Program Associate, Leadership for Better Health 

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 deputy director, Leadership for Better Health (LBH) portfolio and working closely with members of LBH, the program associate will facilitate and support the strategic goals of the portfolio by assisting in the effective management of operational functions including by not limited to: conducting research; working as needed with relevant experts and grantees to support strategies, learning, and the development of action plans to fulfill the portfolio’s objectives; assisting officers in designing and implementing new initiatives; coordinating the dissemination of learning from programmatic and operational work; supporting research and evaluation officers in evaluating proposals; and supporting grant functions and process flows.

Leadership for Better Health works to provide a more rigorous approach to leadership to accelerate the goals of the Foundation. LBH’s goal is to support and sustain the leadership needed to effectively address structural barriers to achieving health equity. The portfolio does this by initiating our own programming, as well as working collaboratively with the other portfolios, teams, and departments across the Foundation and external partners.

As with staff at all levels of RWJF, program associates are expected to demonstrate experience and a commitment to equity, and to the Foundation’s mission and Guiding Principles.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategic Portfolio Program Operations

Assist in implementing portfolio-focused activities as they relate to overall operational coordination. This includes executing administrative, operational, and programmatic tasks as needed, including but not limited to:

• Prepare materials for Board of Trustees, senior leadership, as well as strategy updates with colleagues on the LBH portfolio.
• Assist and support LBH colleagues with program-related activities, as assigned.
  
• Maintain shared documents, folders, and workspaces that support program development and management for the portfolio.
  
• Promote a set of equity-focused plans/principles for the portfolio.
  
• Assist and support gatherings and other external-facing meetings, as well as grantee meetings.
  
• Participate in portfolio activities and improving portfolio functioning.
  

LBH Program Development and Monitoring

• Gather, synthesize, analyze, and communicate background information relevant to LBH’s strategy and/or the development of an individual program’s research from the literature, field, and other players.
• Assist LBH colleagues with project ideation and development; project monitoring, tracking, and reporting on initiatives and programs, as assigned.
  
• Assist in managing the concept and proposal process.
  
• Coordinate and support staff workgroups as assigned.
  
• Participate in site visits.
  

Grantmaking Processes

• Assist in the implementation and coordination of proposal processes, including supporting the development of calls for proposals and requests for proposals; engage internal grants and legal staff where necessary; engage external reviewers and ensure that the process moves forward through completion.
• Respond to public inquiries, including unsolicited inquiries.
  

Foundation and Field Contributions

• Work with staff and consultants to harvest learnings and insights from previous and current grantmaking, and actively disseminate results and learnings to other staff, grantees, and the field.
• Represent the Foundation at external conferences, small gatherings, and other public events.
  

Minimum Requirements

• Commitment to racial and health equity and the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.
• Experience working effectively in and fostering an inclusive environment as part of a multidisciplinary team with persons from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
  
• Two (2) years of related work experience in health or a related field including the social determinants of health, preferably in the nonprofit sector; knowledge of philanthropy helpful.
  
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and experience with file sharing systems. Adaptable to new and emerging technologies.
  
• Ability to work and think independently and in teams; to think creatively about opportunities; to respond to novel and innovative approaches to addressing an issue; to inspire others to work toward achieving team goals; and to be comfortable with ambiguity and differences in grantmaking approaches.
  
• Demonstrated ability to align thinking with strategic and longer-term goals.
  
• Intellectual curiosity: ability to apply learning to work responsibilities.
  
• Collaborative, collegial, team-oriented, able to develop relationships with colleagues, grantees, consultants, external funders, and others.
  
• Time, project, and people management skills; ability to balance multiple priorities.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals and periodicals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations. Able to synthesize and translate complicated material into clear and simple language.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  
• Ability to make decisions and align decisions with strategic priorities.
  
• Ability to travel as required.
  
• Education and experience equivalent to a master’s degree (e.g., Master of Public Health or Public Policy), or a bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of relevant work, including roles with progressive responsibilities, and extensive project management experience.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The program associate 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 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), 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 program associate is $69,000 to $73,000. Why work at RWJF? Learn more about the benefits of working at RWJF.

Application Deadline: August 6, 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.