Program Assistant, PEN​/Barbey Freedom to Write Center

PEN America, a growing nonprofit organization that stands at the intersection of literature and human rights, seeks a program assistant to support the day-to-day operations of the Freedom to Write Center and Kronika. This is a full‑time, union‑eligible position based in New York and reports to the Managing Director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Center.

This early‑career position offers a significant opportunity for professional growth in a role that will expose the incumbent to all aspects of PEN America’s international work. Ideal for a motivated entry‑level professional who is passionate about literature, human rights, and freedom of expression, this role will support a growing team by providing administrative and logistical support.

The successful candidate will be committed to PEN America’s mission as a human rights and free expression organization and be passionate about supporting writers at risk and protecting endangered materials. The successful candidate will work well under pressure, be comfortable juggling priorities, and have experience with one or more areas of programmatic work, including desktop research, social media, and event planning.

All positions are subject to a five‑month trial period and assessment. In alignment with PEN America’s current policy, all applicants should be available to report to the office at least three days per week.

• Provide administrative support to the international team including scheduling, making travel arrangements, preparing for and taking minutes at meetings, creating and maintaining extensive filing and archiving systems and processing finances and payments
• Assist with event planning, including virtual events
• Assist with preparing, drafting, proofreading, editing, formatting, coding, and/or distributing materials such as news releases, reports, tables, charts, briefing papers, op‑eds, publications, and text and image web content
• Draft copy for social media, post blogs, and press releases, and assist colleagues with various communication needs
• Support with recruiting, onboarding, providing guidance to, and coordinating interns, and with the recruiting of other staff
• Provide research assistance to staff, as needed
• Assist with tracking and acknowledging donations and donor communications
• All PEN America staff are considered to be stakeholders in the development of our shared organization. As such, staff play a role in varied activities within the workplace as part of their job responsibilities. These may include committees or task forces to work on office issues, diversity and inclusion, strategy projects, training, or other initiatives.