Chief Literary & Creative Writing Officer (Volunteer)

Chief Literary & Creative Writing Officer (Volunteer)

PromisePages | Literary Arts, Creative Writing & Story Development

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: PromisePages

Location: Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Commitment: Approximately 5–10 hours per week

Type: Volunteer Executive Leadership Role

Minimum Commitment: 6-month commitment required

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit organization serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, educational enrichment, workforce development, creative opportunity, advocacy, housing innovation, and community-centered support.

At MAP, we believe stories can change lives.

Stories help children imagine new possibilities.

Literature strengthens literacy, creativity, confidence, and self-expression.

Through PromisePages, MAP seeks to create stories, characters, and literary experiences that inspire young readers while expanding access to diverse voices, meaningful narratives, and transformative storytelling.

About PromisePages

PromisePages is MAP's literary arts, creative writing, storytelling, authorship, editorial development, and intellectual property creation division.

The division develops original stories, children's literature, poetry, educational narratives, story worlds, characters, literary programming, and creative writing initiatives that advance literacy, imagination, and lifelong learning.

PromisePages serves as the creative home for writers, authors, poets, editors, illustrators, and storytellers committed to using literature as a force for opportunity, belonging, and impact.

Role Overview

The Chief Literary & Creative Writing Officer serves as the executive leader responsible for the literary vision, creative writing strategy, storytelling ecosystem, intellectual property development, and overall creative direction of PromisePages.

This role oversees creative writing, children's literature, poetry, narrative development, story world creation, character development, author engagement, and literary arts programming across the organization.

Working closely with PromiseStudios, PromiseVoice, PromiseLearning, PromiseBrands, and executive leadership, the Chief Literary & Creative Writing Officer helps build a world-class literary division that creates stories capable of inspiring children for generations.

The role focuses on the creation of stories, characters, literary experiences, and intellectual property—not publishing operations, merchandising, licensing, or commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

Literary Vision & Strategy

• Develop and lead MAP's long-term literary arts and storytelling strategy
• Establish creative priorities for PromisePages
• 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

Creative Writing & Story Development

• 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

Children's Literature

• 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
• Support educational storytelling initiatives

Character & Story World Development

• Oversee creation of original characters and literary properties
• Guide development of story worlds and narrative universes
• Support long-term intellectual property creation
• Ensure continuity and consistency across creative works
• Strengthen MAP's storytelling ecosystem

Author & Editorial Development

• 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

Cross-Divisional Collaboration

• 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

Executive Leadership Responsibilities

The Chief Literary & Creative Writing Officer provides executive oversight for:

Literary Arts

Responsible for:

• Creative writing
• Poetry
• Fiction
• Creative nonfiction
• Literary programming

Children's Literature

Responsible for:

• Children's books
• Youth storytelling
• Educational narratives
• Literacy initiatives

Story Development

Responsible for:

• Narrative design
• Story architecture
• Creative development
• Literary innovation

Intellectual Property Creation

Responsible for:

• Character development
• Story worlds
• Original literary properties
• Narrative ecosystems

Author Development

Responsible for:

• Writers
• Authors
• Poets
• Storytellers
• Literary contributors

Potential Reporting Structure

Senior Director of Literary Arts & Publishing

Editor in Chief

Director of Children's Literature

Director of Story Development & Narrative Design

Director of Author Development

Poet-in-Residence

Creative Writers

Children's Book Writers

Story Developers

Narrative Editors

Copy Editors

Illustrators

Literary Arts Coordinators

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

Before a book can be published, it must first be imagined.

Before a character can inspire a child, it must first be created.

Before a story can change a life, someone must write it.

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

• 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
• Advancement of literacy and creative expression initiatives

Leadership Participation

The Chief Literary & Creative Writing Officer is expected to:

• Attend one weekly Senior Leadership Meeting
• Conduct regular check-ins with direct reports
• Participate in strategic planning and organizational initiatives
• Support cross-divisional collaboration and leadership alignment
• Contribute to organizational decision-making and long-term planning

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

What You'll Gain

• Executive leadership experience overseeing a growing literary arts division
• Opportunity to shape MAP's creative and storytelling future
• Collaboration with authors, educators, illustrators, storytellers, and creative leaders
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Meaningful impact supporting literacy, imagination, and opportunity for children and families experiencing housing instability

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.

Help build the stories, characters, and literary experiences that inspire children to dream bigger, read further, and believe in their own potential.

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.