Senior Associate, Health at Rockefeller Foundation

Position Overview

Reporting to the Managing Director, Health, the Senior Associate will serve as a strategic partner within the Health team, leading and supporting high-priority projects that advance The Rockefeller Foundation’s mission and strengthen operational excellence. This role combines rigorous analysis, clear communication, and effective project management to inform leadership decisions, shape grantmaking strategy, and enhance organizational performance. The ideal candidate is a versatile problem-solver who thrives in a dynamic, mission-driven environment and is eager to contribute to both strategic initiatives and day-to-day operations.

Pay Range: $105,000- $123,700. This represents the present low and high ends of the Foundation’s pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to experience.

Work Schedule: This role is on a hybrid work schedule, and required to be in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and/or contribute to time-bound strategic projects within the Health team and across operational teams.
• Produce well-structured research briefs on emerging issues, trends, and opportunities.
• Develop presentation decks, talking points, and memos for Board and executive discussions, working closely with leadership to frame key issues and highlight impact.
• Conduct structured analysis to support strategic decisions (e.g., resource allocation) often under tight timelines.
• Contribute to knowledge management and information synthesis to support strategy shaping and grantmaking.
• Support efforts to measure organizational performance, track progress toward strategic goals, and embed learning into how we operate.
• Design systems and processes that enhance coordination, improve decision-making, and enable the team to scale its impact.
• Serve as an active ambassador of the Health team, inside and outside of the Foundation, contributing to creating a positive, values-driven culture.
• Work on special projects and event management as directed.

Education, Experience, and Skills

• Generally expected to have at least 5 years of relevant experience in management consulting or similar strategic roles; prior exposure to the philanthropic, nonprofit, or public sectors is a plus. Experience in the Health sector is also a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Ability to apply structured thinking and analytical rigor to navigate ambiguity, define challenges clearly, and develop actionable strategies.
• Skilled at crafting compelling written and verbal communications tailored for senior leadership and board-level audiences, ensuring clarity and impact.
• Excellent PowerPoint and Excel skills.
• Skilled at leveraging artificial intelligence tools to streamline workflows, improve decision-making, and enhance organizational efficiency.
• Can manage complex initiatives to completion by building consensus, aligning stakeholders, and delivering results within matrixed environments. 
• Capacity to maintain high levels of organization and self-motivation while managing multiple dynamic workstreams and shifting priorities.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Data Oriented: Consistently achieves results by approaching work informed by data.
• Decision Quality: Makes good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Communicates Effectively: Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Strategic Learning: Actively learns through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.
• Values Differences: Recognizes the value of different perspectives, commits to being self-aware and respectful, and seeks to learn from new and different voices.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at http://rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn.

The Rockefeller Foundation offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes health insurance programs, tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment, a generous 401K, parental leave, and various forms of paid time off, all to help our employees feel energized, cared for, and engaged.

As an organization, we focus on six values to advance our culture and continue our success. We are dedicated to being Transparent, Optimistic, Accountable, Collaborative, Trusted, and Equitable. We operate from a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything that we do. It is not only the right thing to do – we could not make an impact without our team members' diverse perspectives and experiences. We expect all employees at the Foundation to contribute by developing their unique perspectives and talent, challenging conventional wisdom through evidence and reason, and amplifying marginalized voices.

The Rockefeller Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the Foundation ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, liability for service in the United States Armed Forces, or any other protected status.   

The Rockefeller Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.