Program Assistant, Freedom to Read

PEN America, a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of literature and human rights, seeks a proactive and organized program assistant to support our research, analysis, and commentary in defense of the freedom to read and learn in schools. This full-time, union-eligible position is based at PEN America’s New York City headquarters and reports to the senior program manager, Freedom to Read. This position has a 12-month term; any extension is contingent on availability of funding.

PEN America’s Free Expression and Education programs champion the freedom to read, learn, and think that is under threat in educational institutions in the United States. Through research, advocacy, media engagement, public events, and youth programming we aim to ensure robust protections for academic freedom and free speech are upheld in schools, colleges, and universities.

The program assistant will chiefly provide support to the Freedom to Read Program, tracking and responding to book bans and K-12 censorship. The program assistant will be able to make a critical and creative difference on a growing team advocating for the future of free expression in education -- an urgent issue now facing American democracy. There will be opportunities to gain familiarity with free expression issues broadly in the U.S., and contribute to PEN America’s resources and research reports (for past examples, see Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools (2022); America’s Censored Classrooms (2022), and Chasm in the Classroom: Campus Free Speech in a Divided America.)

The successful candidate will possess experience and interest in research and data collection and management for public impact. They will have experience with administrative tasks, an interest in advancing free expression and the freedom to read, and the ability to work collaboratively in a quickly changing environment. The position requires an energized and highly organized work style, attention to detail, a diplomatic disposition, and the ability to execute prompt, courteous, and effective email communication.

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.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support research efforts by identifying and inputting instances of book bans in K12 public schools into PEN’s comprehensive database of books bans, maintaining detailed spreadsheets, and completing data memos
• Validate cases of censorship through review of school board meeting minutes, school board hearings, district, department, and government agency websites, and other primary sources
• Track breaking news and compile key stories for Freedom to Read team
• Support team advocacy efforts in responding to cases appropriate for public commentary by drafting petitions, sign-on letters, partnerships, and other actions
• Manage submissions to PEN America’s Book Ban Report Tool
• Execute administrative tasks, including calendar management and scheduling of meetings and press availabilities, record keeping and expense tracking, and responding to information and media requests
• Support public communication via social media content, newsletter, and other tools
• Support educational efforts by preparing slide decks, developing 1-pagers and brochures, maintaining up-to-date fact sheets and talking points, facilitating student trainings, and presenting data on book bans and K-12 censorship to varied audiences
• Serve as a thought partner on the Freedom to Read team
• Assist with internal and external coordination across teams and projects
• Support and advance PEN America’s mission to safeguard free expression in the United States and abroad
• Other duties as assigned

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.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with research and data collection, social media, communications, or advocacy
• Understanding of and interest in contemporary debates over free expression and the freedom to read
• Polished, meticulous, and impeccably courteous written and verbal communication skills
• Strong project and time management skills, including meeting deadlines
• Ability to engage an ideologically varied set of stakeholders
• Energetic, prompt, and skilled at multitasking
• Proficiency with Google Suite and Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint
• Familiarity with Asana or other project management software a plus
• Experience defending free expression and/or freedom to read in educational settings a plus
• Ability to travel an estimated 10% of the time depending on program needs
• Commitment to PEN America’s mission, centered on the celebration and defense of free expression for all. Willingness to defend the right to engage in speech that may be offensive and discomfiting and that reflects a wide range of political opinions and ideologies. PEN America promotes open and respectful dialogue across difference, and we work to allow a diversity of perspectives to flourish.
• Commitment to PEN America’s advocacy and support for writers, artists and their allies around the world, without regard to the ideology or actions of their country's government

Salary and Benefits: PEN America offers competitive compensation and full benefits. The salary range for this position is $55,000-65,000, commensurate with experience. Candidates whose expectations are outside this range are welcome to apply, as PEN America is open to considering talented individuals at varying stages of their careers. PEN America's benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision health insurance, paid time off, 10 paid holidays, pre-tax commuter benefits and a 403b retirement plan.

TO APPLY:

Please submit a complete application (including a cover letter, resume, and unedited writing sample) via BambooHR. Only complete applications will be reviewed, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

PEN America is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices, and in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.

No phone calls, please.

ABOUT PEN AMERICA:

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.