Volunteer Project Lead - Firefighter PPE Innovation

Description

Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability, grounded in the belief that every child is a Promise—full of potential, dignity, and possibility. We deliver consistent, high-quality programming across mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, and creative expression in shelters, schools, and community spaces, creating structured environments where students can grow, be seen, and build lasting skills.

Through signature experiences like The Imagination Studio, The Kitchen Table, The Sound Lab, and The Story Space, we nurture academic development, emotional well-being, and creative voice, all within a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and accessibility-centered framework. Our work prioritizes dignity‑protective storytelling, consent‑driven engagement, and deep community partnership, ensuring that how we serve is as intentional as whom we serve. We are not only addressing immediate needs – we are building pathways to confidence, belonging, and long‑term opportunity, so every child has the support and foundation to carry their promise forward.

Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Remote with NYC-based coordination as needed

Volunteer (Senior Project Management Role)

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a NYC‑based nonprofit supporting children and youth experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, and creative expression. Through Thread & Promise Special Projects, MAP advances mission‑driven design, innovation, and safety initiatives—including advanced protective gear for firefighters and first responders. The Firefighter Special Projects initiative brings together designers, materials scientists, engineers, and safety experts to develop next‑generation protective equipment that prioritizes human health, cancer prevention, heat protection, and mobility.

The Project Manager – Firefighter Special Projects leads the coordination and execution of MAP’s firefighter safety and protective‑gear development initiatives. This role ensures that multidisciplinary teams move from research to prototypes to testing with clarity, accountability, and rigor. This is a leadership role at the center of MAP’s most technically complex innovation work.

• Lead project planning, timelines, and deliverables across firefighter gear initiatives
• Coordinate collaboration between designers, engineers, material scientists, and advisors
• Track research, prototyping, testing, and compliance milestones
• Maintain documentation, project trackers, and communication workflows
• Ensure safety, ethics, and mission alignment across all project activity
• Support grant reporting, partner updates, and technical reviews
• Identify risks, gaps, and resource needs and escalation appropriately
• Serve as the operational bridge between Thread & Promise leadership and technical teams

• Experience in project management, engineering projects, product development, or technical programs
• Ability to manage complex, multidisciplinary work streams
• Strong organizational, documentation, and communication skills
• Comfort working with scientific, design, and engineering teams
• Commitment to safety, equity, and mission-driven innovation

• Experience in product development, PPE, materials science, or industrial design
• Familiarity with prototyping, testing, or regulatory environments
• Background in healthcare, firefighting, safety, or manufacturing is a plus
• Experience working with nonprofit or research partnerships

• Volunteer leadership role
• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6‑month commitment preferred
• Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

• Leadership experience in a cutting‑edge safety and innovation initiative
• Direct impact on firefighter health, safety, and cancer prevention
• Collaboration with world‑class designers, engineers, and researchers
• Professional recognition and letters of recommendation
• The opportunity to help build life‑saving equipment