Senior Manager, Grants Management
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.
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 enable our staff’s wide range of experiences, passions, and perspectives to strengthen our ability to address our nation’s most pressing health issues. Our efforts to achieve health equity require us to dismantle structural racism and other barriers to health. Part of this work includes actively shaping an inclusive 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 of Grants Management, the senior manager, Grants Management, directs and guides the day-to-day function and staff associated with the grants management processes. The senior manager provides high-level oversight of grantmaking activities to ensure policies and practices are equitable and followed, systems are accurate, and timelines are met by monitoring and working closely with staff across the Foundation. The senior manager will provide ongoing process improvement guidance, implement changes, monitor outcomes, and track, analyze, and report grant data. This role requires a seasoned professional with a proven track record in management, and technical expertise in database management and reporting. The ideal candidate will be a strong advocate for their staff, promote a professional environment, and foster innovation across departments. The senior manager must be highly organized and able to work effectively in a diverse and high-energy environment. The senior manager will perform other duties as assigned.
As with staff at all levels of RWJF, the senior manager is expected to demonstrate a passionate commitment to equity and the Foundation’s mission and Guiding Principles.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Grants Operations Management (25%)
- Represent the Grants Management team internally, including in meetings, on internal committees and workgroups, and through collaborative working relationships with peers in other themes, departments, and units.
- Serve as a thought partner to senior director and team members on Grants Management strategy development and evolution.
- Assist the senior director in the collection, interpretation and analysis of data to develop reports to track changes in our grantmaking over time and identify areas of opportunity.
- Partner with the senior director to design and implement new resources, including reporting products, information repositories, staff resources, and training materials to support knowledge sharing.
Grants Management Process Oversight, Improvement, and Implementation (35%)
- Lead day-to-day activities of the grantmaking process and ensure policies and practices are equitable and followed in the grantmaking process.
- Continually assess grantmaking process, evaluate needs, and implement change.
- Focus on maintaining an equitable and efficient grantmaking process for grant seekers, delivering a high level of customer service for external and internal constituencies.
- Serve as a strategic thought partner to the senior director, Grants Management.
- Work with cross-functional teams to improve and implement processes.
- Guide IT on updates to grantmaking systems and oversee system enhancements and workflow changes and test and leverage grant-related technology systems to facilitate the Foundation’s grantmaking processes.
- Drive workflow process improvements and efficiency gains while balancing existing responsibilities and current and future needs.
- Provide overall direction to internal staff and external partners on RWJF’s grant funding areas and process, handling escalated issues or complex and difficult inquiries.
- Track, analyze, develop, and present reporting on the Foundation’s grantmaking and grantmaking processes, including responding to external data requests and surveys.
Staff Management and Development (40%)
- Manage the team’s and staffs’ development around diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracist practice and plans.
- Provide regular coaching and mentoring to Grants Management staff to build staff capacity and create a cohesive working environment.
- Ensure ongoing team-building, engagement, and support of the hybrid operating model* and any transitions and changes to the model.
- Manage Grants Management staff, including hiring, training, assigning work, providing development opportunities, coaching, and reviewing performance.
- Oversee staff, project teams, and/or work groups that contribute to Grants Management efforts as appropriate.
- Develop and oversee training for program development and Grants Management staff on Grants Management processes, policies, and systems.
Minimum Requirements
- Commitment to racial and health equity and the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.
- Experience in nonprofit or higher education organizations or a background in grants management required.
- Knowledge of grants management skills, processes, compliance matters, along with policies, procedures, and grants management systems is desirable.
- Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to independently lead multiple projects simultaneously with a focus on quality, creativity, and project follow-through.
- Able to foster an inclusive environment working as part of a multidisciplinary team and working effectively with people from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
- Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion; experience in considering and applying equity and inclusion principles in design and delivery of grantmaking processes.
- Superb people skills, able to collaborate in a matrix organization and manage change and competing priorities from various partners.
- Comfort in handling requests from senior leadership, dealing with ambiguity, and using good judgment to resolve issues.
- Experience managing people, developing team members, and building an effective, service-oriented team.
- Strategic in approach to work, able to see a big picture while delivering on the details.
- Customer service orientation, interpersonal skills, and ability to build trusted reliable relationships. Able to address increasingly complex situations managing customer problems.
- Understands impact of their work on others and adapts to change effectively.
- Can manage multiple projects simultaneously with various participants and deadlines.
- PC skills with Microsoft Office 365. Salesforce experience a plus.
- Strong database knowledge, comfortable with technology, and able to grasp new technology and concepts quickly.
- Good written and oral communications skills. Ability to present complex information and materials in an understandable manner to a variety of audiences.
- Able to make and justify decisions.
- Proactively approaches work, identifies problems, and seeks solutions.
- Confidence to ask pertinent questions, grasp concepts quickly, and think beyond specific tasks.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline preferred, or a combination of training and/or experience equivalent to a minimum of six years of related work experience.
Physical Requirements/Working Conditions
The incumbent will perform job duties in a typical business office environment. Tasks are generally carried out with no specific or unusual physical or environmental demands. While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to work at a desk with a computer for extended periods of time. Specific physical abilities required by this job include operating basic office equipment. The incumbent may be required to attend meetings, both on-site and off-site, via phone or videoconference.
This position is assigned to our Princeton, N.J. headquarters offices.
As of January 1, 2023, the Foundation has implemented a model we call Hybrid: Flexible Purpose (HFP). RWJF’s innovative operating model is the infrastructure (policies, practices, protocols, procedures, systems, etc.) that form 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 give employees as much flexibility as possible while meeting the needs of the organization.
- Office Attendance Requirements: 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. The number of required meetings in Princeton is subject to change as we continue to evaluate and improve the model.
- Office Availability: All RWJF offices remain open for all Foundation employees for focused work, optional organizational activities, and connecting with colleagues informally as needed for work purposes.
- Travel to Office Responsibility: While employees have flexibility where they live, employees are responsible for covering any expenses incurred from commuting to their assigned office for any and all required meetings.
Salary
The non-negotiable starting salary for this position is $120,000. Why work at RWJF? Learn more about the benefits of working at RWJF.
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, October 21, 2024 at 10 a.m. ET
Our Committment to Diversity and Inclusion
We take bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is for everyone.
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Staff and Trustees
The work of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is fueled by our staff, leadership team, and Trustees’ unwavering commitment to health equity.
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