Managing Director, Transforming Health and Healthcare Systems, Robert Wood Johnson 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 vice president, Strategic Portfolios department, the managing director will lead a team to develop and implement program strategy within the Transforming Health and Healthcare Systems portfolio. The portfolio seeks equitable and accountable healthcare and public health systems that are fair and just; treat all people with dignity and respect; and rectify past harms and prevent future ones. The portfolio works collaboratively to transform the policies, practices, and norms in public health and healthcare systems so that these systems truly support health, healing, and thriving for people most affected by racism, inequity, discrimination, and historic trauma. This portfolio supports the Foundation’s Generational Goal to achieve Equitable and Accountable Public Health and Healthcare Systems.


The portfolio employs five strategies to achieve that goal:

1. Promote antiracist policies and resource flows. 

2. Build community power to change policy and practice. 

3. Support inclusive and accountable collective leadership. 

4. Change dominant narratives in public health and healthcare to be supportive of health equity and justice. 

5. Invest in public health’s capacity to advance health equity and promote antiracist public health policy and practices. 


The core responsibilities of the managing director include:  

overall management of an interdisciplinary group of skilled and motivated team members; 

alignment of all portfolio work, including portfolio program development and program implementation, with the Foundation’s overall Strategic Framework’s vision and Generational Goals; 

oversight and leadership for collaborative strategy formulation and refinement, including overseeing systematic learning and guiding the development of indicators of progress for the work;  

strategy implementation, including managing program staff as they develop and implement programming, grantmaking, planning, and budgeting;  

strategy integration across other portfolios and departments; and 

the oversight of all portfolio activities in order to meet the portfolio and Foundation objectives and performance indicators.  

The managing director will work closely with the vice president and associate vice presidents of the Strategic Portfolio department, as well as other senior leaders across the Foundation to coordinate, complement, or align strategic initiatives toward achieving our Foundation-wide strategy. The managing director is expected to be conversant with the overall Strategic Framework and the work of RWJF’s other Strategic Portfolios. The managing director, together with the deputy director, serves as the management team of the Transforming Health and Healthcare Systems portfolio and leads the progress of a matrixed team in the development, implementation, and evolution of systems change strategies and strategic grantmaking designed to advance the Generational Goal of Equitable and Accountable Health and Healthcare Systems. 

 

As with staff at all levels of RWJF, managing directors are expected to demonstrate a passionate commitment to equity and justice, and to the Foundation’s mission and Guiding Principles. 


ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy, Program Development, and Monitoring and Refinement: 

Lead the development and improvement of the portfolio’s strategic plan, including programming, convening, coordinating, and reporting on it with other internal and external partners.  

Ensure alignment of portfolio strategies to the RWJF Strategic Framework and promotion of coordination and collaboration with other portfolios and departments. 

Oversee the curation and dissemination of learning resources, including targeted reviews of existing literature, surveys, and research in the field; evaluation of current and past grantmaking; and learning from other organizations and partners. 

Oversee the design and implementation of grants to fund organizations, projects, and programs intended to meet the theme’s strategic objective.  

Collaborate with the Research-Evaluation-Learning department to develop, test, and refine performance indicators to monitor the portfolio’s efforts to achieve the Foundation’s Generational Goals and vision. 

Work with portfolio members, consultants, other funders, and external organizations to oversee the planning, development, review, and response to requests for funding.  

Champion and oversee communication of portfolio strategy, plans, activities, and performance to colleagues, senior management, and Board of Trustees. 

Collaborate with senior leaders in other departments, including Communications, Policy, and other Foundation colleagues to maximize strategic impact of programming. 

Perform other duties as assigned. 
 
Portfolio Management and Operations: 

Oversee a team in a matrixed environment from various Foundation units who support portfolio work. 

Oversee the collaborative development of an annual portfolio workplan; allocate the portfolio’s financial and personnel resources toward efficient accomplishment of the workplan.  

Create and manage annual budgets with the deputy director and program finance staff.  

Lead and oversee portfolio training, structure, and processes to achieve strategic objectives, including designing portfolio meetings, workstreams, and retreats. 


Staff Management and Development: 

Foster and lead a diverse, collaborative, and inclusive work environment that welcomes points of view from people with diverse professional, cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds. 

Manage staff development around diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracist practice and plans. 

Coach and support the leadership and expertise of the team to advance the portfolio’s strategies. 

Assure the development of workplans for each portfolio staff member to support performance and professional development.  

External Relations and Strategic Partnerships: 

Use the tools of philanthropy, including connecting, coordinating, convening, and communicating, as well as funding programs to help catalyze systems-level change in governmental public health and healthcare settings. 

Cultivate relationships, develop, and execute regional and national strategic partnerships with, e.g., nonprofits, relevant networks of grassroots and advocacy groups, public systems, employers, other foundations to support progress toward the Foundation’s mission and goals. 

Build relationships with a growing network of grantees and other external partners to advance the portfolio’s strategies.  

Represent the Foundation externally in the media and at events (e.g., conferences, meetings).  
 

Grantmaking Processes: 

Evaluate proposals for alignment with the Foundation’s Strategic Framework and the portfolio’s strategic priorities, strength of the activity, including health equity and racial justice dimensions, potential impact, value for dollars requested, and the applicant organization's capacity and stability.  

Implement and promote practices to ensure all proposals are reviewed fairly, expeditiously, and consistently aligned with Foundation grantmaking strategic priorities, and equitable processes and policies.  

Ensure equity is centered in our grantmaking processes. 

Work in collaboration with departments across the Foundation to monitor financial status and oversee portfolio budget and cash payment system.  

Approve and recommend to senior management for approval, grants in accordance with Foundation program policies. 



MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 

Commitment to the Foundation’s mission and vision and alignment with our values. 

Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, including an understanding of structural racism and other systemic biases and their impact on health; proficiency in identifying equity issues and applying equity and justice principles in public health and healthcare settings. 

Deep understanding of and experience in building coalitions and equitable partnerships with community with attention to transparency, accountability, and community power-bridging and -building to promote community-led and community-prioritized work. 

Demonstrated understanding of and experience in applying systems-level change approaches in public health and healthcare systems to promote health and wellbeing.  

Experience building and implementing equitable philanthropic principles and practices within an institution committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion as part of antiracist practice; and in fostering an inclusive environment working effectively with persons from diverse professional, cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds. 

Eight (8) or more years of relevant work experience with four (4) or more years of progressive experience in a complex management and leadership role with direct supervision, staff support and development, and extensive project management experience.  

Strong networks in the public and private healthcare systems and experience working within healthcare institutions or within the U.S. healthcare system.  

Experience in or familiarity with governmental public health systems.  

Strategic and management skills needed to lead a portfolio, develop strategy focusing on results, and grasp the salient dynamics of the field addressed by the portfolio’s strategies.  

Demonstrated experience leading a team through strategic and organizational change. 

Ability to work in an ambiguous, dynamic environment, manage organizational change, and lead people through change and transitions.  

Able to handle and delegate effectively and able to manage staff in a matrixed work environment. 

Expertise in creating and managing budgets. 

People management skills, including experience in employee development, performance management, supervising, mentoring, and team-building. Able to lead with emotional intelligence, inspire a team and others around a strategic vision, and bring a sense of humor and fun to the workplace. 

Exhibit sound judgment. Able to make decisions, justify recommendations, and be responsive and clear. 

Solid communication skills; able to synthesize and present complex information in clear and compelling manner; and identify innovative opportunities in a specific area while maintaining a focus on systemic change. 

Ability to travel, including for site visits and representing the Foundation at outside meetings.  

Education and experience equivalent to an advanced degree (e.g., MA, MPH, MJ, MBA). Terminal degree in health or healthcare-related field or equivalent experience preferred.  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

The managing director performs job duties in a normal 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 video-conference. RWJF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.



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 non-negotiable starting salary for this position is $214,000.  Why work at RWJF? Learn more about the benefits of working at RWJF.

Internal RWJF applicants should submit a resume and letter of interest through the Internal Jobs Hub app in Workday.