Director of Research

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.

Director of Research

The African American Leadership Forum (The Forum) is seeking an innovative and visionary Director of Research to lead transformative research initiatives that empower Black communities across Minnesota. As a cutting-edge organization at the forefront of advancing economic prosperity, education, health equity, and social justice, The Forum amplifies community voices and drives systemic change through bold leadership and collective action. This role is an opportunity to shape evidence-based strategies that directly impact lives while ensuring that culturally responsive research methods and community engagement are at the core of our work. The Director of Research will design and execute a forward-thinking research agenda, convene collaborative roundtables with diverse partners, and translate complex data into actionable insights that accelerate progress in our priority areas: health, education, economic prosperity, generational wealth building, public safety, and environmental justice. We are seeking a passionate leader who thrives on exploring bold ideas, challenges the status quo, and is ready to shape the future of Black communities through data-driven solutions and visionary research. If you are deeply curious, driven by purpose, and committed to realizing Radical Black Futures, this is the role for you. The position is full-time with a hybrid flexible schedule working Tuesdays and Thursdays in the office.

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 Director of Research position, our salary range is $90,000 - $110,000 annually, based on experience. This role has been classified as a regular full-time, exempt role that is paid on a salaried basis.

Benefits: 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), employer paid life and AD&D insurance with the option for additional coverage, and employer paid short- and long-term disability insurance; agency sponsored retirement plan with 4% employer match and immediate vesting.

Responsibilities:

Research Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and oversee The Forum's innovative research agenda, ensuring alignment with our mission and the unique needs of Minnesota's Black communities.
• Lead dynamic research roundtables to foster collaboration, spark innovation, and inspire new approaches to systemic challenges.
• Design and implement culturally responsive research methodologies and rigorous evaluation frameworks that center equity and community impact.
• Oversee and enhance The Forum's data systems, ensuring the highest standards of quality and usability.
• Anticipate emerging trends and proactively position The Forum as a leader in addressing issues that impact Black communities.

Research Execution & Analysis

• Lead the design and execution of groundbreaking research projects, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods to produce actionable results.
• Manage complex databases and apply advanced analytics tools (e.g., STATA, SPSS, R, Tableau) to generate insights.
• Evaluate pilot programs and deliver comprehensive reports that inform strategy and decision-making.
• Develop and track key indicators across The Forum's focus areas, measuring impact and progress.
• Translate data into accessible, compelling narratives for community members, policymakers, and funders, ensuring clarity and resonance.
• Embed equity and innovation into all aspects of research execution.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Build collaborative partnerships with community organizations, academic institutions, and policy leaders to expand The Forum's research impact.
• Facilitate engagement between researchers, policymakers, and design strategists to ensure community needs are central to decision-making.
• Present research findings to diverse audiences, ensuring insights inspire action and drive change.
• Produce high-quality policy briefs, reports, and presentations that elevate The Forum as a thought leader in equity-driven research.
• Lead inclusive community engagement sessions to incorporate stakeholder voices into research priorities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, public policy, education, economics, or related fields).
• Seven or more years of experience in research leadership, policy analysis, and program evaluation.
• Proven expertise in equity-centered and culturally responsive research methodologies.
• Advanced skills in one or more statistical software packages, data visualization tools, and/or programming packages (e.g., Tableau, STATA, SPSS, SQL, Python).
• Demonstrated success in managing databases and leading research teams.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Experience engaging diverse stakeholders and fostering meaningful community partnerships.
• A proven track record of published research, policy reports, or evaluation studies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with community-based participatory research and stakeholder engagement.
• Background in one or more of The Forum's focus areas (e.g., economic mobility, education, health equity).
• Awareness of local and national trends shaping social and economic equity particularly as they impact Black communities.
• Master's degree in social sciences, public policy, education, economics, or related fields).
• 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.

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, 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.