Chief Narrative Officer at The Forum

We are The Forum

Who We Are:

A collective of institutions and leaders, the African American Leadership Forum serves as a community innovation accelerator. We empower Black communities to imagine, then create an equitable future. As a think-and-do-tank for the state of Minnesota, we combine the functions of a think tank (providing research and analysis of social/ political issues) with the action-oriented role of an activist organization.

What We Do:

Using data research and policy, discourse-driven convenings, design innovation, and strategic leadership development, the Forum drives for change by confronting racism and inequities, to improve the living standards of Black Minnesotans.

Our Impact Areas:

Education, Health, Public Safety, Economic Prosperity, Environmental Justice, and Generational Wealth Building.

Chief Narrative Officer

The African American Leadership Forum is seeking a visionary Chief Narrative Officer to imaginatively and strategically evolve Minnesota’s narrative landscape.

We seek an inventive communicator who challenges assumptions, speaks to collective consciousness, and helps envision and frame Radical Black Futures. This leader will understand the consumption and creation of narratives and their transformative potential to foster a more empathic and informed society. This role is vital in our mission to challenge current paradigms, inspire transformative change, and build a more equitable future.

The Chief Narrative Officer requires a skilled and creative storyteller who can influence culture inside and outside our organization, serving as a unique amplifier of the Forum’s brand. Externally, this position oversees the dissemination of all public-facing narratives: grantmaking, research and data, brand communications, and public commentary. Internally, they will grow the organization’s narrative fluency.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

As the Chief Narrative Officer, you will lead…

Strategic Narrative Development

• Craft and implement a comprehensive narrative strategy that aligns with the Forum’s mission of disrupting inequitable systems and promoting radical Black futures.
• Develop compelling storylines and messaging frameworks that resonate with diverse audiences, including community members, policymakers, donors, and media.
• Lead the development of language for grant proposals and reports.
• Collaborate with leadership to ensure narrative consistency across all organizational initiatives and communications.
• Oversee the creation of powerful, authentic stories that highlight the experiences, aspirations, and achievements of Black Minnesotans.
• Curate and produce multimedia content, including written articles, videos, podcasts, and interactive digital experiences.
• Implement innovative storytelling techniques that challenge conventional narratives and inspire action.

Community Engagement and Voice Amplification

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with Black communities across Minnesota to ensure their voices and experiences are authentically represented.
• Develop and implement participatory storytelling initiatives that empower community members to share their own narratives.

Narrative Research and Analysis

• Conduct ongoing research on existing narratives about Black Minnesotans in media, policy, and public discourse.
• Analyze the impact of our narrative strategies and adjust approaches based on data and community feedback.
• Stay informed about emerging trends in storytelling, particularly those relevant to social justice and racial equity.

Partnerships and Collaborations

• Build strategic partnerships with media outlets, cultural institutions, and other organizations to amplify narrative impact.
• Collaborate with artists, writers, filmmakers, and other creatives to produce innovative narrative projects.
• Engage with academic institutions to bridge theory and practice in narrative change work.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead and mentor a team of content creators, researchers, and marketing professionals.
• Foster a culture of creativity, innovation, and continuous learning within the narrative team.
• Collaborate across departments to integrate narrative strategies into all aspects of the organization's work.

Measurement and Evaluation

• Develop and implement metrics to assess the impact of our narrative change efforts.
• Regularly report on narrative outcomes to leadership, board, and stakeholders.
• Use data-driven insights to refine and improve our narrative strategies.

VALUED EXPERIENCES:

To be successful as the Chief Narrative Officer, you might be…

• A content strategist who knows how to develop and implement content across multiple platforms
• A journalist experienced in crafting a compelling narrative
• An exceptional storyteller with a deep understanding of narrative structure
• A skilled editor and curator, able to refine and select the most impactful stories from a wealth of
• content
• A highly creative and imaginative leader, able to craft compelling brand stories and content
• strategies that resonate with various audiences

REQUIREMENTS:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• You have a deep understanding of and connection to Black communities in Minnesota.
• You possess demonstrable experience in narrative strategy, storytelling, and content creation, preferably in a social justice context.
• You can pivot and work through ambiguity.
• You have strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and guide diverse teams.
• Your written and verbal communication skills are excellent.
• You can demonstrate the ability to think critically about complex social issues and translate them into compelling narratives.
• You have experience in community engagement and participatory storytelling methods.
• You have experience working in or with nonprofit organizations.
• You have knowledge of policy advocacy and systems change approaches.
• You are familiar with emerging technologies in digital storytelling and immersive experiences.
• You have a valid driver’s license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet The Forum’s driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

You are a thought leader.

Demonstrating industry and content expertise with the ability to pioneer new ideas, efficiently and effectively solve problems, and influence others while being open to collaboration.

You are results-driven.

Leading with passion, enthusiasm, and a sense of urgency that influences others to follow suit, with self-motivation to achieve goals and challenge the status quo.

You are constantly innovating.

Developing and encouraging creative ideas that challenge common thinking and help The Forum gain a competitive advantage while being open and agile to adapt, change, and try new things to promote growth, learning, and improvement.

Pay Transparency:

At The Forum, we offer a transparent view into two key components of your total compensation package: Base Salary and Benefits. Learn more about the benefits package this role is eligible to participate in below.

For our Chief Narrative Officer position, our starting salary range is $130,000 - $150,000. This role has been classified as a regular full-time, exempt role that is paid on a salaried basis.

Benefits of Working at The Forum:

Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, plus 12 paid holidays per year; competitive health, dental, and vision insurance offerings: Health Savings Account (HSA) and options for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). There is employer paid life insurance with the option for additional coverage paid by the employee. The employer pays for Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) and short- and long-term disability insurance. AALF sponsors a retirement plan with a 4% employer match and immediate vesting.

MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of African American Leadership Forum. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements. Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, disability, marital status, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, genetic information or a protected veteran’s status.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the hiring process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.

The Forum participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. See E-Verify’s official poster at https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf. See E-Verify’s Right to Work poster at https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf.

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