The FUSE Executive Fellowship is an opportunity to do transformational work addressing pressing challenges in communities. For 12 months, FUSE Executive Fellows work within local government to bring diverse perspectives and new approaches to a specific project. Each fellowship is designed to leverage private sector experience to deliver results that have a lasting impact.
Multiple fellowships exist in cities and counties across the United States
Fellowship Dates:
October 26, 2026 – October 22, 2027 (One year Fellowships)
October 26, 2026 – October 27, 2028 (Two year Fellowships)
Salary: Executive Fellows are FUSE employees and receive an annual salary of $95,000. Fellows can also access various health, dental, and vision insurance benefits. This amount is not representative of market-rate salaries for the experienced professionals in our program but is intended as compensation for a year of public service.
Fellows selected for San Francisco-based projects may also be eligible for an optional $70,000 annual stipend through FUSE's partnership with Coro California, bringing potential total compensation to $165,000.
Fellowship Locations:
- City of Los Angeles
- Los Angeles County
- City of San Francisco
- Fresno County
- City of Fresno
- City of Bentonville
- City of Centerton
- City of Rogers
- Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission
- City of Jacksonville
- City of Dayton
- City of Spartanburg
- City of New York
- City of Rochester
- Bernalillo County
- City of Phoenix
- R6 / Utah's Promise
- City of Austin
- City of Birmingham
- City of Omaha
- State of California / Department of Conservation
ABOUT THE FUSE EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP
FUSE is a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing the capacity of local governments to work more effectively for communities. We embed private sector executives in city and county agencies to lead projects that improve public services and accelerate systems change. Since 2012, FUSE has led over 400 projects in 58 governments across 26 states, impacting a total population equivalent to 1 in 10 Americans.
When designing each fellowship project, FUSE works closely with government partners and community stakeholders to define a scope of work that will achieve substantive progress toward high-priority local needs. Projects address today’s most pressing challenges and opportunities, including affordable housing, economic mobility, climate resilience, public safety, infrastructure, technology, and more.
FUSE conducts a full executive search for each individual project to ensure that the selected candidate has at least 15 years of professional experience, the required competencies for the role, and deep connections to the community being served.
Executive Fellows are embedded in government agencies working with senior leaders for at least one year of full-time work. Prospective responsibilities may include thorough data analytics and research, developing enhanced operations and financial models, building change management and strategic planning processes, and/or building broad coalitions to support project implementation efforts. Executive Fellows are data-driven and results-oriented and able to effectively manage complex projects. They build strong relationships with a broad array of stakeholders, foster alignment within and across various layers of government, and build partnerships between governments and communities.
Throughout the fellowships, Executive Fellows receive training, coaching, and professional support to help achieve their project goals.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in organizational transformation and change management, from practitioner to enterprise-level leadership.
- Synthesizes complex information into clear and concise recommendations and action-oriented implementation plans.
- Develops and effectively implements both strategic and operational project management plans.
- Generates innovative, data-driven, and result-oriented solutions to complex challenges.
- Respond quickly to changing ideas, responsibilities, expectations, trends, strategies, and other processes.
- Communicates effectively verbally and in writing and excels in active listening and conversing.
- Fosters collaboration across multiple constituencies to support more effective decision-making.
- Establishes and maintains strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, both inside and outside of government, particularly community-based relationships.
- Embraces differing viewpoints and implements strategies to find common ground. Demonstrates confidence and professional diplomacy while effectively interacting with individuals at all levels of various organizations.
FUSE is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position.
