Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability, grounded in the belief that every child is a Promise—full of potential, dignity, and possibility. We deliver consistent, high-quality programming across mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, and creative expression in shelters, schools, and community spaces, creating structured environments where students can grow, be seen, and build lasting skills. Through signature experiences like The Imagination Studio, The Kitchen Table, The Sound Lab, and The Story Space, we nurture academic development, emotional well-being, and creative voice, all within a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and accessibility-centered framework. Our work prioritizes dignity-protective storytelling, consent-driven engagement, and deep community partnership, ensuring that how we serve is as intentional as whom we serve. We are not only addressing immediate needs - we are building pathways to confidence, belonging, and long-term opportunity, so every child has the support and foundation to carry their promise forward.
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Program Director, Creative Teams (Volunteer)
PromiseStudios | Creative Leadership, Program Oversight & Production Systems
Organization Mentor A Promise (MAP)
Location Remote
Type Volunteer (Leadership)
Reports To Chief of Content & Storytelling
Works Closely With Creative Program Manager, Film, Podcast, Design, Illustration, Animation Teams, PromiseVoice, PromiseBrands
About Mentor A Promise
Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, and community. Creativity is central to our work—through storytelling, media, and design, we shape how our mission is seen, felt, and understood.
About PromiseStudios | Creative, Storytelling & Production
PromiseStudios is MAP’s creative division responsible for film, podcasting, design, illustration, animation, and storytelling. The division ensures that all creative work is not only expressive—but structured, aligned, and executed at a high level across the organization.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Program Director, Creative Teams to oversee and align all creative functions across PromiseStudios.
This role ensures that creative teams—film, podcast, design, illustration, animation, and content—operate as a cohesive, high-performing system, with clear direction, strong execution, and consistent output.
This is a senior leadership role focused on alignment, structure, and delivery across all creative work.
Key Responsibilities
Creative Program Leadership

• Oversee all creative teams and initiatives within PromiseStudios
• Ensure alignment across film, podcast, design, and storytelling work
• Set direction for creative program priorities and execution
  

Cross-Team Alignment & Coordination

• Ensure all creative teams are working toward shared goals and timelines
• Eliminate silos and improve collaboration across functions
• Align creative output with organizational priorities and campaigns
  

Execution & Production Oversight

• Ensure creative projects are delivered on time and at a high standard
• Monitor progress across multiple teams and initiatives
• Support problem-solving and remove execution barriers
  

Systems & Workflow Development

• Build and maintain structured workflows for creative production
• Standardize processes across teams
• Improve efficiency, scalability, and clarity in execution
  

Team Leadership & Support

• Support and guide team leads (film, podcast, design, etc.)
• Ensure teams are resourced, aligned, and operating effectively
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing environment
  

Quality & Consistency

• Ensure consistency in creative output, messaging, and tone
• Maintain high standards across all content and production
• Align creative work with MAP’s mission and dignity-centered values
  

Cross-Division Collaboration

• Work with PromiseVoice on messaging and communications
• Align with PromiseBrands on campaigns and product storytelling
• Coordinate with program teams to support content needs
  

Communication & Responsiveness

• Maintain clear, timely communication across teams and leadership
• Coordinate work via Google Workspace and project systems
  

Qualifications
Required

• Experience in creative leadership, program management, or production oversight
• Ability to manage multiple teams and complex workflows
• Strong organizational, leadership, and systems-thinking skills
• Strong communication and decision-making ability
• Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity-centered values
  

Preferred

• Experience in media, film, design, or creative industries
• Experience managing cross-functional creative teams
• Familiarity with production pipelines and workflows
• Experience in nonprofit or mission-driven environments
  

Commitment

• Volunteer senior leadership role
• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment required
• Hybrid / remote with optional NYC-based collaboration
  

What You’ll Gain

• Senior leadership experience overseeing a full creative division
• Opportunity to shape how an organization tells its story
• Collaboration with cross-functional leadership teams
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• A defining role in building a structured, high-impact creative system
  

How To Apply
Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required) describing experience in creative leadership or program management
  

This role brings the creative system together.
Turning many teams into one unified, intentional force.
This role holds the pieces together.
From research to outreach to execution—help ensure every story is fully built before it’s told.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.