Chief Literary & Creative Writing Officer (Volunteer)

About the role

Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability. The Chief Literary & Creative Writing Officer (Volunteer) serves as the executive leader responsible for the literary vision, creative writing strategy, storytelling ecosystem, intellectual property development, and overall creative direction of PromisePages.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead MAP's long-term literary arts and storytelling strategy
• Expand opportunities for creative writing, literacy, and storytelling initiatives
• Guide the growth and evolution of the division
• Position PromisePages as a leader in mission-driven literary arts
• Oversee development of original stories, literary works, and narrative experiences
• Support fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and educational storytelling
• Foster a culture of creativity, imagination, and literary excellence
• Promote innovative approaches to storytelling and narrative design
• Strengthen literary quality across all creative projects
• Lead development of children's books and youth-centered literary content
• Promote literacy, imagination, curiosity, and belonging through storytelling
• Ensure content remains engaging, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate
• Expand MAP's children's literature portfolio
• Serve as a resource for educational storytelling initiatives
• Oversee creation of original characters and literary properties
• Guide development of story worlds and narrative universes
• Ensure continuity and consistency across creative works
• Strengthen MAP's storytelling ecosystem
• Support recruitment and development of writers, poets, editors, and storytellers
• Foster growth of emerging literary talent
• Establish standards for creative and editorial excellence
• Provide mentorship and creative leadership
• Strengthen collaboration across literary teams
• Partner with PromiseStudios on storytelling initiatives
• Support PromiseLearning through educational content development
• Collaborate with PromiseVoice on narrative and editorial projects
• Work with PromiseBrands to ensure creative alignment across intellectual property initiatives
• Support organization-wide storytelling efforts

Qualifications

• Experience in creative writing, publishing, literary arts, editorial leadership, journalism, education, storytelling, or related fields
• Strong portfolio of literary, editorial, or creative work
• Experience leading writers, editors, or creative teams
• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and leadership abilities
• Strategic and imaginative mindset
• Passion for literacy, children's literature, storytelling, and youth development

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in creative writing, publishing, literary arts, editorial leadership, journalism, education, storytelling, or related fields
• Strong portfolio of literary, editorial, or creative work
• Experience leading writers, editors, or creative teams
• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and leadership abilities
• Strategic and imaginative mindset
• Passion for literacy, children's literature, storytelling, and youth development

Why This Role Matters

The Chief Literary & Creative Writing Officer helps ensure that Mentor A Promise creates stories, characters, and literary experiences that inspire imagination, strengthen literacy, and help children believe in their own potential. This role helps shape not only stories, but futures. Success Measures include growth of MAP's literary arts initiatives, development of original stories and intellectual property, expansion of children's literature programs, literary and creative quality, author and contributor engagement, growth of MAP's storytelling ecosystem, and advancement of literacy and creative expression initiatives.

Volunteer Expectations

• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment required
• Maintain timely and professional communication
• Collaborate through MAP systems and communication platforms
• Support MAP's safeguarding standards, mission, and organizational values
• Foster an inclusive, supportive, and mission-driven team culture
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and accountability to team members

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist and include their resume, writing samples, portfolio, and cover letter. Please highlight experience involving creative writing, literary arts, editorial leadership, storytelling, children's literature, education, journalism, or related disciplines.