Programs Assistant Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

Job description

Children’s Programs Assistant (Volunteer)

Department: Programs

Organization: A Free Bird | 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

Location: Remote

Position Type: Unpaid Role

Commitment: 5-10 hours per week | 3-month minimum

About Us:

A Free Bird is a New York City-based nonprofit that empowers children diagnosed with cancer through the healing power of the arts. We provide young artists with the support, tools, and guidance they need to explore creative mediums such as music, writing, painting, acting, and more. Through our programs-Dream Big, Take Flight, and Fly Free we help children find hope, strength, and expression through their artistic passions.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a proactive and highly organized Children’s Programs Assistant to support our Programs Director in the daily management of A Free Bird’s artistic and therapeutic programming. This volunteer will play a vital role in ensuring smooth communication, organization, and execution across multiple initiatives, including internal projects and public-facing events. You’ll gain hands-on experience supporting program development while learning directly from leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist the Programs Director with ongoing projects, scheduling, research, outreach, and communication
• Draft and send professional emails on behalf of the Director
• Maintain and update the Programs calendar with key meetings, deadlines, and events
• Create and manage templates, documents, and spreadsheets for internal use
• Take phone calls or join meetings on behalf of the Director as needed
• Coordinate with Programs Coordinators across Dream Big, Take Flight, and Fly Free to relay tasks and updates
• Support outreach efforts to schools, hospitals, and partner organizations
• Attend and assist with A Free Bird events and fundraising initiatives
• Maintain organized records and collaborative files shared with other team members
• Ensure alignment with A Free Bird’s mission and contribute to its impact

Qualifications & Competencies:

• Currently pursuing a degree in Psychology, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Education, or a related field
• OR at least 1 year of experience in an assistant or administrative support role
• Exceptional organization, time management, and communication skills
• Self-motivated, responsive, and comfortable working independently
• Proficient in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Calendar, Drive)
• Comfortable using multiple devices (desktop, laptop, smartphone, tablet)
• Professional and compassionate demeanor, especially when working in a child-focused environment

What You'll Gain

• Direct exposure to nonprofit leadership and operations
• Access to free educational workshops and open classes across multiple organizational departments
• Letter of recommendation and certificate of completion upon successful completion
• Networking opportunities with professionals, volunteers, and nonprofit leaders
• Professional experience in administration and executive support
• Flexible remote schedule
• Most importantly, you'll directly support programs that bring hope and healing to children battling cancer.

Commitment Expectations:

To help our teams collaborate effectively, all volunteers are expected to:

• Commit at least 3 months
• Contribute approximately 5-10 hours per week
• Attend our 30-minute virtual team meetings every Tuesday and Thursday
• Communicate proactively and work collaboratively with fellow volunteers

We're looking for individuals who are excited to grow with the team and can consistently participate in our weekly meetings.

Our Culture

At A Free Bird, we believe our volunteers are family.

We foster a friendly, collaborative, and positive environment where volunteers support one another, learn together, and work toward one shared mission: helping children with cancer discover hope through creativity.

We're passionate about using technology to improve how we serve our community and continuously innovate the way nonprofits operate.

How to Apply:

Please send your resume and a brief message of interest to hr@afreebird.org. We look forward to learning how you can help us support and inspire young artists.