Project Director, Firefighter Innovation (Volunteer)

Project Director, Firefighter Innovation (Volunteer)

PromiseBrands | Product Innovation, Strategic Initiatives & Civic Impact

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location: Hybrid / Remote (NYC-based collaboration as needed)

Type: Volunteer (Leadership)

Reports To: Chief of PromiseBrands

Works Closely With: Promise Civic, Industrial Design Team, Marketing & Campaigns, Partnerships (PromiseBridge), Content & Storytelling (PromiseStudios)

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit committed to empowering youth experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, and community. Through its innovation and brand ecosystem, MAP is expanding into civic-focused design initiatives that elevate dignity, safety, and performance across essential workforces.

About PromiseBrands | Brand, Product & Strategic Innovation

PromiseBrands is MAP’s division responsible for product innovation, brand strategy, and mission-aligned initiatives. The division develops concepts that bridge storytelling, design, and real-world impact—ensuring that innovation reflects both purpose and execution.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Project Director, Firefighter Innovation to lead a high-impact initiative focused on reimagining firefighter-related products, systems, and storytelling within the PromiseBrands ecosystem.

This role sits at the intersection of product innovation, brand strategy, and civic impact—ensuring that concepts are not only functional, but scalable, narrative-driven, and aligned with MAP’s broader mission.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Project Leadership

• Lead the vision, planning, and execution of firefighter-focused innovation initiatives
• Define scope, milestones, and deliverables across product and brand integration
• Ensure alignment with PromiseBrands strategy and mission

Product & Concept Development

• Collaborate with design and technical teams on firefighter-related products and systems
• Support development of concepts that integrate safety, function, and design
• Ensure products reflect durability, usability, and real-world relevance

Brand & Narrative Integration

• Translate product innovation into compelling brand narratives
• Work with storytelling teams to develop campaigns and visual direction
• Ensure consistency between product, message, and mission

Cross-Division Collaboration

• Partner with Promise Civic for field insight and technical alignment
• Collaborate with PromiseStudios on storytelling and campaign execution
• Work with PromiseBridge on partnerships and external engagement

Partnerships & External Engagement

• Support development of relationships with relevant partners and stakeholders
• Explore opportunities for pilot programs, collaborations, and visibility
• Contribute to presentations and external-facing materials

Systems & Execution

• Track project progress, milestones, and outcomes
• Maintain structured documentation and workflows
• Ensure coordination across multiple teams and contributors

Communication & Responsiveness

• Maintain clear, timely communication across teams
• Coordinate work using Google Workspace and project tools

Qualifications

Required

• Experience in project leadership, product development, or strategic initiatives
• Strong organizational and cross-functional coordination skills
• Ability to lead complex, multi-team projects
• Strong communication and systems-thinking ability
• Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity-centered values

Preferred

• Experience in product innovation, brand strategy, or design-led initiatives
• Familiarity with public safety, workwear, or civic-focused products
• Experience working across creative and technical teams
• Interest in mission-driven design and storytelling

Commitment

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

What You’ll Gain

• Leadership experience at the intersection of product, brand, and civic innovation
• Opportunity to shape a high-impact, mission-driven initiative
• Collaboration across design, storytelling, and partnerships teams
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• A meaningful role connecting innovation with real-world impact

How to Apply

Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit:

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required) describing relevant experience in project leadership, product innovation, or strategic initiatives

This role connects innovation to impact.

Help turn ideas into systems, and systems into something that matters in the real world.

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.