Program Associate

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 Health Children and Families

The Healthy Children and Families (HCF) strategic portfolio focuses on all of RWJF’s Generational Goals and most prominently, Economic Inclusion for Family Wellbeing. We believe that America should be a country where all families have the resources to raise healthy, thriving children, and a place where everyone can live with dignity. We are working with our external partners and grantees toward a new social contract. A new social contract would recognize our collective interdependence and ensure that the economy invests in families. It would value people and their wellbeing rather than their contributions to economic production. It would also make all forms of care available to families and recognize caregivers for the critical role they play in our society. HCF is part of the Strategic Portfolios department which works across four shared goals to achieve transformational change to support wellbeing.

About This Opportunity

Reporting to the associate managing director, HCF, the program associate is responsible for grounding their work in equity while supporting the execution of operational, programmatic, team coordination, and strategic grantmaking. Specifically, the program associate role focuses on the following: assisting portfolio leadership in coordination and management; conducting project and related research and learning; and working with key internal/external colleagues, consultants, advisors, grantees, and applicants to implement strategies and plans. The program associate will also support the following: development, management, documentation, and monitoring of team workplans to fulfill portfolio objectives; assisting program officers and the HCF leadership team in designing and implementing new program initiatives and portfolio-level events and activities; supporting grant/contract solicitation processes; evaluating grant and contract proposals; and supporting grant approval processes including writing and reviewing concepts, grantmaking, and management.

Program associates play a key role in both the operations and programming of the HCF portfolio. They are essential to working with grantees and promoting the HCF team’s commitment to health equity. All staff at RWJF are accountable in centering equity in our philanthropic practice.

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

Essential Job Responsibilities

Portfolio Operations (20%)

• Assist in coordinating processes and program-focused activities (administrative, operational, and facilitation tasks) as needed, including but not limited to:
• With guidance from portfolio staff, developing agendas, planning and supporting execution of portfolio meetings (virtual and in-person).
• With guidance from portfolio staff, preparing reports, materials, and internal communications for portfolio and departmental staff, RWJF senior leadership, and others. This includes planning and executing annual meetings, gatherings, and other externally facing meetings as well as maintaining and supporting internal meeting processes.
• Supporting grantee and partner engagement, including event and meeting development, webinars, and other activities with grantees and other partners.
• Maintaining RWJF’s platforms, including MS Team sites, shared documents, folders, and virtual workspaces for programs across the strategic portfolio.

Program Development, Implementation, and Management (50%)

• Center the promotion of equity, dismantling structural racism and intersectional forms of oppression in personal learning, as well as in program development and program management, and strategy development, including adoption/adaptation of equitable grantmaking processes.
• Assist programmatic staff by gathering, synthesizing, and analyzing background information relevant to HCF strategy and/or assist in developing of individual program research from the literature, the field, and other partners, including synthesizing learnings from past and current grantmaking.
• Assist in coordinating team grant making and funding processes which include participating in site visits, reviewing proposals, and coordinating internal and external reviews for proposals and concept papers.
• Support portfolio members in program and project development and occasionally conduct individual development of programs.
• Manage and track grants, through monthly reports and quarterly assessment activities, and report on initiatives and programs, as assigned.
• Actively participate in the engagement of key experts, including those with lived experience, and grantees to develop strategies and action plans to fulfill the objectives of the portfolio/department.

Grantmaking and Other Processes (30%)

• Work with team and Grants Management staff to implement grantmaking processes, including developing calls for proposals, evaluating proposals from applicants, and grant summary writing.
• Represent the Foundation publicly. Respond to public inquiries.
• Build and maintain trusting relationships with grantees and field leaders.
• Contribute to team, department, and cross-Foundation committees.
• Other duties as assigned by managing director or associate managing director.

Minimum Requirements

• Demonstrated deep social justice values and commitment to the practice of racial justice, equitable philanthropic practices, and the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.
• Professional commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including commitment to and experience working with individuals of diverse backgrounds.
• Strong understanding of structural barriers to health, including working knowledge of structural racism and commitment to building equitable and anti-racist practices, with demonstrated competencies that align with HCF’s equity principles and RWJF’s equitable philanthropic practice.
• Two years of experience working in a relevant field or a master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Proactive, solution-oriented, and demonstrated ability to successfully manage timelines and projects. Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and deliver on time.
• Ability to work proactively and adaptively in a flexible, outcome-driven environment, where the focus is on delivering quality results.
• Strong secondary research and desk research skills, including the ability to quickly develop knowledge across topics related to health, health equity, systems change, structural barriers to health, and the social determinants of health.
• Ability to synthesize complex information and concepts into clear, concise summaries and insights.
• Demonstrated project management skills and ability to successfully manage timelines, priorities, and deliverables.
• Proactive, adaptive, and solutions-oriented approach to the work with strong organizational and execution skills. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. and the ability to synthesize long, complex topics into simple summaries.
• Collaborative, curious, and learning-oriented approach, with an interest in understanding how the Foundation develops and implements strategies. 
• Strong aptitude with Microsoft products: Office 365, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, Word, as well as Salesforce, and demonstrated capability to learn online grants management systems.
• Candidates whose experience exceeds the minimum requirements will be given particular consideration for a higher placement within the salary range:
  • Four (4) years of related programmatic experience in a foundation or nonprofit organization related to children and families.
  • Six (6) years of related programmatic experience in a foundation or nonprofit organization related to children 

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

The grants operations assistant 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 $84,000. 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 $92,400. 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 for more information. 

Application Deadline

Monday, September 14, 2026, by 10 a.m. ET