Communications Program Officer - Media Partnerships

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation•Princeton, NJ

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is a national philanthropy focused on transforming health and health equity. This role, reporting to the director of Communications Grantmaking, is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing initiatives that align with the Foundation's strategic goals. The Program Officer (PO) will synthesize information, build relationships with external partners, and ensure equitable grantmaking processes by applying equity principles. Collaboration with various departments such as Research, Evaluation and Learning, Communications, Policy, New Jersey, Law, and Finance is expected to assess grantmaking impact and contribute to strategic improvements. The PO will be part of the Voice Strategy team within the Communications department, which is structured around three integrated teams: Voice Strategy, Communications Studio, and Operations. A strong commitment to equity and the Foundation's mission is essential. RWJF is undergoing a transformation, redefining long-term outcomes and reexamining operational models. Successful candidates should have experience navigating organizational change, fostering clarity, building trust, maintaining standards, and supporting institutional truth-telling during periods of transformation.

Requirements

Commitment to racial and health equity and to the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.
Strategic Grantmaking Judgment: Shapes communications grant opportunities with a clear understanding of Foundation priorities, field dynamics, equity implications, and the distinct role communications can play in advancing impact.
Grantmaking Knowledge: Experience designing and advancing programmatic strategies or portfolios, including work in journalism, public health, equity, philanthropy, or closely related fields.
Equity-Focused Systems Change Approach to Grantmaking: Applies an equity lens to how institutional, network-level, or field-based interventions are developed, assessed, and refined. Additionally, applies an equity lens to grantmaking choices, ensuring communications investments reflect the needs, experiences, and voices of communities and partners most connected to RWJF’s mission.
Portfolio Thinking: Connects individual grants to a broader communications grantmaking agenda, balancing near-term opportunities with longer-term field-building and voice strategy priorities.
Decision Framing and Tradeoff Management: Clarifies options, risks, dependencies, and implications so leaders can make informed grantmaking decisions with strong strategic rationale.
Learning Orientation: Draws insight from grant progress, grantee experience, and field response to refine communications grantmaking strategy and strengthen future investment decisions.
Relationship Building: Ability to build, sustain, and leverage partnerships at the local, regional, or national level to advance shared change objectives.
Cross-Functional Partnership: Works effectively with Voice Strategy, Operations, the Communications Studio, and other internal partners to collaborate, problem solve, maintain clear ownership boundaries, and avoid duplication of work.
Field Experience: Knowledge of philanthropy and grantmaking processes, or ability to apply professional experience to operate effectively within a philanthropic context.
Proficiency in clear, respectful written and verbal communication, including presenting complex issues to internal leadership, external partners, and community audiences.
Ability to manage multiple priorities independently and collaboratively, applying judgment to deliver on program goals and outcomes.
Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience.
Master’s degree in relevant field of study. Additional relevant, equivalent experience can substitute for an advanced degree.
Professional commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Ability to travel to Princeton, N.J. or Washington, D.C. office for relevant internal meetings and other in-person events as requested by your people leader.
Ability to travel, as needed, for grantee meetings, conferences, site visits, and community events, up to 30%.
Deep social justice values and commitment to the practice of racial justice, health equity, and the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.

Nice To Haves

Seven (7) years of grants management or philanthropy experience in the media or journalism space.
Nine (9) years of grants management or philanthropy experience in the media or journalism space.

Responsibilities

Embed equity into communications grantmaking by ensuring investments reflect RWJF’s health equity priorities, elevate field-informed perspectives, and reach diverse audiences.
Build and strengthen a network of grantees and partners for coordinated messaging, shared priorities, and amplification of field-driven narratives aligned with RWJF’s goals.
Shape and deploy communications investments by identifying and prioritizing opportunities that advance Voice Strategy, strengthen RWJF’s role in the field, and activate external partners as credible messengers.
Steward grantmaking decisions by developing clear recommendations, surfacing tradeoffs, and ensuring alignment with communications priorities before execution.
Advance learning by synthesizing grant progress, field insights, and partner input to inform future communications investments and improve impact.
Represent the Foundation publicly and participate in grantee meetings.
Lead committees and work groups to achieve team objectives.
Perform other duties as assigned.