to racial and health equity and to the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.
• Strategic Grantmaking Judgment: Shapes communications grant opportunities with a clear understanding of Foundation priorities, field dynamics, equity implications, and the distinct role communications can play in advancing impact.
• Grantmaking Knowledge: Experience designing and advancing programmatic strategies or portfolios, including work in journalism, public health, equity, philanthropy, or closely related fields.
• Equity-Focused Systems Change Approach to Grantmaking: Applies an equity lens to how institutional, network-level, or field-based interventions are developed, assessed, and refined. Additionally, applies an equity lens to grantmaking choices, ensuring communications investments reflect the needs, experiences, and voices of communities and partners most connected to RWJF’s mission.
• Portfolio Thinking: Connects individual grants to a broader communications grantmaking agenda, balancing near-term opportunities with longer-term field-building and voice strategy priorities.
• Decision Framing and Tradeoff Management: Clarifies options, risks, dependencies, and implications so leaders can make informed grantmaking decisions with strong strategic rationale.
• Learning Orientation: Draws insight from grant progress, grantee experience, and field response to refine communications grantmaking strategy and strengthen future investment decisions.
• Relationship Building: Ability to build, sustain, and leverage partnerships at the local, regional, or national level to advance shared change objectives.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Works effectively with Voice Strategy, Operations, the Communications Studio, and other internal partners to collaborate, problem solve, maintain clear ownership boundaries, and avoid duplication of work.
• Field Experience: Knowledge of philanthropy and grantmaking processes, or ability to apply professional experience to operate effectively within a philanthropic context.
• Proficiency in clear, respectful written and verbal communication, including presenting complex issues to internal leadership, external partners, and community audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently and collaboratively, applying judgment to deliver on program goals and outcomes.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience
• Master’s degree in relevant field of study. Additional equivalent experience can substitute for an advanced degree.
• Professional commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Ability to travel to Princeton, N.J. or Washington, D.C. office for relevant internal meetings and other in-person events as requested by your people leader.
• Ability to travel, as needed for grantee meetings, conferences, site visits, and community events, up to 30%.
• Deep social justice values and commitment to the practice of racial justice, health equity, and the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.

Candidates whose experience exceeds the minimum requirements will be given particular consideration for a higher placement within the salary range:

• Seven (7) years of grants management or philanthropy experience in the media or journalism space.
• Nine (9) years of grants management or philanthropy experience in the media or journalism space.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The communications program officer will perform job duties in a typical business office environment. Specific physical abilities required by this job include operating basic office equipment. The incumbent will be required to 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 are managed, 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 is determined by 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 $140,700. Candidates who the Foundation determines have directly related experience exceeding the minimum requirements outlined above may be provided a higher starting salary of up to $154,770. 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 provided to all new hires to aid in costs related to transitioning to a new job. 

How to Apply

• Applicants should submit a resume and required letter of interest by the stated deadline.·       
• Internal RWJF applicants should submit a resume and letter of interest through the Internal Jobs Hub app in Workday.

E-Verify and Employment Eligibility

RWJF participates in E-Verify. Click here for more information.

Application Deadline

Tuesday, October 19, 2026, by 10 a.m. ET