Open Call for p5.js Project Lead
The p5.js community is excited to invite applications for the inaugural p5.js Project Lead position, a one-year position beginning July 2020. This is our first step in transitioning to an annually rotating p5.js leadership model.
In February, we reached our 1.0 Release, a significant milestone in terms of software, documentation, and community. Now, we are seeking a motivated individual to act as a catalyst for the next phase of growth, alongside our productive and prolific community, and in service of our collective investment in exploring the creation of art and design with technology. The p5.js Project Lead’s role will be to continue stewarding the p5.js project, software, and community, providing leadership in creating generative spaces to gather, speak up, and participate.
p5.js is an open-source community whose ethics transfer to our working model. Rather than using a top-down model of leadership, we are committed to inclusion and access. We value the work of the collective equally and seek a candidate that has a demonstrated interest in facilitating, guiding, collaborating, and making coding accessible and inclusive for artists, designers, educators, beginners, and anyone else! We are eager to work with someone who will lead the project with imagination, initiative, and independence. We are committed to supporting this trajectory through mentorship provided by previous p5.js Fellows and project lead Lauren McCarthy. The position will be supervised by the Processing Foundation who will also provide support and collaboration.
Responsibilities
In addition to the scope of work you propose in the application process (see below for details), the primary responsibilities for the position include:
- Leading and stewarding the p5.js community
- Managing and directing the community of p5.js volunteer contributors
- Guiding software development of p5.js
- Improving the accessibility of documentation
- Maintaining the p5js.org website, including ensuring the site continues to run, and updating content as needed
- Note: The p5.js Editor is a separate project led by Cassie Tarakajian. The p5.js Project Lead works in close collaboration, but is not responsible for the leadership or development of the editor project.
Clear communication is essential for this role. We realize that candidates may not have strengths in all of these areas, and you are encouraged to apply regardless. We are committed to working with you to create space for learning and/or to develop creative solutions that address the different domains of this role.
Compensation
We envision this role as a 20-40 hours/week contractor position with a maximum stipend of $50,000 (this funding comes from community donations collected through the Processing Foundation). Funds for other support such as professional development, coworking, and general support can potentially be provided, subject to availability.
About the p5.js Community
p5.js is a JavaScript library that aims to make creative expression and coding on the web accessible and inclusive for artists, designers, educators, and beginners. You can read more about ongoing work on our Medium page.
From our Community Statement:
We are a community of, and in solidarity with, people from every gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, language, neurotype, size, disability, class, religion, culture, subculture, political opinion, age, skill level, occupation, and background. We acknowledge that not everyone has the time, financial means, or capacity to actively participate in open source work, so we recognize and encourage involvement of all kinds . We facilitate and foster access and empowerment. We are all learners. We like these hashtags: #noCodeSnobs (because we value community over efficiency), #newKidLove (because we all started somewhere), #unassumeCore (because we don’t assume knowledge), and #BlackLivesMatter (because of course).
A Note
All applicants will receive equal consideration, and we will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. Applicants from groups generally underrepresented in open-source, art, and technology fields, those with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.
→ Apply using this Google Form by May 15!
If you prefer not to use Google Forms, you can follow these instructions to apply via email.
FAQ
You can send questions to hello@p5js.org. We will post questions and answers here as they come.
How will the p5.js Project Lead be selected?
A “selection team” of community volunteers will review the applications, conduct interviews, and make a decision together. Anyone that would like to be a part of this selection team is welcome! Participation requires a commitment to review and score applications, conduct at least one interview with an applicant, and join two team meetings. Please email hello@p5js.org if you are interested.
