Senior Policy Impact Associate

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.

Senior Policy Impact Associate

The African American Leadership Forum is seeking a Senior Policy Impact Associate to support execution of the organization's policy agenda through our Action Center, the hub for turning community wisdom, data, and vision into coordinated policy action.

This role is execution-focused, working in close partnership with the CEO, Chief Narrative Officer, and Director of Research, who retain ownership of policy strategy, external communications, and data & research direction. The Senior Policy Impact Associate ensures that strategic policy priorities are advanced through legislative tracking, advocacy coordination, partner engagement, and clear policy communication.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in implementation, someone who enjoys translating strategy into action, keeping work moving, and ensuring the organization is prepared to engage at the right moments.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

As the Senior Policy Impact Associate, you will...

Policy Research, Analysis, & Insight Development

• Execute policy research aligned to established priority impact areas with a focus on Black communities.
• Track and analyze relevant legislation, budgets, and rules within these priority areas and translate implications into clear, plain-language summaries.
• Draft policy briefs, memos, fact sheets, FAQs, and presentations grounded in research outputs.

Legislative & Advocacy Execution

• Execute the Forum's annual policy agenda and issue-based campaigns.
• Track key legislative moments and alert leadership and partners to timely action opportunities.
• Draft testimony, talking points, and briefing materials.
• Coordinate advocacy activities including African Heritage Day on the Hill, policy briefings, press conferences, and community roundtables.
• Build and maintain working relationships with legislative and agency staff aligned to organizational priorities.

Community Engagement & Translation

• Translate complex policy issues into accessible materials for community meetings, listening sessions, and design sessions.
• Gather and interpret community and partner feedback to inform execution.
• Co-create coalition and partner spaces led by Black organizations and leaders.

Data, Storytelling & Narrative Integration

• Partner with internal data and narrative teams to translate research into usable policy and advocacy materials.
• Co-create development of story-rich briefs, presentations, and externally facing policy communications that are Black-centered and asset-based.

Action Center & Policy Systems Stewardship

• Maintain the Action Center and supporting policy tools so users can engage effectively.
• Ensure the operational functioning of the Action Center through systems, trackers, and internal coordination rhythms.
• Share policy updates and execution status internally in digestible, actionable formats.
• Lead after-action reflections and documentation of lessons learned.

Schedule:

Core business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This role operates in a hybrid work environment, with in-office hours on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and remote work on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Occasional evenings and weekends are required.

VALUED EXPERIENCES:

To be successful as the Senior Policy Impact Associate, you may have...

• Experience supporting legislative advocacy, campaigns, or policy implementation.
• Comfort executing within defined priorities and collaborating closely with senior leadership.
• Experience working with Black-led organizations, coalitions, or community-based efforts.
• Strength translating research and strategy into practical, action-oriented materials.
• Experience working across teams in fast-moving environments.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, political science, public administration, law, or a related field preferred, or an equally valued equivalent lived, professional, or community-based experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• 3-5+ years of experience in public policy, legislative work, advocacy, government, research, or a related field (lived experience and nontraditional paths are valued).
• Strong analytical skills and comfort interpreting legislation, policy proposals, budgets, and data.
• Demonstrated experience supporting policy, advocacy, or campaign work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Deep commitment to racial equity and a Black-centered framing.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment, especially during legislative session.

ORGANIZATIONAL 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 the Senior Policy Impact Associate position, the salary range is $70,000 - $76,000. This role has been classified as a regular full-time, non-exempt role that is paid on an hourly 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; currently 2 days in-office, 3 days remote
• Flexible work schedule
• 13 Paid holidays
• 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
• Dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability
• Competitive matching on retirement savings with immediate 100% vesting
• Transportation stipend to help offset in-office workday parking and travel

MORE ABOUT THE FORUM'S HIRING PRACTICES:

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.