Business Partner

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF; the Foundation), located in Princeton, N.J., is the largest philanthropy in America dedicated solely to health. Since 1972, we have focused on developing and promoting innovations in health and healthcare to improve the lives of millions. In partnership with others, we are working toward a nation that is rooted in equity, compassion, and respect; a nation that provides everyone in America a fair and just opportunity to thrive, no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they have. This requires addressing many harmful obstacles to wellbeing, including poverty, powerlessness, and discrimination.

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 (EDI), and collaboration allow our staff’s wide range of experiences, passions, and perspectives to enrich our work and strengthen our ability to address our nation’s most pressing health issues. Our efforts to build a Culture of Health and achieve health equity require us to dismantle structural racism and other barriers to health. Part of this work includes actively shaping a multicultural, inclusive, antiracist organization where all staff thrive as we build and use our capabilities, voice, and power to advance health equity. The Foundation 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 senior director, Talent Partnerships, the business partner will work with people leaders in Business units and individual contributors to focus on talent-management strategies. These approaches will continue to be designed to advance equity, improve performance, and to equitably develop and grow employees for future career endeavors. The business partner will be a primary contact point in aligning with Foundation and team goals. They will use their experience, data analysis, and coaching skills to guide people leaders in implementing talent development solutions grounded in EDI. The business partner will develop strategies that measurably improve engagement across a diverse and multicultural workforce, goal setting, performance management, and talent planning. The approaches will drive accountability for the execution of HR employee lifecycle processes and advance EDI in the Foundation’s culture.

As with staff at all levels of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the business partner is expected to demonstrate a passionate commitment to EDI and to the Foundation’s mission and Guiding Principles.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Work across the Foundation with department heads/people leaders to understand development needs and to create individual development plans for all employees to improve talent readiness, mobility, and to create plans for succession (bench strength).
• Ensure the talent development strategies for employees, people managers, and senior leadership include equity competency development to support and reflect the Foundation’s explicit commitment to organizational transformation centering EDI.
• Support the implementation of talent management initiatives (e.g., job shadowing, training, stretch assignments, mentoring, coaching, externships). Focus on developing skills and expertise that align with the needs of the organization and business objectives of teams/departments, as well as the professional development goals of the individual. Implement these initiatives with a keen eye for EDI and ensuring equitable access to talent development opportunities.
• Build strong business relationships with employees and people leaders to develop and grow capacity and skills to meet the organization's needs. Provide high-quality HR partnership to the organization, providing advice on best practices. Offer guidance on the interpretation and practical applications of HR policies, procedures, and norms related to talent development and management.
• Assess and identify capabilities for all roles to build individual development plans. Review and recommend change-management talent initiatives in support of continuous process and program improvements (e.g., trainings, certifications, workshops, team-building events).
• Track data analytics (employee engagement surveys, performance management content goal setting, development planning information). Use data disaggregated by key demographics to drive benchmarking, talent practice improvements, and improvements to EDI.

Minimum Qualifications

• Commitment to racial and health equity and the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles. Demonstrated track record of embedding EDI in talent strategies.
• Ability to build trusting and collaborative relationships with multicultural staff.
• Self-aware about personal identity.
• Interrupts observed implicit bias and advocates for or leverages EDI in work streams and on teams.
• Experience working effectively in and fostering an inclusive environment as part of a multidisciplinary team with people from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Strategic Orientation: Demonstrated ability to understand and connect the day-to-day priorities, objectives, and activities for the HR functions to those of the organization to optimize results.
• Talent Development and Management: Demonstrated ability to lead and implement an organization-wide talent development and management strategy.
• Analytics and Data Intelligence: Strong diagnostic, analytical, and qualitative/quantitative skills with a demonstrated track record for translating data into strategic guidance.
• Consulting Skills: Demonstrated consultative and business partnering skills with the ability to effectively communicate and influence partners across all areas and levels of the organization.
• Technology: Demonstrated ability to use technology (e.g., MS Office, HRIS systems, specifically Workday) to gather, interpret, organize, and present data. Workday recruitment experience a plus.
• Change Management: Ability to drive change using strong strategic thinking, active listening, leadership, communication, people management, analytic, and presentation skills.
  
• Internal Communications: Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to:
  • synthesize material and focus quickly on the essence of an issue;
  • identify major opportunities in a specific area;
    
  • think “big picture” in support of the overall HR strategy.
    
• Project Management: Strong knowledge and demonstrated application of project management methodologies and approaches. End-to-end oversight, drive, and management of a portfolio of projects.
  
• Industry Education and Experience: Degree or equivalent experience in Human Resources or Business Management and five years of general HR experience with at least two years of experience in functional areas of performance management, learning and development, or training.
  

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The business partner will perform job duties in a typical business office environment. Specific physical abilities required by this job include operating basic office equipment. Will be required to attend meetings, potentially both in person and off-site via phone or videoconference.

This position is assigned to our Princeton, N.J., HQ offices.

As of January 1, 2023, the Foundation has implemented a Hybrid: Flexible Purpose operating model. All RWJF employees will be required to come into Foundation offices during the year for purposes related to their position such as critical tasks (e.g., building operations, grantee meetings, etc.), organizational events (e.g., training and development), and internally-focused team activities. All RWJF offices remain open for all Foundation employees for focused work, optional organizational activities, and connecting with colleagues informally as needed for individual purposes.

Salary

The starting salary range for the business partner is $93,000 to $97,000. Why work at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation? Learn more about the benefits of working at RWJF.

Application Deadline: May 7, 2023

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented applicants.