Program Director

Location: Remote, with occasional in-person events in Toronto (must be able to attend)

About Us

INKspire is a non-profit organization that strives to empower youth voices by providing a curated web platform where young people can share their ideas and perspectives on various relevant and contemporary issues across Canada and around the world.

Position Description

INKspire is seeking a Program Director to lead our publishing team and oversee the Writer Fellowship Program (WFP). The ideal candidate is a strong leader, communicator, and organizer who is passionate about youth empowerment, publishing, and community-building.

This position averages approximately 8-10 hours per week, with workload occasionally increasing during major events and program milestones. The Publishing Director works closely with Co-Executive Directors, Managing Editor, Platform Leads, Editors, and other department leaders to support the successful delivery of publishing programs and initiatives.

Roles/Responsibilities

• Lead weekly publishing meetings
• Oversee the Writer Fellowship Program (WFP) and ensure program timelines and objectives are met
• Create and commission WFP materials, including workshop presentations and resources
• Facilitate WFP workshops and events
• Track writer engagement and serve as a secondary point of contact after Platform Leads, including following up with writers when needed
• Administer and collect feedback surveys from Writer Fellows
• Coordinate and oversee the planning and operations of WFP events, including the Launch Event, Human Library, Gala, and annual print publication
• Attend in-person events in Toronto as required
• Collaborate with fundraising, human resources, design, marketing, and other departments to support publishing department’s goals and objectives
• Respond to internal and external publishing-related inquiries via Slack and email
• Support recruitment and onboarding processes for Writer Fellows, Managing Editor, Platform Leads, Editors, and Writer-in-Residence
• Conduct regular check-ins with Platform Leads and the Managing Editor and provide ongoing feedback
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Writer-in-Residence
• Identify opportunities to improve workflows and address operational or logistical challenges within programming
• Report to Co-Executive Directors

Qualifications

• Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects, teams, and deadlines simultaneously
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Experience in program management, publishing, education, nonprofit leadership, community engagement, or related fields is considered an asset
• Ability to facilitate workshops, lead meetings, and support mentorship and team development in a collaborative environment
• Strong problem-solving and strategic thinking skills
• Experience coordinating events, managing timelines, and supporting administrative processes is considered an asset
• Familiarity with Google Workspace, Slack, Notion, and project management tools is considered an asset
• Passion for youth empowerment, storytelling, publishing, and mission-driven community programming

Why Join INKspire?

This role provides a unique opportunity to:

• Shape the future of a growing non-profit organization.
• Empower young writers to express themselves and make an impact.
• Build meaningful professional relationships in the non-profit and creative sectors.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

INKspire values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our team members. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented communities.

For questions about the role, please contact vivian@inkspire.org.