Girl Rising is seeking an experienced Producer / Project Manager to lead the organization’s upcoming Unmuted: The Girl Rising Global Storytelling Challenge, a major international storytelling initiative designed to amplify the voices and experiences of young people around the world.
The freelance opportunity combines storytelling, film production, project management and social impact, with the successful candidate expected to lead the initiative from its global launch through to the development and production of a short documentary film.
The position is remote, with a strong preference for candidates based in India, Kenya or Guatemala. The contract is expected to run for 8 months to 1 year, with potential for extension, and the successful candidate can start immediately.
Applications must be submitted by 15 September 2026.
About Girl Rising
Girl Rising is a global nonprofit organization built around the belief that stories can change the way people see the world and inspire action.
For more than a decade, the organization has used storytelling to raise awareness about girls’ education and women’s rights while working with local partners across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Girl Rising works to equip girls with the skills, support and opportunities they need to shape their futures.
In 2025, Girl Rising merged with She’s the First, strengthening its reach across countries including India, Kenya, Guatemala and the United States.
The organization’s work focuses on ensuring that girls and young people are educated, respected and heard.
About the Unmuted Global Storytelling Challenge
Unmuted is a global storytelling challenge scheduled to launch in October 2026 on International Day of the Girl.
The initiative will invite young people aged 14 to 25, as well as teachers and mentors, to share stories that have shaped their identities and the futures they are building.
Participants will be able to submit stories in different formats, including video, spoken word, written stories and drawings, allowing young people from different backgrounds to participate.
A youth panel will help curate submissions, while a final judging panel will select spotlight stories across different categories.
Selected creators will have opportunities to receive cash and technology prizes, while Girl Rising will amplify selected stories between International Women’s Day in March and International Day of the Girl in October 2027.
The strongest stories will also have the opportunity to be developed into a short documentary film in partnership with a major Hollywood production company.
About the Producer / Project Manager Role
The Producer / Project Manager will occupy a central position in the Unmuted initiative, combining operational project management with creative storytelling responsibilities.
The role has two major phases.
Phase 1: Challenge Operations
The first phase will run from approximately October 2026 to March/April 2027.
During this period, the successful candidate will lead the operational implementation of the global storytelling challenge.
Responsibilities will include coordinating the submission platform, preparing partner and youth materials, managing multilingual content and supporting the challenge launch.
The role will involve coordination across multiple countries, languages, partners and stakeholders.
The successful candidate will also oversee submission intake, eligibility reviews, judging processes and story spotlight announcements.
Phase 2: Production
The second phase is expected to run from approximately April to October 2027.
Once submissions have been reviewed and the strongest stories selected, the Producer / Project Manager will support story development and documentary production.
The successful candidate will work closely with the production company Yoruba Saxon, supporting creative and technical guidance, participant communications, field production logistics and other production requirements.
The role will also involve coordinating local cinematographers, translators, permits, participant expenses and travel where required.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Lead the operational launch of the Unmuted challenge.
- Coordinate submission platforms and multilingual materials.
- Manage outreach across India, Kenya, Uganda, Guatemala and the United States.
- Coordinate relationships with local partners, schools and community organizations.
- Support influencer and ambassador engagement.
- Manage submission intake, eligibility and organization.
- Coordinate the Young Leaders Review Panel.
- Support the official judging panel and deliberations.
- Maintain project timelines, trackers and documentation.
- Track submissions across countries, languages and formats.
- Support the development of selected stories.
- Coordinate documentary production logistics.
- Liaise with the production company throughout the film-production process.
- Support safeguarding, consent and release procedures.
- Coordinate the digital story archive and premiere activities.
Qualifications and Experience
Girl Rising is seeking a professional with at least five years of experience in film, documentary or video production and a demonstrated ability to manage complex productions from development through delivery.
Candidates should have strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple workstreams, anticipate challenges and consistently meet deadlines.
A strong sense of storytelling is also essential, as the successful candidate will need to identify stories with potential for further development and clearly communicate their creative value.
Experience working across cultures and time zones is required, while experience managing corporate partners and funder relationships at a senior level is also important.
Excellent written and verbal English communication skills are required. Additional languages, particularly Hindi, Swahili or Spanish, are strongly valued.
Experience in documentary production, global storytelling campaigns, international development, girls’ education, social impact media or content management platforms would be an advantage.
Location and Compensation
The position is remote, with a strong preference for candidates based in India, Kenya or Guatemala.
The role is offered on a freelance/independent contractor basis and is full-time equivalent.
The contract will run for approximately 8 months to 1 year, with potential for extension.
Girl Rising states that compensation will be offered at a competitive rate/project fee commensurate with experience.
The successful candidate will report to Christina Lowery, Co-CEO.
Why Apply?
This opportunity provides an unusual combination of global storytelling, documentary production, project management and social impact.
The successful candidate will have an opportunity to work with young storytellers from different parts of the world and help transform their experiences and perspectives into stories capable of reaching international audiences.
The role also provides an opportunity to contribute to a major storytelling initiative culminating in a short documentary film expected to premiere around International Day of the Girl 2027.
Job Opportunity at a Glance
- Position: Producer / Project Manager
- Project: Unmuted: The Girl Rising Global Storytelling Challenge
- Organization: Girl Rising
- Location: Remote
- Preferred locations: India, Kenya or Guatemala
- Contract: 8 months to 1 year, with potential extension
- Start date: Immediate
- Work arrangement: Freelance/Independent Contractor
- Experience: 5+ years in film, documentary or video production
- Compensation: Competitive rate/project fee
- Reports to: Christina Lowery, Co-CEO
- Application deadline: 15 September 2026
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit an updated curriculum vitae and cover letter by email.
Applications should be sent
Applicants must use the subject line:
“Application for Storytelling Challenge Producer”
The application deadline is 15 September 2026.
Candidates are encouraged to demonstrate their experience in production, project management, storytelling, international collaboration and social impact through their application materials.
Final Thoughts
The Girl Rising Producer / Project Manager Job 2026 represents an exciting opportunity for an experienced production professional who wants to combine creative storytelling with global social impact.
The successful candidate will help coordinate a major international storytelling challenge, work with young people across multiple countries and eventually contribute to the development of a documentary film featuring powerful stories from the Unmuted initiative.
Professionals with at least five years of relevant production experience, strong project management abilities and a genuine passion for youth voices and social change are encouraged to apply before 15 September 2026.
