Poetry & Schools
Program Associate
In 2027, Oyster River Pages (ORP) seeks a motivated and responsible individual who is detail-oriented, creative, and passionate about poetry and the creative arts to serve as our first-ever Poetry & Schools Program Associate. In this unique volunteer role, the Poetry & Schools Program Associate will support ORP’s poetry team by reading and reviewing poetry submissions and participating in the selection and publication process for our 10th annual issue. They will also assist with the administration of ORP’s Schools program, including providing hosting support for instructors and assisting with communications and outreach for classes, workshops, and other gatherings.
This position will report to Eneida P. Alcalde, ORP Poetry Editor & Schools Administrator. Preference will be given to applicants with a history of involvement in the literary arts (or equivalent experience) and an interest in supporting a volunteer-led nonprofit.
Specific Responsibilities & Timeline
January–June: Assist with the review of poetry submissions for ORP’s 10th annual issue, including voting on submissions, providing constructive feedback, and participating in regular online meetings with ORP’s poetry team.
January–June: Interview at least one Schools instructor for publication in ORP’s Soundings, with guidance and support from the Poetry Editor & Schools Administrator.
January–December: Participate in Schools workshops, classes, and meetups, providing administrative and technical support as needed.
January–December: Support communications and outreach efforts for Schools, including helping develop marketing campaigns for each class, creating and/or editing videos for social media and website, and building course registration pages.
April–November: Develop and implement a Schools course of your own, to be offered in November. You will be compensated like other Schools instructors, who receive 80% of total course fees, with the remaining 20% supporting ORP’s administrative costs.
Preferred Qualifications
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and analytical abilities.
Strong attention to detail, outstanding organizational skills, and the ability to manage and follow through on multiple tasks.
Self-motivated with a can-do outlook, resourceful, flexible, and energetic, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
A commitment to empowering new voices in the literary arts, especially those from underrepresented groups, including Brown and Black voices, Queer voices, and voices that are decentered and marginalized.
Comfortable with Canva, Google Workspace (including Google Meet), Slack, WhatsApp, macOS, and Microsoft Office Suite.
Experience in course development, implementation, and evaluation.
Nonprofit, communications, social media, and marketing experience are a plus.
Time Commitment
This is a 12-month appointment running from January through December 2027, with the possibility of extension. The expected commitment is approximately 10–20 hours per month. Please note that most monthly team meetings take place in the evenings Eastern Time, and the Poetry Editor & Schools Administrator is based in Singapore.
Compensation
This is a volunteer position, with the exception of the Schools course you develop and teach, for which you will be compensated like other Schools instructors.
In addition to receiving compensation for your Schools course, the Poetry & Schools Program Associate will receive:
One-to-one feedback on 2 to 3 poems from the Poetry Editor.
One-to-one support in the interview process for Soundings.
One-to-one support in the development of your Schools course.
Participate as ORP admin staff in all Schools program offerings.
Firsthand experience in the inner workings of a literary arts nonprofit, gaining valuable insights on the submissions & publication process and program development.
How to Apply
Complete the questions in our application form and submit the form, along with the following materials, via Submittable by December 1, 2026:
Your resume;
Contact information (email addresses and phone numbers) for three professional references;
A 2-3 page poetry sample; and a
2-3 page prose sample (may be an excerpt of a longer piece).
Both samples may be published or unpublished.
Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis via Google Meet. This position will be filled only if a suitable candidate is identified.
Questions? Email ORP at schools@oyserriverpages.com.
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