Senior Program Officer - New Jersey Department

ABOUT THIS 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 Jersey department’s role has evolved from a traditional funder to a strategic grantmaker, thought partner, impact investor, convenor, and anchor. The New Jersey department closely 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, and is in a durable relationship with New Jersey communities with the greatest barriers to health equity.

The New Jersey department advances:

• building and bridging power with and across communities
• shifting narratives about health and wellbeing
• advancing policies, practices, and systems change that promote health 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 also leveraging learning, 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 and systems change and movement-building throughout New Jersey using place-based grants, infrastructure support, co-funding, leadership development, impact investments, convening, narrative and communication support, collaboration, and sustained partnerships. We prioritize investments in historically marginalized communities that have faced persistent barriers to achieving health and wellbeing.

Reporting directly to the associate vice president for the New Jersey department, the senior program officer (SPO) serves as a senior strategic leader with responsibility for advancing and implementing the New Jersey department’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‑day decisions related to strategy implementation, grantmaking, and field engagement, while partnering closely with the associate vice president 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 that impact health equity. Candidates will have strong networks across New Jersey, a commitment to and expertise in 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 to demonstrate a passionate commitment to equity and the Foundation’s mission and Guiding Principles.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Program Development and Monitoring
• Learning and Dissemination
• Team Functioning
• Foundation and Field Contributions

Please visit https://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/careers/senior-program-officer-new-jersey-department.html for a full job description.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Deep social justice values and commitment to the practice of racial justice, health equity, and the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding 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 a multidisciplinary 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.
• Ability to strategically manage and disperse large sums of grants through budgeting and strategic financial projections.
• Comfort with using social media tools to further RWJF’s work.
• Familiarity with, but not necessarily a professional background in philanthropy and philanthropic processes.
• Ability to travel, including site visits and representing RWJF 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 the minimum requirements will be given particular consideration for 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.
• Twelve (12) years of demonstrated experience working in New Jersey to advance justice, equity‑centered policy, advocacy, and systems change.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

The senior 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 $161,500. 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 $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 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.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Monday, April 20, 2026, by 10 a.m. ET.