Project Manager – Thread & Promise (Volunteer)

Description

Project Manager – Thread & Promise (Volunteer)

Design, Innovation & Special Projects

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: Thread & Promise

Location: NYC-based collaboration required (with remote work as needed)

Type: Volunteer (Project Management & Design Operations Role)

About Mentor A Promise & Thread & 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, and creative expression.

Thread & Promise is MAP’s design and innovation division, advancing mission-driven apparel, materials research, and special projects—including firefighter safety initiatives and other purpose-built design work. Projects bring together designers, engineers, researchers, and community partners and require close, hands-on coordination.

Role Overview

The Project Manager – Thread & Promise supports the planning, coordination, and execution of Thread & Promise design and innovation projects. This role ensures timelines, deliverables, and communication stay aligned while supporting designers through in-person collaboration when needed.

The Project Manager serves as the operational backbone between creative teams and MAP leadership—helping ideas move from concept to prototype with clarity and care.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage project timelines, milestones, and deliverables across Thread & Promise initiatives
• Coordinate schedules, meetings, and workflows for designers and collaborators
• Meet in person with designers in NYC as needed to support hands-on project coordination
• Track progress across design, research, prototyping, and testing phases
• Maintain clear documentation, task trackers, and communication updates
• Support collaboration between designers, engineers, researchers, and leadership
• Identify risks, bottlenecks, or resource needs and escalate appropriately
• Ensure projects remain aligned with MAP’s mission, ethics, and safety standards

Qualifications

• Experience in project management, operations, or design coordination
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Comfort working with creative and technical teams
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams and shifting priorities
• Availability for periodic in-person meetings in NYC
• Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity-centered values

Preferred Skills

• Experience supporting design, apparel, or product development projects
• Familiarity with prototyping or materials-based workflows
• Experience working with nonprofit or mission-driven organizations
• Comfort using project management tools (e.g., Asana, Notion, Trello, Google Workspace)

Commitment

• Volunteer role
• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Hybrid: remote work with required NYC-based in-person collaboration

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on experience managing mission-driven design projects
• Direct collaboration with designers and innovation teams
• Exposure to special projects with real-world safety and social impact
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• The opportunity to help turn thoughtful design into tangible outcomes

How to Apply

Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit:

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required) describing relevant experience and availability for NYC-based collaboration

Help keep Thread & Promise moving—by grounding creative work in structure, coordination, and care.

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.