Director of Brand, Narrative and Storytelling 

Status: Full Time, Exempt
Start Date: November 17, 2025
Reports to: Executive & Artistic Director, VP of Development (Forest Forward)
Submit materials: through our online portal linked here. Submit all inquiries to: Alex Francis, ForestTheater.Manager@forestforward.org 

Forest Forward is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization partnering with community stakeholders to drive equitable development, economic mobility, and improved outcomes for children, residents, and families of the South Dallas community. The Forest Theater serves as the anchor institution, with an anticipated grand opening scheduled Fall 2026.

We are seeking a Director of Brand, Narrative and Storytelling to define and elevate the voice, story and ethos of Forest Theater. Reporting to the Executive & Artistic Director, for theater related deliverables and the VP of Marketing for Forest Forward community and fund development related deliverables, you will be the visionary behind our brand identity and the architect of our voice and narratives. This pivotal role will weave the theater’s historic legacy with its future as a hub and launchpad for Black arts and culture, ensuring a consistent, resonant message across every touchpoint and deeply engaging our audiences, collaborators, partners and future visitors. 

What You’ll Drive

• Brand Strategy & Identity Stewardship (35%) 
  • Brand Architect: Steward the Forest theater brand playbook ensuring our voice, visual identity, and overarching storytelling framework is consistent across all internal and external touchpoints.
  • Legacy Weaver: Build a powerful narrative framework that authentically honors the theater’s rich historic legacy while illuminating its future as a transformative portal for Black arts and culture and its impact on residents, program participants and visitors.
  • Consistency Champion: Ensure unwavering consistency of message, tone, and visual representation across all digital, print, in-person, creative content and institutional communications. 
• Content Creation & Campaign Management (35%) 
  • Campaign Visionary: Lead the strategic development and execution of impactful promotional campaigns for performances, programs, initiatives, and fundraising.
  • Digital Narrative: Guide the digital media content strategy, advertising, public relations, website, sms and email marketing initiatives, and comprehensive editorial calendars to amplify our story across active digital platforms. 
  • Creative Partner Management: Manage relationships with external contractors (designers, videographers, photographers) and internal marketing staff or consultants, ensuring high-quality, timely content production. 
• Audience Engagement & Communications (30%) 
  • Compelling Storyteller: Craft narratives that deeply resonate with and inspire our multigenerational and diverse audiences. 
  • Impact Translation: Collaborate seamlessly with artistic, campus experience, and impact teams to transform organizational impact and outcomes into engaging, accessible content. 
  • Audience Insights: Monitor and analyze audience engagement metrics, leveraging these insights to continuously inform and optimize content, sales and marketing strategies. 

What You Will Build (Pre-Opening) 

As our inaugural Director of Brand, Narrative and Storytelling, you will lay the foundational elements for how the Forest communicates its mission and vision to the world. Key pre-opening deliverables include: 

• Core Brand Execution: Leverage the Brand Playbook to finalize, design, and build the complete brand guidelines manual, encompassing brand voice, visual identity, messaging architecture, and usage standards for all internal and external communications. 
• Overarching Narrative Framework: Deploy the foundational narrative framework that articulates the brand positioning of the Forest and its unique story, historical significance, future vision, and impact, serving as the basis for all communications. 
• Pre-Opening Communications Strategy & Calendar: Design and implement a comprehensive pre-opening communications strategy, including a detailed content calendar for website launches, media campaigns, press announcements, and stakeholder engagement. 
• Launch Campaign Assets: Lead the creation of core launch campaign assets, such as initial website content, key press kit materials, photography and video assets, and foundational marketing collateral. 
• Creative Partner Network: Identify, vet, and onboard key creative contractors (e.g., photographers, videographers, graphic designers) and agencies to support ongoing content needs. 

Direct Impact 

This role is absolutely central to shaping public perception and fostering deep connection with both the Forest Theater and greater Forest Forward mission. You will directly impact: 

• Brand Resonance: Steward a powerful and authentic brand identity that truly resonates with audiences and elevates our unique legacy, opportunity and impact. 
• Community Connection: Drive authentic engagement and build strong relationships with our communities through compelling, culturally relevant and authentic people-informed storytelling. 
• Visibility & Reach: Expand our presence and influence across all communication channels, significantly increasing awareness of Forest Theater programs and impact.
• Resource Mobilization: Support development efforts by crafting narratives that inspire investment and partnership, directly contributing to our sustainability.

Tools We Use

Our team relies on a modern tech stack to stay connected and productive, including Dropbox, Slack, Monday.com, Google Suite, RAMP, and Zoom.

What You’ll Bring

• 8+ years of experience in-house at an agency with brand strategy, marketing, or communications services, with a preference for experience in the arts, entertainment, social impact or nonprofit sectors;
• Exceptional creative writing, storytelling, and messaging skills, consistently demonstrating a strong cultural equity lens;
• Proven experience managing creative teams, external contractors, or brand agencies to deliver impactful campaigns;
• Deep familiarity with digital media trends, social platforms, and efficient content production workflows;
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic connections and craft resonant communications for diverse audiences and communities driven by data;
• A profound passion for cultural equity, impactful storytelling, and our institutional mission to revitalize communities through arts and culture.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried position with a fixed compensation of $100,000 annually, complemented by a comprehensive benefits package.

Employees who work an average of thirty (30) hours or more on a weekly basis may participate in medical, dental, vision, and other insurance programs. Under these plans, participating employees will receive comprehensive health and other insurance coverage for themselves and their families, as well as other benefits. Forest Forward presently pays a portion of the insurance premium for all eligible employees. Our Employee Benefits Package include the following:

Medical, Dental, Vision and other Voluntary options

Medical Coverage is provided through Blue Cross Blue Shield. Employees are eligible to enroll in the plan within 30 days of their hire date, and the coverage is effective on the first of the following month.

Retirement Plan

Forest Forward offers a 401(k) retirement plan administered by Lincoln Financial Services. Employees are eligible to participate in the plan 90 days after their hire date.

Paid Time Off/Vacation/Sick Days

All full-time employees are eligible to receive 80 hours of vacation time annually, 40 hours of sick time and three (3) paid personal/ or mental health days per calendar year.

Additional Information

This position will require occasional evening and weekend work, in conjunction with major performances and other special events.

Applications and Inquiries

Submissions will be received and reviewed on a rolling basis, through our online portal linked here. Please submit a cover letter and resume with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments. If you are in need of an alternative form of submission, email: ForestTheater.Manager@forestforward.org

Forest Forward provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color,religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.