About the 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 and support a culture of belonging. Part of this work includes actively shaping an inclusive organization where all staff members thrive as we build and use our capabilities, voice, and power to advance health equity. RWJF offers a collaborative, collegial, and creative work environment. With a career at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, you will make a difference.  

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About This Opportunity

Reporting to the senior director, Impact Investments, the impact investment officer contributes to the development, implementation, and ongoing management of RWJF’s impact investing program to improve health and healthcare. Their primary responsibilities include identifying areas where debt, equity, and guarantees can further the Foundation’s programmatic objectives, underwriting and structuring investments and monitoring the financial and programmatic performance of investments over time. In addition, the impact investment officer maintains relationships externally with co-investors and represents the Foundation on panels and at conferences.

RWJF uses impact investments (debt, equity, guarantees) to complement its grantmaking. The impact investment officer will work closely with Program staff to identify sector-level issues that lend themselves to investment; develop a capital strategy; identify or create transactions; and assist in the ongoing learning, evaluation, and asset management of transactions.

This position works with multiple partners and the ideal candidate must have the right blend of hard and soft skills, including a finance or banking background, evidence of sustained idea generation, an understanding of the social/impact investing sector, and a passion to use capital to make a difference. The candidate must have strong written and oral presentation skills and an understanding of how to present to, and work with, an investment committee.

As with staff at all levels of RWJF, the investment officer is expected to demonstrate a passionate commitment to equity and the Foundation’s mission and Guiding Principles.

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Essential Job Responsibilities

Shape, implement, and manage investment strategies in support of relevant RWJF initiatives (20%)

• Work with Program staff and Impact Investment staff to develop a pipeline of investment opportunities that addresses a critical capital barrier in a sector (20%).
• Convene and lead external experts to gather information and synthesize input, data and research to inform strategy development (20%).
• Evaluate the credit quality of each investment. Structure transactions to achieve programmatic and financial objectives (including financial analysis, investments structuring, pricing decisions, overall investment recommendation) (20%).

Other (20%)

• Underwrite transactions for risk and impact, present to the Investment Committee, lead the closing process, and, over time, coordinate with the portfolio manager on capital calls and ongoing asset management.
• Work with colleagues in Law, Finance, and Grants Management to ensure all necessary information is available to meet internal communication needs.
• Establish relationships with key external partners—including within the market-rate and social capital markets—to leverage RWJF’s investments with funds from other aligned investors.
• Represent RWJF at external gatherings, e.g., on panels, in social media.
• Work with staff and consultants to assess, evaluate, and disseminate results of programs and projects. Work with staff to develop measures of impact for major programs and activities.
• Work with staff and consultants to harvest learnings from transactions and to actively disseminate results and learnings to other staff, grantees, and the field.
• Work with other key units across the Foundation involved with communications, particularly in dissemination through websites, social media, research, evaluations, and learning.
• Actively participate in team activities and improving team functioning, including compliance with team norms and providing support and backup for team members.
• Partner/collaborate with the director and team to provide insight and guidance on programmatic strategies and impact investing.
• Work independently but use judgment to identify important checkpoints.
• Act as a coach/mentor to other team members and as a role model to staff.

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Minimum Requirements

• Commitment to racial and health equity and the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.
• Experience working effectively in and fostering an inclusive environment as part of a multidisciplinary team with people from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated experience underwriting debt and equity transactions. Experience in private credit or private equity is desired.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills necessary to interact as a team member with Foundation colleagues across programmatic and operational functions.
• Able to think creatively about opportunities to create and respond to novel and innovative approaches and to inspire others to work toward achieving Foundation goals.
• Able to synthesize material and identify opportunities, while continuing to see the big picture.
• Strong written and verbal skills; demonstrated persuasive and respectful presentation skills to communicate on a range of complex issues with internal leadership, external high-level partners, and people from the communities in which we are working.
• Ability to travel; including site visits and representing the Foundation at outside meetings.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, urban planning, or related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Advanced degree in related field is preferred.
• Minimum: 8–10 years’ experience in banking, finance, real estate or private equity, or community development. Candidates whose experience exceeds the minimum requirements will be considered and of particular interest for the role..
• 10–15 years of experience that meets the minimum qualifications and includes work in private credit, private equity, or community development.
• 15+ years of experience that meets the minimum qualifications and includes a combination of private credit, private equity, or community development.
• Candidates will be asked to provide an example of a prior transaction they led, as well as present a case study as part of the interview process.

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Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The incumbent will perform job duties in a typical business office environment. Specific physical abilities required by this job include operating basic office equipment. Incumbent will be required to attend meetings, both in person and off-site via phone or videoconference. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. RWJF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Salary

The non-negotiable starting salary for this position is $204,900. Candidates who the Foundation determines have directly related experience exceeding the minimum requirements may be provided a higher starting salary of up to $225,390. All salary offers are non-negotiable.

Benefits

RWJF offers comprehensive health and retirement benefits to employees, generous paid time off, and more. Why work at RWJF? Learn more about the benefits of working at RWJF.

Transition Stipend

A transition stipend is provided to all new hires to aid in costs related to transitioning to a new job.

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Position's Assigned Office Location

This position is assigned to our Princeton, N.J. office.

Hybrid: Flexible Purpose (HFP) Explained

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As of January 1, 2023, the Foundation has implemented a model we call Hybrid: Flexible Purpose (HFP). RWJF’s new operating model is the infrastructure (e.g., policies, practices, protocols, procedures, systems) that forms the basis for how the day-to-day operations are managed, culture is built and nurtured, and mission is delivered. This model is designed to meet the needs of the organization while giving employees as much flexibility as possible. On-site participation is determined by job responsibilities, organizational and team-level requirements, and mandatory gatherings throughout the year. While there are no fixed days per week, all employees are expected to plan their time on-site and cover commuting expenses as needed to meet those expectations. Click here to learn more about our operating model and in-office requirements.

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How to Apply

• Applicants should submit a resume and required letter of interest that illustrates how they see their technical investment skills being relevant to the Foundation’s programmatic interests, by the stated deadline.
• Internal RWJF applicants should submit a resume and letter of interest through the Internal Jobs Hub app in Workday.

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Application Deadline

Tuesday, September 2, 2025, by 10 a.m. ET.