Managing Director, Healthy Children and Families

RWJF•Princeton, NJ

3d•$222,200 - $244,420•Hybrid

About The Position

The Managing Director leads the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Children and Families (HCF) portfolio within the Strategic Portfolios department, reporting to the Vice President of Strategic Portfolios. HCF works toward a future in which all families have the resources to raise healthy, thriving children and everyone can live with dignity. Its systems-change work focuses on tax and family care, aiming to strengthen family economic security and wellbeing, make care more accessible and affordable, and recognize caregivers’ contributions. The portfolio seeks to shift policies, power, and public narratives so that wellbeing—not only economic production—shapes how the economy serves families. Working with the Vice President, Associate Vice Presidents, other senior leaders, Associate Managing Directors, and a matrixed team that includes staff from Research-Evaluation-Learning, Policy, and Communications, the Managing Director coordinates portfolio strategy with Foundation-wide goals. The role oversees strategy development and implementation, grantmaking, budgets and operations, staff leadership and development, and external partnerships. It also represents the Foundation with grantees, partners, decisionmakers, the media, and at events. The position requires a commitment to equity, the Foundation’s mission and Guiding Principles, and attention to how power affects strategy, relationships, grantmaking, and organizational decisions. The role is assigned to RWJF’s Princeton, New Jersey office under its Hybrid: Flexible Purpose model. On-site participation is based on job responsibilities and organizational and team needs; employees plan on-site time and cover commuting expenses as needed. Regular travel to and visibility at headquarters, site visits, and external meetings are part of the role. The Managing Director works in a typical business office environment and uses basic office equipment, and attends meetings in person and off-site by phone or videoconference. The non-negotiable starting salary is $222,200, with a possible starting salary up to $244,420 for candidates with directly related experience exceeding the minimum requirements. RWJF offers comprehensive health and retirement benefits, generous paid time off, and a transition stipend for new hires.

Requirements

Commitment to the Foundation’s mission and vision and alignment with its values.
Eight or more years of relevant work experience, including four or more years of progressive experience in a complex management and leadership role with direct supervision, staff support and development, and extensive project management.
Education and experience equivalent to an advanced degree, such as an MA, MPH, or MBA.
Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion; understanding of structural racism and systemic biases and their effects on health; and ability to identify equity issues, conduct power analysis, and apply equity and justice principles to economic inclusion for children and families.
Nuanced understanding of how to address gender, class, sexual orientation, and disability through a race lens in strategy and programming.
Experience building coalitions and equitable partnerships with organizations and communities, with attention to transparency, accountability, and community-centered approaches.
Experience applying equity principles throughout grantmaking, from relationship development through program development, implementation, and evaluation, including disrupting inequitable philanthropic practices, nurturing trust, incorporating the perspectives of children, families, and caregivers, and using asset-framing and plain language.
Experience applying lessons from truth, repair, and transformation processes, including reparative practices in strategy and programming.
Ability to steward a team’s vision, evolve strategy, set priorities, and deliver results through timely, well-reasoned decisions informed by field dynamics and strategic trade-offs.
Experience building equitable coalitions and partnerships that advance economic inclusion for children and families, strengthen community power and connections, and support community-led priorities with transparency and accountability.
Experience using systems-change approaches, evidence, and learning to advance health equity through tax and/or care systems, particularly for children and families most marginalized.
Ability to define success and measure progress over the short, medium, and long term.
Ability to lead with care and adaptability through uncertainty and organizational change, providing staff with stability and clarity about roles and responsibilities.
Demonstrated ability to coach and develop staff, delegate effectively, and support shared leadership in a matrix environment while fostering trust, belonging, inclusion, and shared accountability.
Ability to lead with emotional intelligence, inspire others around a shared strategic vision, and bring humor and fun to the workplace.
Ability to balance inclusive participation with timely, transparent decisions, explain the rationale, and move work forward.
Expertise creating and managing budgets aligned with strategy and priorities.
Sound judgment and ability to make difficult decisions responsively and clearly, explain their rationale transparently, and invite constructive challenge.
Strong communication skills, including synthesizing and presenting complex information clearly and compellingly and identifying innovative opportunities while maintaining a focus on systemic change.
Ability and willingness to work in a flexible, purpose-driven hybrid model, including regular travel to and visibility at headquarters, site visits, and external meetings.

Nice To Haves

At least two years of experience with equitable philanthropy practice or working in philanthropy, the public sector, advocacy, movement-building, or intermediary institutions responsible for deploying significant resources toward social change.
Strong networks in tax and/or care systems that advance economic wellbeing and inclusion.
Six or eight years of progressive management and team leadership experience may support higher placement within the salary range.

Responsibilities

Align portfolio programming, implementation, and budgeting with the Foundation Strategic Framework, Generational Goals, forthcoming 10-year outcomes, Strategic Portfolios goals, systems-change practice, and lessons from the Truth, Repair, and Transformation process.
Lead development and evolution of the portfolio’s strategic plan, including programming, convening, coordination, reporting, and progress monitoring with internal and external partners.
Ensure effective strategy implementation, equitable grantmaking, and program development and execution by program staff.
Oversee strategy development and refinement using literature reviews, field surveys and research, evaluations, progress indicators, and learning from organizations, partners, and people most affected by health inequities.
Communicate portfolio strategy, plans, activities, learning, and performance to colleagues, senior management, the Board of Trustees, external partners, and the field as appropriate.
Collaborate with senior leaders and colleagues in Communications, Research-Evaluation-Learning, Policy, and other departments to maximize program impact.
Oversee an interdisciplinary, matrixed team and align work across functions where formal authority is limited.
Lead collaborative development of an annual portfolio workplan and allocate financial and personnel resources to deliver it.
Create and manage annual budgets with Associate Managing Directors and Program Finance staff.
Lead portfolio training, structure, and processes, including portfolio meetings, workstreams, and retreats.
Foster a diverse, collaborative, and inclusive work environment; support staff development in diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracist practice; coach team members; and support their professional growth and agency.
Ensure portfolio staff have workplans supporting performance and professional development, and address interpersonal conflicts to support team functioning.
Use philanthropic tools—including connecting, coordinating, convening, thought partnership, communication, and funding—to catalyze systems-level change, especially in economic supports for families through tax and care.
Cultivate and execute regional and national partnerships with nonprofits, grassroots and advocacy networks, public systems, employers, other foundations, and other partners.
Work with national partners to influence state and national decisionmakers, advance the field, and spark innovation.
Build trusting relationships with grantees and external partners, and represent the Foundation in the media and at external events.
Evaluate proposals for alignment with Foundation and portfolio strategies, assessing proposal strength, health equity, racial justice, power dynamics, potential impact, value, and applicant capacity.
Promote fair, timely, consistent proposal review aligned with Foundation and department priorities and equitable grantmaking policies and processes.
Collaborate across Foundation departments to monitor financial status and oversee the portfolio budget and cash payment system.
Approve and recommend grants to senior management in accordance with Foundation program policies.
Perform other duties as assigned.