Program Officer

The Burke Foundation is a leading philanthropic institution in New Jersey, with a history of supporting innovative programs that create equal opportunities for all families and children. The Foundation was established in Princeton in 1989 by the late Jim E. Burke and his wife Diane (“Didi”) Burke. During his 37 years with Johnson & Johnson, Jim Burke built a legacy of visionary leadership and served as Chairman and CEO for the last 13 years of his tenure. Jim received the highest civilian honor in the nation in 2000, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and was named one of history’s greatest CEOs by Fortune magazine. In 2017, the Foundation reimagined our grantmaking focus and strategy, identifying prenatal health and early childhood development as areas where our investments can achieve the greatest good for New Jersey children and their communities. Through grantmaking and intense collaboration, we work with nonprofits to identify, rigorously evaluate, and help scale programs and policies that foster the healthy development of children and families in New Jersey. To learn more about our history and work, please visit our website, The Program Officer will manage a growing portfolio that includes the Foundation’s philanthropic investment in expanding availability of high-quality childcare; supporting expansion of Early Relational Health programs in pediatric clinics; and pursuing innovative ways to strengthen economic mobility for working families, including leading grantee partner selection and supporting large‑scale collaborations to improve the conditions for families’ success. This portfolio complements our successful work in expanding maternal home visits throughout the state, increasing availability of community doulas, and strengthening the continuum of care for families. To help ensure our investments fully reflect communities’ needs and voices, the Program Officer will serve as a content expert within the Foundation and act as a prominent external representative in networking and collaborating with key stakeholders, including policymakers, other funders, and experts in the field. The Program Officer will be an important part of a nimble, goal‑oriented, collaborative staff to help make sure our processes and systems support the desired impact. This is a unique opportunity for a skilled project manager with a strong commitment to collaboration and problem solving. The ideal candidate is someone who is excited by the opportunity to build deep connections with grantees, keep up with and incorporate new ideas from the field, address questions and challenges, and bring a collaborative and learning mindset to the work. The successful candidate will come to this role with a background in program management, research, policy, or grantmaking related to early childhood development and bring strong relationship‑building, communication, and analytical skills to the work. This is a hybrid position that requires being in our Princeton office at least 2 days per week. Occasional evening and weekend events may be required, as well as off‑site visits and meetings throughout the week. During certain times of the year, a heavier workload may be required. Proof of vaccination against COVID‑19 is required. Applications will be accepted until November 10; qualified candidates will be contacted on a rolling basis. Estimated start for the position is January 2024. #J-18808-Ljbffr