Program Associate, Healthy Communities (RWJF)

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - Princeton, NJ; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey, seeks a Program Associate to join the Healthy Communities theme. The role supports theme management, research, and collaboration with grantees and applicants to develop strategies and action plans.

The ideal candidate will contribute to evaluating proposals, monitoring grants, and implementing new initiatives while upholding RWJF's equity guiding principles and cross-disciplinary teamwork.

Qualifications

• Two years of related work experience in health or health care.
• Ability to work with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Assist in theme coordination and activities.
• Support in researching and planning initiatives.
• Prepare reports for board and senior leadership.
• Monitor proposals and manage grants consistent with RWJF policies.

Education

Master's degree or equivalent education and experience in a related field

Bachelor’s degree + 2+ years relevant experience

Job description

Program Associate, Healthy Communities (RWJF)

Posted on February 18, 2020

Position Summary

RWJF is seeking a program associate to join the Healthy Communities theme. The program associate is a professional staff member who will work with members of the program theme to facilitate and support the work of the theme by: assisting in the effective management of theme functions; conducting project and related research; working with key experts, grantees and applicants to develop strategies and action plans to fulfill the theme’s objective; and assisting in designing and implementing new initiatives, evaluating proposals, and monitoring programs and grants.

Scope

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), located in Princeton, N.J., is the largest philanthropy in America dedicated solely to health. Since 1972 we have been providing funding, assistance, and research for projects and programs to help people, their families, and their communities be as healthy as possible. RWJF is committed to working alongside others to build a Culture of Health where everyone has a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being.

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. Diversity, inclusion, and collaboration allow our staff’s wide range of experiences, passions, and perspectives to enrich our work and strengthens our ability to address our nation’s most pressing health issues. With a career at RWJF you will make a difference.

RWJF is seeking a program associate to join the Healthy Communities theme. The program associate is a professional staff member who will work with members of the program theme to facilitate and support the work of the theme by: assisting in the effective management of theme functions; conducting project and related research; working with key experts, grantees and applicants to develop strategies and action plans to fulfill the theme’s objective; and assisting in designing and implementing new initiatives, evaluating proposals, and monitoring programs and grants.

The Healthy Communities theme seeks to create the conditions in communities that allow all residents to reach their best possible health and well-being. This means addressing factors such as housing, public infrastructure, civic engagement, and other factors that shape community conditions. The Foundation is committed to seeing these improvements benefit the lives of all residents, with a focus on low-income residents and residents of color.

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

Theme Operations:

• Assist in overall theme coordination and activities. Common associate responsibilities include preparing reports for the foundation’s board of trustees and senior leadership, maintaining shared folders and workspaces for the theme, tracking progress on the theme’s equity plan, supporting grantee engagement, and planning meetings with grantees and other partners.
• Assist theme members with related activities, as assigned by the managing director or theme operations lead.
• Assist managing director and theme operations lead with administrative and facilitation tasks, as needed.
• Responsible for actively participating in theme activities and improving theme functioning, including compliance with theme norms and providing support and back-up for theme members.

Learning and Dissemination

• Monitor, track, learn from, and report on theme initiatives and programs. Work with staff and consultants to harvest “learnings” from previous and current grantmaking, and to actively disseminate results and “learnings” to other staff, grantees and the field.

Program Development and Monitoring:

• Gather, synthesize, and analyze background information relevant to theme strategy and the development of individual programs.
• Participate in site visits and reviews proposals.
• Assist in coordinating external reviews for proposals and concept papers.
• Assist theme members in program and project development and monitoring, as assigned by the theme operations lead.
• Bring principles of equity and inclusion into program development and monitoring.

Grantmaking Processes:

• Responsible for understanding, implementing, and following the grantmaking processes and policies of RWJF.
• Represent the Foundation publicly regarding program and theme direction, program funding and grantmaking results. Respond to public inquiries about the theme and the application process.

Foundation and Field Contributions:

• Develop general background information for theme on major literature, field direction and stakeholders.
• Attend outside meetings and conferences for the theme, at the discretion of the managing director, and prepares trip reports.
• Commitment to the Foundation’s mission and vision and alignment with our values.
• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Two (2) years of related work experience in health or health care related field. The foundation’s definition of health includes social determinants of health, and experience or education specifically focused on community and economic development, civic engagement, or policy and systems change is preferred.
• Successful experience fostering an inclusive environment working as part of a multidisciplinary team and working effectively with persons from diverse cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds.
• Strong project and people management skills, including demonstrated ability to think independently, to be flexible and to juggle multiple priorities for multiple managers, and to be tolerant of ambiguity and differences in grant making approaches.
• Excellent analytic skills and ability to synthesize and translate complicated material into clear and simple language. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals and periodicals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Personally motivated to support the Foundation’s mission and goals; creative, flexible; able to work independently and in teams to think imaginatively about opportunities; to create and respond to novel and innovative approaches to addressing an issue; to inspire others to work towards achieving team goals.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; collegial, energetic, able to develop productive relationships with colleagues, grantees, consultants, external funders, and others who contribute to program development and management.
• Good judgment and maturity. Ability to make decisions, justifies recommendations, and is responsive and clear with proposal applicants.
• Strong research and electronic communications skills, including use of Internet.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative and team environment.
• Ability to travel as required.
• Master's degree or equivalent education and experience in a related field; or Bachelor’s degree and two (2) or more years related experience and/or training.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/working conditions

The incumbent performs job duties in a 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 such as personal computers, duplicating machines, fax machines and standard office telephones. The incumbent may be required to attend meetings, both on-site and off-site, via phone or videoconference.