Protective Apparel Drafting & Equipment Design Professional (Volunteer)

Protective Apparel Drafting & Equipment Design Professional (Volunteer)

PromiseBrands | Firefighter Protective Gear, Technical Drafting & Materials Innovation

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: PromiseBrands

Location: Remote / Hybrid (NYC Collaboration as Needed)

Type: Volunteer Technical Design & Innovation Role

Reports To: Strategic Innovation Leadership / CEO

Works Closely With: Materials Researchers, Industrial Designers, Firefighters, Technical Advisors, Sustainability Partners, Manufacturers, and Innovation Collaborators

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit committed to innovation, public impact, and systems-level problem solving. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, MAP supports initiatives that bridge sustainability, design, research, technology, and social impact.

Within PromiseBrands, MAP explores emerging ideas connected to ethical innovation, sustainable design, product development, and future-facing systems that serve people and communities.

We believe thoughtful design can improve safety, strengthen systems, and contribute to healthier futures.

About PromiseBrands | Innovation, Design & Product Development

PromiseBrands is MAP’s innovation and product-focused division responsible for creative systems, design exploration, materials innovation, and emerging product concepts.

The division supports work involving:

• Sustainable design
• Product innovation
• Materials research
• Ethical manufacturing exploration
• Creative and technical development
• Research-informed product systems

PromiseBrands helps ideas move from early concept toward meaningful and responsible application.

Role Overview

Mentor A Promise is seeking a highly skilled Protective Apparel Drafting & Equipment Design Professional to support technical drafting and design development involving firefighter turnout gear and protective clothing systemsconnected to the PFAS-free materials initiative.

This role focuses on transforming research and design ideas into:

• Professional technical garment drawings
• Construction specifications
• Technical schematics
• Concept-ready protective equipment visuals
• Prototype-support documentation

The Design Professional will help create and refine technical assets that support collaboration with researchers, manufacturers, and innovation partners exploring PFAS-free alternatives and next-generation protective systems.

This role is ideal for professionals with experience in:

• Technical apparel drafting
• PPE development
• Protective equipment design
• Garment construction
• Industrial design
• Performance and technical clothing systems

This is a technical design and innovation role focused on safety, sustainability, and applied protective equipment development.

Core Responsibilities

Technical Apparel Drafting

• Develop and refine technical garment drawings and protective apparel schematics
• Create professional drafting materials for firefighter turnout gear and protective clothing systems
• Support design detailing, garment construction visualization, and technical documentation
• Translate concepts into technically organized and presentation-ready materials

Protective Equipment Design Support

Support design concepts involving:

• Firefighter turnout gear
• Protective layer systems
• Functional equipment integration
• Performance and mobility considerations
• Safety-centered garment construction
• Human-centered design considerations

Help transform research and conceptual ideas into technically grounded visual systems.

Concept-to-Prototype Documentation

• Help move early-stage concepts toward prototype-ready documentation
• Support preparation of specification sheets and design revisions
• Contribute to presentation materials and implementation-oriented design systems
• Help create materials that support technical and manufacturing conversations

PFAS-Free Materials Collaboration

• Collaborate with research and innovation teams exploring PFAS-free materials and sustainable textile alternatives
• Support integration of materials research into protective apparel concepts
• Assist in aligning technical design with emerging sustainability research
• Help bridge design and materials innovation workflows

Research & Manufacturing Collaboration Support

Prepare technical design assets and documentation supporting conversations with:

• Research institutions
• Materials laboratories
• Manufacturers
• Commercialization collaborators
• Innovation and development partners

Help position concepts and technical systems for collaborative development opportunities.

Design Documentation & Asset Organization

• Help organize inherited concept drawings and technical design assets
• Support version control and documentation systems
• Assist with cataloging design libraries and project files
• Help maintain professional and organized technical records

Qualifications

We welcome candidates from diverse technical and design backgrounds.

Strong candidates may have experience or interest in:

• Technical apparel design
• Garment drafting
• PPE or protective equipment design
• Industrial or product design
• Textile development
• Performance apparel
• Fire service equipment design
• Technical fashion development
• Prototype or manufacturing support

Preferred Skills

• Experience with technical apparel drafting or garment construction
• Familiarity with PPE, performance clothing, or technical textiles
• Strong visual communication and design documentation abilities
• Experience using:
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • CLO3D
  • CAD
  • Technical design software
  • or comparable platforms
• Strong attention to construction logic and technical detail
• Ability to collaborate across research and innovation teams
• Interest in sustainability and public safety innovation

Commitment

Volunteer role

Approximately 5–10 hours per week

Minimum 6-month commitment required

Remote / hybrid collaboration with optional NYC engagement

What You’ll Gain

• Experience contributing to next-generation protective equipment innovation
• Exposure to PFAS-free materials and technical apparel development
• Portfolio-building experience in PPE and firefighter gear design
• Collaboration with interdisciplinary innovation and research teams
• Opportunity to help shape safer and more sustainable protective equipment systems
• Professional references and letters of recommendation

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist and submit:

• Resume
• Portfolio or technical design samples (preferred)
• Brief statement of interest

Help shape the future of protective equipment.

Building technical systems where safety, sustainability, and innovation are designed together.

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.