Deputy Director, Healthy Communities

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.

Reporting to the managing director, the deputy director of Healthy Communities-Community Development will have a close working relationship to the Healthy Communities managing director and deputy director. Together, they support the management and operations of a matrixed team in the development, implementation, and evolution of systems-change strategies and strategic grantmaking. The Healthy Communities deputy director will also facilitate strategic and programmatic coordination with the Foundation’s Impact Investment team to inform and advance aligned program investment strategies. The deputy director will have demonstrated abilities in complex project management; staff mentoring and team building; and the development, execution, and evolution of systems-change strategies and strategic grantmaking relevant to addressing structural racism in community conditions and community development finance. Deputy directors will have a demonstrated acumen in working collaboratively with others both inside and outside the Foundation.

As with staff at all levels of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, deputy directors are expected to demonstrate a passionate commitment to equity and to RWJF’s mission and Guiding Principles.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Core responsibilities for the deputy directors will be common across all four of the strategic portfolios with some variations based on team-specific structure and needs. Deputy directors will perform other duties as assigned. The deputy director of Healthy Communities-Community Development will have a unique set of roles specific to community development systems strategies to advance more healthy and equitable community conditions, in addition to informing and advancing aligned program and impact investing efforts.

Team Management and Operations:

• Partner with the managing director and deputy director to oversee and support a matrixed team, including staff from other departments and units, such as Impact Investing; Policy; Communications; Research-EvaluationLearning; Program Finance; and Grants Management.
• Assure the development and implementation of an annual workplan and budget, including efforts related to strategy evolution, strategic grantmaking, learning, team building, operationalization of equity principles, and grantee and field engagement.
• Own select team operations (e.g., budgeting, concept development, agenda development) with other members of the management team (e.g., grants management coordinators, program associates, program financial analysts, legal counsel, managing director, deputy director).
• Manage and advance select reporting functions (e.g., quarterly updates on items monitored by the Program Executive Group; board materials; strategy review updates).
  
• Manage and advance grantee and partner communication and engagement, e.g., grantee meetings and newsletters.
• Represent the team internally in meetings, on internal committees and workgroups, and through collaborative working relationships with peers in other teams, departments, and units.

Staff Management and Development:

• Collaborate with managing director and deputy director to foster a diverse and inclusive work environment that welcomes points of view from people with diverse professional, cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ensure ongoing team building and engagement in hybrid operating model.
• Manage the team’s and staff’s development around diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracist practice and plans.
• Provide regular coaching and mentoring to staff.
• May provide direct or matrixed supervision for program staff depending on team structure and the deputy’s tenure in the role.
• Manage recruitment and onboarding of new staff.

Strategy and Program Development; Monitoring and Refinement:

• Serve as a thought partner to managing director and team members on strategy development and evolution, especially as related to RWJF’s Generational Goal of Healthy and Equitable Community Conditions.
• Oversee the development and implementation of shared strategies and programs across Healthy Communities and Impact Investing teams.
  
• Oversee and manage team learning process and activities in collaboration with staff, including Research-Evaluation-Learning officers.
• Work directly with program staff on program ideation, development, implementation, learning, and evaluation including:
  • ­Informing and reviewing theories of change, program plans and design, concepts, proposals, and learning products.
    
  • ­Serving as facilitator between program staff and operational staff in program development and grants management.
  • Cultivating and managing strategic partnerships and grantee relationships.
  • Managing or overseeing program responsibilities in the event of staff transitions.
  • Possibly leading or serve as an advisor, primary, or secondary officer for program strategies or initiatives.
• Develop, lead, and manage grants and program initiatives, either individually or in collaboration with others, based on team need.
• Engage in external and field learning related to the team’s work in order to track external trends and opportunities (e.g., conferences, webinars, grantee calls, publications, and media).
• Serve as a backup to the managing director on grant approvals.

Minimum Requirements

• Commitment to racial and health equity and the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.
• Commitment to advancing Healthy Communities’ goal of Healthy and Equitable Community Conditions.
• Experience in community development finance and/or familiarity with impact investing and knowledge of key programs, subsidies, dealmaking.
• Regional and/or national experience and networks in community development and/or health equity.
• Experience building equitable practices within an institution committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion as part of antiracist practices; and in fostering an inclusive environment working effectively with persons from diverse professional, cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ability to work in an ambiguous, dynamic, and matrixed environment.
• Experience managing complex initiatives; ability to apply strategic thinking and management skills across the team's work.
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple priorities at the same time.
• Supervisory experience or experience managing work teams and consultants; experience mentoring staff and colleagues at multiple levels; orientation to team-building. 
• Exhibit sound judgment and critical problem-solving skills. Able to make decisions, justify recommendations, and be responsive and clear.
• Acumen and objectivity in developing, executing, and evolving program strategy and grantmaking.
• Demonstrated commitment to learning.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. Interest and ability to manage team/unit administrative processes and operations.
• Ability to travel, including site visits and representing RWJF at outside meetings.
• Professional experience and developmental goals that demonstrate application of job requirements, the execution of related skills, and the engagement of related systems for at least seven years.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The deputy director 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. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

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

As of January 1, 2023, the Foundation has implemented a Hybrid: Flexible Purpose operating model. All RWJF employees are 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), 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 deputy director is $185,000 to $190,000. Why work at RWJF? Learn more about the benefits of working at RWJF.

Application Deadline: November 5, 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.