Think Tank Researcher Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

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 (like 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.
Impact Areas:
Education, Health, Public Safety, Economic Prosperity, Environmental Justice, and Generational Wealth Building.
Job Summary
The Digital Storyteller & Social Media Producer at The Forum is responsible for transforming community voices, research, and advocacy work into powerful multimedia narratives that advance Black narrative justice and liberation. This role centers storytelling as a tool for equity, capturing and amplifying the brilliance, resilience, and transformation of Black communities across the Twin Cities while driving engagement, awareness, and systemic change. The position is full-time with a hybrid schedule.
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 Digital Storyteller & Producer position, our salary range is $75,000 - $90,000, based on experience. 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:
At The Forum, we proactively audit benefits on an annual basis to ensure that we provide a competitive and comprehensive suite of offerings to meet employees' needs holistically. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Hybrid work environment
• Flexible work schedule
• 13 Paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time
• Additional paid collective office closures to promote restoration and pause
• Health and wellness stipends
• Mobile phone stipend
• Flexible employer-contributed medical insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and options for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Dental, vision, short-term disability and employer-paid long-term disability
• Employer-paid basic life & AD&D insurance with option for additional employee-paid coverage
• Competitive matching on retirement savings with immediate 100% vesting
• Parking stipend to help offset in-office workday parking and travel

Because The Forum is a member with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) who partners with St. Mary's University, The Forum's employees and their spouses are also eligible for the following benefits at St. Mary's University:

• Discounted tuition for Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate programs
• Professional development opportunities
• Access to advancement (internships, job placement, field practice)

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Produce short-form and long-form video content for digital campaigns, community initiatives, events, and organizational storytelling.
• Create a steady stream of interviews and digital storytelling pieces featuring Black leaders, organizers, and voices shaping our future.
• Develop social media language and content that connects organizational work to the broader movement for Black narrative justice and liberation.
• Capture and edit photography, video, interviews, and multimedia content that reflects the experiences, strengths, and aspirations of Black communities.
• Develop documentary-style storytelling projects that highlight community leaders, residents, fellows, partners, and organizational impact.
• Create visual stories that translate research, data, community insights, and policy priorities into engaging and accessible content.
• Attend organizational events, convenings, workshops, and community gatherings to capture real-time content, key advocacy moments, and identify storytelling opportunities.
• Produce weekly high-quality video and reels that tell the story of the organization's work and the people behind it.
• Produce, source, and upload content that does more than inform-it mobilizes.
• Lead day-to-day management of The Forum's social media platforms.
• Develop and maintain a content calendar aligned with organizational priorities, campaigns, events, and strategic initiatives.
• Create platform-specific content including reels, short-form videos, graphics, stories, carousels, and audience engagement content.
• Monitor audience engagement and community conversations while supporting positive and authentic digital interactions.
• Analyze performance metrics and provide recommendations to strengthen reach, engagement, audience growth, and impact.
• Identify emerging trends, storytelling opportunities, and platform innovations that support organizational goals.
• Collaborate with community members, fellows, residents, and partners to ensure storytelling authentically reflects community experiences and aspirations.

REQUIREMENTS:
Education and Experience:

• You have five to seven years of experience in digital storytelling, multimedia production, communications, marketing, journalism, content creation, or a related field.
• You have experience with email platforms such as Flodesk and MailChimp.
• You have experience with CRM platforms such as Monday and HubSpot.
• You have experience with project management software such as Monday.com, Atlassian (Jira), and Asana.
• You have demonstrated experience producing content for social media and digital platforms.
• You have experience with video production, photography, editing, and multimedia storytelling tools such as Adobe InDesign and Canva.
• You have experience managing organizational social media accounts and content calendars across platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook.
• You have experience with tools such as CRM platform scheduling, Meta Business Suite, Vista Social, and HubSpot.
• You have experience working in nonprofit, civic engagement, advocacy, public policy, community development, or social impact organizations.
• You have experience coordinating freelance creatives and external vendors.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• You are familiar with social media scheduling, analytics, and project management platforms.
• You have knowledge of digital engagement strategies and audience development.
• You are familiar with podcast production and emerging digital storytelling formats.
• You understand narrative change, cultural strategy, and community-based communications approaches.
• You have a connection to or experience working with Black communities and community-led initiatives.
• You are deeply curious about people, culture, and community.
• You are passionate about storytelling that advances equity and collective action.
• You are comfortable moving between strategy and execution.
• You are creative, collaborative, and highly organized.
• You are committed to elevating voices and stories that are often overlooked or underrepresented.

About the Forum:
The African American Leadership Forum operates as a think-and-do tank. We convert research-based thought on social issues into action-oriented agenda and solutions, which address the fundamental causes of racial injustice. Our solutions are aimed to impact the areas of economic prosperity, generational wealth building, public safety, education, health and environmental justice.
Organizational Information:
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, Indigenous or people of culture, 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 race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, age, marital status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, criminal history (justice-impacted status), housing or homelessness status, height, or weight.
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.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.