Request for Proposals:

Studio Lead

‍Contract term: May-December 2026 pilot contract, with potential to extend.
Time commitment: Flexible based on outcomes and deliverables; est 20 hrs/wk.
Budget: Our total budget for the 8-month term is $50,000. Please include a proposed fee structure in your submission.
Location: Remote, with occasional travel.

Background

Studio by The Maybe is a new initiative supporting experts and communicators who are questioning power dynamics in technology and the economy. It provides clear pathways to build brand strategy, messaging, and the infrastructure needed to help leaders break out of “harm soup" narratives, move beyond reactive positioning, and communicate bold, accessible visions to broad audiences.

The Studio will:

Run cohort-based experiences to knit together a network of high-impact communicators around shared themes and interests
Offer intake for individuals who want representation and support as speakers, authors, and public thought leaders
Provide a mix of proven services (media training, messaging audits, journalist pitching, speaker bookings) and emerging offerings (brand strategy, websites, business model advising)

We are piloting the Studio now, with the aim of establishing a sustainable operation led by a dedicated Studio Lead.

Role Overview

The Studio Lead will design and run the pilot, guiding the Studio’s early programs and shaping its operations. This role blends program management, talent representation, and creative business-building. You will manage many moving pieces at once—across participants, funders, partners, internal and external collaborators—while maintaining a consistently high-quality experience for everyone who goes through the Studio.

Scope of Work

Program & Cohort Management

Act as day to day point for Studio operations:

Design and manage the Studio pilot, including timeline, milestones, and feedback loops
Manage logistics for service delivery (media training, messaging audits, strategy sessions, etc.)
Coordinate the cohort experience: selection, onboarding, scheduling, communications, and wrap-up
Build and manage project plans, budgets, and simple operational systems for the pilot
Coordinate with external partners (trainers, agencies, designers, foundations, fellowship programs)
Track deliverables, contracts, and timelines; proactively flag risks and tradeoffs

Talent & Participant Support

Serve as a primary point of contact for participants (individuals and institutional leaders)
Manage intake for individuals who want to be represented as speakers, authors, and thought leaders
Help match participants with the right support: e.g., training, positioning, brand and infrastructure work
Ensure that every participant has a clear journey and a high-quality experience
Help knit the network together—identifying themes, connecting participants, and surfacing collaboration opportunities

Success in the role

In the pilot phase, success looks like:

A well-run, coherent Studio experience that participants find valuable
Clear learning about what offerings work best
Establishment of a vibrant and engaged community within the studio, evidenced by increased participation and collaboration among members.

Longer term, success looks like:

Introduction of innovative ideas and processes that enhance the studio's offerings and contribute to its long-term success
A stable, well-run Studio with repeatable offerings and predictable revenue
A growing network of high-impact communicators who are better supported, more visible, and more effective
You operate as the trusted leader of the Studio, with the autonomy and support to continue evolving it over time
Regular collection and analysis of feedback from studio participants, leading to continuous improvement and adaptation of studio practices

What we're looking for

Experience in a speakers’ agency, talent agency, literary agency, production company, or similar environment where you’ve managed many moving parts across multiple stakeholders
Strong program and project management skills: scoping, planning, budgeting, and execution
Demonstrated ability to run complex programs or initiatives with a high bar for quality and participant experience
Comfortable operating at the intersection of talent representation, communications, and operations. Familiarity with brand and platform strategy is a plus
Creative and ambitious, with an instinct for testing, learning, and iterating on business models
Able to choose and focus amidst many options; you enjoy making tradeoffs explicit and driving toward decisions
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate clearly with participants, collaborators, and funders
Values-aligned with tech policy/digital rights, public-interest technology, or adjacent social change fields (subject-matter expertise is a plus but not required)
Experience in community building and engagement

To Apply

Please send a CV and proposal outlining your relevant experience, proposed approach, fee structure, and answers to the two questions below to studio@themaybe.org.

What draws you to the intersection of technology, politics, and public interest communications?
Describe a program or initiative you built or ran largely from scratch. What broke, and what did you learn?

When submitting your proposal, please include “Proposal: Studio Lead" in the subject line. If there are any questions you’d like answered to inform your proposal, we’re happy to offer one round of clarifying questions — please send them to the email above.

We’ll review submissions and reach out to top candidates on a rolling basis. Finalists may be asked to provide work samples and/or references.

About The Maybe

The Maybe is a critical consultancy, collective, and media studio that challenges the power and politics of technology. We work with partners to build media power, facilitate network convenings on technology politics, and develop strategies and institutions at moments of inflection. Learn more.