Director of Animation Department (Volunteer) Job at Mentor A Promise in New York

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.