Director of Animation Department (Volunteer)

Director of Animation Department (Volunteer)

PromiseStudios | Animation, Motion Storytelling & Creative Production

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location: Hybrid / Remote

Type: Volunteer (Leadership)

Reports To: Chief of Content & Storytelling

Works Closely With: PromiseStudios (Design & Production), PromiseVoice, PromisePress, PromiseLearning, PromisePublic, PromiseBrands

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, and community. As MAP expands its storytelling and digital presence, animation becomes a powerful tool to communicate lived experiences, education, and impact in accessible and engaging ways.

About PromiseStudios | Creative, Storytelling & Production

PromiseStudios is MAP’s creative division responsible for media, design, storytelling, and production. The division ensures that all creative outputs—from video to animation—are cohesive, high-quality, and aligned with MAP’s mission and voice.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Director of Animation Department to lead and oversee all animation work across Mentor A Promise.

This role is responsible for setting the creative direction, building and managing an animation team, and ensuring that all motion content reflects clarity, quality, and narrative impact.

This is a creative leadership and production systems role.

Key Responsibilities

Creative Direction & Motion Identity

• Define animation styles, motion standards, and visual storytelling approaches
• Ensure all animation aligns with MAP’s brand, tone, and mission
• Guide narrative development for animated content

Department Leadership

• Recruit, manage, and support animators and motion designers
• Assign projects, set timelines, and oversee deliverables
• Build a structured and collaborative animation team

Production Oversight

• Oversee animation projects including educational content, storytelling pieces, campaigns, and digital media
• Ensure quality, consistency, and alignment across all animation outputs
• Review and approve final deliverables

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Work closely with writers, illustrators, designers, and program teams
• Collaborate with PromiseVoice (communications), PromisePress (editorial), and PromiseLearning (curriculum)
• Support storytelling for advocacy, education, and public engagement

Systems & Workflow Development

• Establish animation production workflows and pipelines
• Maintain organized project tracking and asset management systems
• Improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability of animation production

Accessibility & Inclusive Design

• Ensure animations are accessible (captions, clarity, pacing, readability)
• Collaborate with accessibility teams to support inclusive storytelling
• Ensure representation reflects diverse lived experiences

Communication & Responsiveness

• Maintain clear and timely communication with team members
• Coordinate work using Google Workspace and project management tools

Qualifications

Required

• Strong portfolio in animation or motion design
• Experience leading creative or production projects
• Strong understanding of storytelling through motion
• Ability to manage multiple projects and contributors
• Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity-centered values

Preferred

• Experience in animation for education, nonprofits, or digital media
• Experience managing creative or production teams
• Familiarity with animation pipelines and production workflows
• Interest in socially driven storytelling

Commitment

• Volunteer leadership role
• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Hybrid / remote with optional NYC-based collaboration

What You’ll Gain

• Leadership experience building and directing an animation department
• Opportunity to shape motion storytelling for a growing nonprofit
• Portfolio development across impactful, mission-driven projects
• Collaboration with cross-functional creative and program teams
• Professional references and letters of recommendation

How to Apply

Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit:

• Resume (required)
• Portfolio (required)
• Cover letter (required) describing relevant experience and interest in MAP’s mission

This role brings stories to life.

Help ensure that every movement, frame, and narrative reflects purpose, clarity, and the lived experiences of the communities we serve.

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.