Programs Manager

While Shout Mouse Press mostly operates remotely, candidates are expected to reside within commuting distance of our headquarters in Washington, DC. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to those received by November 11, 2024, with a target start date of January 2025.

Reports To: Programs Director

Work Days and Hours: .75 FTE (30 hrs/week)

Work Location: Hybrid

Compensation: $55,000

About Shout Mouse Press

Shout Mouse Press (shoutmousepress.org) is dedicated to centering and amplifying the voices of marginalized youth (ages 12+) via writing workshops, publication, and public speaking opportunities. The young people we coach are underrepresented—as characters and as creators—within young people’s literature, and their perspectives underheard. Our work provides a platform for them to tell their own stories and, as published authors, to act as leaders and agents of change.

SMP authors have produced original children’s books, novels, comics, memoirs, and poetry collections that expand empathy, advance social justice, and increase understanding of underheard perspectives. Since our founding in 2014 we have produced 50+ books by 500+ incarcerated, immigrant, Black, low-income, and otherwise marginalized youth in Greater Washington, D.C.

The Opportunity

Shout Mouse Press is looking for a self-motivated, mission-driven Programs Manager with a passion for creative writing, youth development, social justice, and diverse books. This person is responsible for managing the successful planning and completion of Writing, Author Talk, and Author Pathways Programming through direct youth engagement. This is an ideal position for candidates seeking an opportunity to work in a small, non-profit environment while making high organizational impacts.

The ideal candidate will be energetic and social justice-oriented, and passionate about using children’s and YA literature to promote social change. Applicants should be eager to promote the mission and programs of Shout Mouse Press. Relevant backgrounds could include creative writing, youth services, education, and arts administration.

This position reports directly to the Programs Director, and works closely with all members of the Shout Mouse Press team, including Executive Director, Deputy Director, Publishing Manager, Operations Manager, and youth author interns.

Essential Job Responsibilities

This job description provides a general guideline to duties and responsibilities expected and essential for this new position. It is not all inclusive and the actual position may vary as circumstances indicate or as determined by the team.

Please follow this link for detailed descriptions of our programming

Author Talk Program (40%)

• Serve as main point of contact for all parties interested in booking an Author Talk
• Book and confirm youth authors for Author Talks
• Manage all logistics for Author Talks, including confirming youth authors for speaking engagements and booking rideshares for authors, as needed.
• Attend all Author Talks and document via photography and impact statements
• Support planning and facilitation of Author Talk trainings
• Strategize ways to improve Author Talk program
• Ensure timely entry of Author Talk and other programming expenses and revenue into accounting system to maintain accurate record-keeping and swift honoraria payment to authors.

Writing Program (35%)

• Support the Programs Director with program design, including lesson plans, logistics, coordination of supplies, youth outreach, etc.
• Support the Programs Director in hiring and managing Story Coaches for book projects
• Participate as a Story Coach, or teaching artist, on relevant projects
• Support in recruiting young people for writing programs
• Serve as the main point of contact for young people involved in writing programs
• Support in reviewing and editing stories
• Collect feedback from those participating in writing programs for program evaluation

Author Pathways Program (10%)

• Provide support for alumni using author experience for college, scholarship essays, and other professional development opportunities
• Research potential professional development and scholarship opportunities for authors
• Write and maintain the monthly Author Newsletter to engage new and alumni youth authors
• Lead monthly author writing circles for interested alumni authors

Miscellaneous (15%)

• Support fulfillment of Shout Mouse website book orders weekly at the Shout Mouse office, including support with inventory management
• Support Team with event planning, facilitation, and hosting as needed, including book releases, book festivals, book conventions, and other community engagement activities
• Support on-site sales at book festivals, conferences, Shout Mouse author events, etc.
• Potentially serve as on-site Shout Mouse representative at partner events and media interviews
• Build connections with mission-aligned organizations and storytellers

This position primarily requires a hybrid work environment, including at home, in-office, and on-site events.. Office visits are required approximately once a week and on-site events approximately 3-4 times per month. In-person work may increase to daily during high programming times (writing workshops, book releases, trainings, etc.).

Sitting for long periods of time is typical for this position, but brief periods of walking or standing may occur. Nonessential functions of this job include the ability to lift boxes or bags weighing less than 25 pounds to a height of 3-4 feet at times.

Qualifications

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.

Required

• 3+ years experience in related field: creative writing, education, youth services, or arts administration
• Experience working directly with youth, ages 12-24
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including creative writing and public speaking
• A commitment to social justice and the role that the arts play in social change
• Strong intercultural competency and comfort working in culturally diverse team settings
• High level of organization with excellent attention to detail
• Ability to travel to conferences, meetings and special events
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some extended workdays, evenings, and some weekends, pending book event schedules
• Proficient technology skills including GSuite, Adobe Suite, Canva

Preferred

• Knowledge of the children’s and YA literature landscape, especially #DiverseBooks
• Spanish fluency

Compensation and Benefits

• The salary for this position is $55,000 per year. SMP practices putting forth our best and most competitive offer first to alleviate the pressure on candidates to negotiate up.
• A flexible work environment. This position requires regular on-site work and occasional work at our office in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC, but otherwise operates remotely, with flexible work hours. SMP additionally practices No-meeting Fridays, with rare exceptions.
• Monthly tax-free healthcare reimbursements and access to 503(b) retirement plan
• A generous PTO schedule, including 20 accrued vacation days, 12 holidays, and 5 floating holidays. Additional leave includes 10 sick days and 12 weeks paid family leave. SMP values work-life balance and your holistic well-being.
• Professional development stipend. We are committed to leadership development and prioritize continuing education opportunities for all staff.

Access, Equity, and Inclusion

Shout Mouse Press is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Shout Mouse is committed to building a culturally diverse team and to providing professional development opportunities for the next generation of diverse artists and writers. We strongly encourage applicants who are people of color, LGBTQ+, disabled, and/or members of otherwise marginalized groups.

Interested?

Please send a resume, cover letter, and creative writing sample/excerpt (500 word maximum) to JoinTheTeam @ ShoutMousePress.org with subject line: Programs Manager. Please ensure that your cover letter details not only your relevant work experience but also your mission alignment with our work, and how diversity, equity, and inclusion guides the work you do. Applicants seeking a long-term relationship with Shout Mouse will get first consideration.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to those received by November 11, 2024, with a target start date of January 2025.