Senior Director of Literary Arts & Publishing (Volunteer)

Senior Director of Literary Arts & Publishing (Volunteer)
PromisePages | Literary Arts, Publishing & 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 Senior Leadership Role
Minimum Commitment:

6-month commitment required
Reports To:

Chief of Content & Storytelling
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, literacy is more than reading.
It is imagination.
It is confidence.
It is self-expression.
It is the ability for a child to see themselves reflected in stories and to envision a future beyond their current circumstances.
Through books, stories, poetry, educational content, and creative writing, MAP seeks to cultivate a lifelong love of reading, storytelling, and learning.
About PromisePages
PromisePages is MAP's literary arts, creative writing, publishing, authorship, storytelling, and intellectual property division.
The division develops original books, children's literature, educational resources, poetry, literary works, story worlds, characters, and publishing initiatives that advance MAP's mission while expanding access to meaningful and representative stories.
PromisePages serves as the creative home for writers, authors, poets, editors, illustrators, and storytellers who believe in the transformative power of literature.
Role Overview
The

Senior Director of Literary Arts & Publishing

serves as the senior leader responsible for the vision, strategy, growth, and excellence of PromisePages.
This role oversees MAP's literary arts ecosystem, including creative writing, children's literature, publishing operations, editorial development, author engagement, story development, literary programming, and intellectual property creation.
Working closely with PromiseStudios, PromiseVoice, PromiseBrands, PromiseLearning, and executive leadership, the Senior Director helps establish MAP as a leading creator of mission-driven literature, educational storytelling, and original intellectual property.
The Senior Director serves as both literary leader and creative architect, helping build a publishing division that inspires imagination, strengthens literacy, amplifies diverse voices, and creates lasting impact for children and families.
Key Responsibilities
Literary Arts Strategy & Vision
Develop and lead the long-term vision for PromisePages
Establish strategic priorities for literary arts and publishing initiatives
Expand opportunities for creative writing, storytelling, and literacy engagement
Support the development of original literary works and publishing programs
Align publishing initiatives with MAP's mission and educational goals
Publishing Leadership
Oversee the development and publication of books, educational resources, literary works, and digital publications
Guide publishing standards, editorial quality, and creative excellence
Support publishing workflows from concept to distribution
Strengthen MAP's publishing infrastructure and capabilities
Promote innovation across publishing formats and platforms
Children's Literature Development
Lead development of children's books and youth-centered literary content
Ensure content reflects diverse experiences, imagination, hope, and belonging
Support age-appropriate storytelling and literacy development
Expand MAP's children's publishing portfolio
Promote representation and accessibility in children's literature
Story Development & Intellectual Property
Oversee creation of original characters, story worlds, and literary properties
Support long-term intellectual property development and franchise opportunities
Guide narrative development across books, educational content, podcasts, animation, and media
Strengthen continuity and storytelling quality across creative properties
Build a sustainable pipeline of original content and literary assets
Editorial & Author Development
Support writers, authors, poets, editors, and storytellers across the division
Establish editorial standards and development processes
Mentor emerging authors and creative contributors
Foster a culture of literary excellence and creative exploration
Promote professional growth opportunities for volunteers and contributors
Literacy & Community Engagement
Support literacy-focused initiatives and community storytelling programs
Explore opportunities for writing workshops and literary enrichment experiences
Strengthen engagement with readers, families, educators, and communities
Promote reading, writing, and creative expression as tools for empowerment
Expand access to literary arts opportunities
Cross-Divisional Collaboration
Collaborate with PromiseStudios on multimedia storytelling initiatives
Partner with PromiseLearning on educational resources and literacy programming
Support PromiseBrands through publishing-related campaigns and promotions
Work with PromiseVoice on editorial and storytelling opportunities
Align literary initiatives with organizational priorities
Leadership Responsibilities
The Senior Director provides leadership and oversight for:
Literary Arts
Responsible for:
Creative writing
Poetry
Fiction
Creative nonfiction
Literary programming
Publishing
Responsible for:
Book publishing
Editorial operations
Publishing standards
Publication strategy
Children's Literature
Responsible for:
Children's books
Youth storytelling
Literacy-centered content
Educational narratives
Story Development & Intellectual Property
Responsible for:
Character creation
Story worlds
Narrative development
Franchise storytelling
Author & Editorial Development
Responsible for:
Writers
Authors
Editors
Literary contributors
Potential Teams & Roles
The Senior Director may oversee roles such as:
Director of Children's Literature
Director of Story Development & Narrative Design
Director of Editorial Operations
Director of Author Development
Editor in Chief
Poet-in-Residence
Creative Writers
Children's Book Writers
Story Developers
Narrative Editors
Copy Editors
Illustrators
Publishing Coordinators
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in publishing, literature, creative writing, editorial leadership, journalism, education, literary arts, storytelling, or related fields
Strong understanding of publishing and editorial processes
Experience leading creative or literary initiatives
Exceptional written communication and storytelling abilities
Strong leadership, mentoring, and strategic planning skills
Passion for literacy, publishing, education, and youth development
Why This Role Matters
Books can change how children see themselves.
Stories can help young people imagine futures they have not yet experienced.
Literature can create belonging, understanding, empathy, and hope.
The Senior Director of Literary Arts & Publishing helps ensure that MAP creates stories that children carry with them long after the final page is turned.
This role helps build a literary legacy that strengthens literacy, amplifies voices, and creates opportunities for generations of young readers.
Success Measures
Growth of MAP's publishing portfolio
Development of original literary works and intellectual property
Reader engagement and literary impact
Expansion of children's literature initiatives
Editorial quality and publishing excellence
Author and volunteer development
Advancement of literacy and storytelling outcomes
Volunteer Expectations
Approximately 5–10 hours per week
Minimum 6-month commitment
Maintain timely and professional communication
Collaborate through MAP systems and communication platforms
Support MAP's safeguarding standards, mission, and organizational values
Participate in leadership, editorial, and strategic planning meetings
What You'll Gain
Senior leadership experience overseeing a growing literary and publishing division
Opportunity to shape the future of mission-driven publishing and children's literature
Collaboration with writers, illustrators, educators, filmmakers, podcasters, 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, publishing portfolio, or examples of relevant work.
Please highlight experience involving publishing, literary arts, editorial leadership, creative writing, children's literature, storytelling, education, journalism, or related disciplines.
Help build the stories, books, 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.