Senior Director, Community Planning, Real Estate Strategy and Investment Estate and

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation•Princeton, NJ

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is a national philanthropy dedicated to transforming health and advancing health equity. The Senior Director, Community Planning, Real Estate Strategy and Investment, will lead the Foundation’s community planning and partnership efforts, real estate strategy, and future land and facility initiatives in Newark, New Jersey. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Foundation Services, with a dotted-line relationship to the Chief Operating Officer, the role will help ensure real estate and community investments align with RWJF’s mission, values, and long-term commitments. This externally focused, highly collaborative leadership role will coordinate internal and external partners and translate complex real estate, development, financial, community, and organizational considerations into clear, well-supported decisions. The Senior Director will work closely with Foundation Services leadership, the COO, executive leadership, the Board of Trustees, the New Jersey department, and external advisors and community partners. The position will help RWJF identify and secure a future headquarters site that meets long-term needs, earns community trust and support, and establishes the Foundation as a committed neighbor before occupancy. The position is a full-time, benefits-eligible, three-year-term appointment, with an option to extend to four years. Employment is anticipated to conclude at the end of the term unless extended based on organizational needs, funding, and approval. The position is assigned to RWJF’s Princeton, New Jersey office and follows the Foundation’s Hybrid: Flexible Purpose model. On-site participation depends on job responsibilities and organizational and team needs; employees are expected to plan for required on-site time and cover commuting expenses. Travel may be required up to 60%.

Requirements

Commitment to racial and health equity and to RWJF’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.
Approximately 10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, economic and real estate development, institutional facilities, major capital initiatives, or a related environment.
Familiarity with New Jersey real estate and development, particularly Newark.
Demonstrated portfolio of complex mixed-use facilities and infrastructure projects led or supported to meet program needs.
Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex subjects to executive- and Board-level audiences.
Significant experience working with senior executives, governing boards, steering committees, or other senior decision-making bodies.
Strong facilitation, partner management, and consensus-building skills.
Excellent judgment in identifying important information, decision timing, and appropriate framing for different audiences.
Ability to synthesize substantial technical and strategic information into clear conclusions, options, and recommendations.
Knowledge of real estate development, design, construction, finance, and transactions sufficient to represent an institutional owner and engage critically with professional advisors.
Strong organizational awareness and ability to navigate complex institutional dynamics with discretion and credibility.
Ability to work effectively amid ambiguity, evolving information, and long-term strategic decisions.
Experience within a foundation, university, healthcare institution, nonprofit, corporation, or other organization with complex internal governance.
Experience supporting boards and executive leadership teams on significant capital or real estate initiatives.
Experience navigating community opposition.
Experience with public-private partnerships, municipal or state development processes, and community-oriented or mission-driven development.
Experience working with external owner representatives, project managers, architects, developers, brokers, and other professional advisors.
Ability to build trust quickly and work effectively with experienced external advisors.
Ability to communicate candidly, clearly, and efficiently, including on complex, evolving, or sensitive issues.
Ability to travel to RWJF offices for relevant internal meetings and in-person events and to travel as needed for grantee meetings, conferences, site visits, and community events, up to 60%.
Candidates considered for higher placement in the salary range may have 12 or 15 years of related experience and proven experience with real estate site selection and contract negotiation.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with brownfield redevelopment, environmental remediation, New Jersey incentive programs, and/or complex redevelopment processes.
Experience with real estate due diligence.
Twelve years of related experience and proven experience with real estate site selection and contract negotiation, for consideration for higher salary placement.
Fifteen years of related experience and proven experience with real estate site selection and contract negotiation, for consideration for higher salary placement.

Responsibilities

Lead the Foundation’s real estate and facilities initiative and work with the AVP of Foundation Services and COO to develop and implement external engagement plans.
Coordinate project resources and external partners to prepare integrated, decision-ready information, recommendations, and communications for executive and governance audiences.
Translate complex technical, financial, development, design, schedule, community, and project information into materials for executive and Board-level decision-making.
Facilitate partner engagement and alignment; communicate project progress, decisions, open issues, required actions, risks, opportunities, and sensitivities.
Support alignment around project objectives, priorities, governance processes, and major decisions.
Serve as the Foundation’s lead interface with the external owner’s representative/project manager; communicate RWJF priorities and requirements, review reporting and recommendations, and identify what information should be elevated to leadership.
Facilitate access to appropriate RWJF partners for project decisions, thoughtfully challenge recommendations when appropriate, and empower external professionals to execute within their responsibilities.
Coordinate external advisors, project partners, community partners, and internal leadership to align work with initiative priorities and strategic objectives, including close collaboration with the New Jersey department.
Lead community and civic engagement related to real estate strategy, site selection, and development, and partner with the external engagement team to steward Community Benefit Agreement commitments from planning through implementation.
Build and sustain relationships with Newark anchor institutions, community and neighborhood organizations, philanthropic peers, municipal leaders, and other partners.
Advise RWJF leadership on real estate and development matters, including evaluating potential sites, development opportunities, ownership structures, partnerships, and transaction strategies.
Help leadership assess real estate opportunities, risks, trade-offs, and long-term implications; critically assess external advisors’ information and recommendations.
Evaluate development risks and opportunities identified through due diligence and determine when matters require escalation or further investigation.
Support strategic relationships with developers, municipalities, public agencies, economic development organizations, institutional partners, and community partners.
Develop a strong understanding of development activity, market dynamics, and partner relationships in Newark and other relevant New Jersey markets.