Project Director - Firefighter Project (Volunteer)

Description

Project Director (Volunteer)

Special Projects & Strategic Initiatives

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location: Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Type: Volunteer (Senior Leadership Role)

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, creative expression, and community-based initiatives. MAP also leads a growing portfolio of special projects that bring together research, design, education, housing, media, and public-interest innovation.

These projects require strong leadership, ethical grounding, and cross-sector coordination.

Role Overview

The Project Director is responsible for owning the vision, scope, timeline, and execution of MAP’s special projects. This role serves as the central connector between MAP leadership and internal and external partners—ensuring projects are aligned with mission, delivered responsibly, and grounded in ethical and trauma-informed practice.

The Project Director acts as a senior thought partner to MAP leadership and provides clarity, structure, and accountability across complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Own project vision, scope, and strategic direction from concept through completion
• Define timelines, milestones, deliverables, and success metrics
• Serve as the primary liaison between MAP leadership and project partners
• Coordinate collaboration across researchers, designers, educators, technologists, and community stakeholders
• Ensure all projects align with MAP’s mission, values, and long-term goals
• Uphold ethical standards, consent practices, and community trust across all work
• Identify risks, dependencies, and decision points and guide resolution
• Support teams with clarity, alignment, and problem-solving
• Provide regular progress updates and recommendations to MAP leadership

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex projects, programs, or special initiatives
• Strong strategic, organizational, and systems-thinking skills
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and workstreams simultaneously
• Comfort operating at both big-picture and execution levels
• Excellent communication, judgment, and leadership presence
• Commitment to equity, ethics, and mission-driven work

Preferred Backgrounds

• Project Director, Program Director, or Special Initiatives Lead
• Experience in nonprofit leadership, research partnerships, education, housing, media, or public-interest work
• Familiarity with cross-sector collaboration (nonprofit, government, academic, or industry)
• Experience working with vulnerable communities or youth-serving organizations

Commitment

• Volunteer senior leadership role
• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

What You’ll Gain

• Executive-level leadership experience in mission-driven initiatives
• Direct influence over high-impact projects that serve children and families
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and senior leadership
• Professional recognition and letters of recommendation
• The opportunity to lead work rooted in dignity, care, and long-term impact

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist.

Lead projects that matter—by holding vision, ethics, and execution together in service of children and communities.

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.