The City of Phoenix is implementing a new Solar for All program to expand access to clean energy for over 11,000 low- and middle-income households and reduce energy disparities. FUSE will partner with Phoenix through the FUSE Executive Fellowship to build partnerships, create community engagement strategies, and streamline application processes for residents to access funding. Ultimately, this will support Phoenix’s sustainability goals by lowering energy costs, advancing energy equity, and fostering more resilient and climate-ready communities.

Fellowship Dates: April 28, 2025 – April 24, 2026

Salary: Executive Fellows are FUSE employees and receive an annual base salary of $80,000. Fellows can also access various health, dental, and vision insurance benefits. Compensation for this year of public service is not intended to represent market-rate compensation for the experienced professionals in our program.

ABOUT THE FUSE EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP

FUSE is a national nonprofit working to expand social and economic opportunities, particularly for communities that have been limited by a history of systemic and institutionalized racism. FUSE partners with local governments and communities to more effectively address pressing challenges by placing experienced professionals within city and county agencies. These FUSE Executive Fellows lead strategic projects designed to advance racial equity and accelerate systems change. Since 2012, FUSE has led over 250 projects in 40 governments across 20 states, impacting the lives of 25 million people.

When designing each fellowship project, FUSE works closely with government partners and local stakeholders to define a scope of work that will achieve substantive progress toward regional priorities. FUSE then conducts an individualized search for each 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 communities being served. They are data-driven and results-oriented and able to effectively manage complex projects by developing actionable roadmaps and monitoring progress to completion.

Executive Fellows are hired as FUSE employees and embedded in government agencies for at least one year of full-time work. Throughout their fellowships, they receive training, coaching, and professional support from FUSE to help achieve their project goals. FUSE Executive Fellows bring diverse perspectives and new approaches to their projects. They build strong relationships with diverse arrays of stakeholders, foster alignment within.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Access to affordable and reliable clean energy sources is critical for improving community resilience, health outcomes, and economic stability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change. Phoenix, Arizona has one of the most solar-friendly climates in the country, with an average of 300 days of sunshine annually. However, many low- and middle-income households in Phoenix, particularly in Black, Latino, Indigenous, and more rural communities, face high utility costs due to outdated home infrastructure and limited access to renewable energy solutions. These communities are also disproportionately impacted by extreme heat and rising energy bills, which can exacerbate economic hardships and health risks, creating a significant equity gap in clean energy access.

In response, the City of Phoenix developed a 2021 Climate Action Plan which sets ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To further support these efforts, the city is partnering with the Arizona Office of Resiliency on the statewide Solar for All Arizonans program, funded by a $156 million EPA grant. This initiative will provide rooftop solar installations, whole-home energy upgrades, and energy bill credits to over 11,000 low-income households. The program will run from 2025 through 2030 and the cost of specific home improvement systems will vary based on homeowners’ income levels, with almost all of the cost covered for the lowest income threshold. Phoenix is now seeking ways to assist individual homeowners to access funds and implement solar improvements.

Phoenix will partner with FUSE to help maximize the impact of the Solar For All programs. The FUSE Executive Fellow will work to coordinate partnerships, engage communities, and develop and implement strategies to promote solar adoption among underserved residents. This role will be instrumental in bridging gaps between government, utilities, and local organizations, creating a scalable model for clean energy access that addresses the city’s unique climate and equity challenges. Ultimately, this effort will expand renewable energy access, reduce energy costs, and contribute to Phoenix’s broader vision for an equitable and sustainable future.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Beginning in May 2025, the FUSE Executive Fellow will start the Fellowship project by conducting a comprehensive listening tour. This will involve engaging with key stakeholders such as city staff, the Arizona Office of Resiliency, local utilities companies, community-based organizations, and workforce training partners. The Fellow will focus on identifying barriers to clean energy adoption, particularly for low-income households, and gather input on effective strategies for community outreach. Additionally, the Fellow will research best practices for marketing and program branding to create a strong, multi-channel messaging campaign that targets underserved communities. The Fellow will work closely with city staff and partner organizations to develop streamlined processes for assisting residents with funding opportunity applications, ensuring that the process is accessible and supportive. This research and engagement will inform the development of specific Fellowship project goals and deliverables, which will be reviewed and approved by the City of Phoenix.

The Fellow will then lead efforts to launch a targeted marketing and outreach campaign to reach and educate homeowners about assistance in applying for, receiving, and implementing funding for solar under the Solar For All program. This will involve crafting bilingual messaging and creating accessible materials that effectively communicate the benefits of the Solar For All program to various communities. The Fellow will also work closely with community-based organizations to build a coalition that promotes the home retrofit program among low-income residents and supports residents in navigating the application process. To address the program’s workforce needs, the Fellow will collaborate with local colleges and apprenticeship programs to train new home energy upgrade specialists. These specialists will not only perform energy audits and assessments but also manage relationships with households to guide them through the complex process of obtaining solar and home electrification upgrades. Throughout this phase, the Fellow will act as a relationship manager, ensuring smooth coordination between the city, utilities, nonprofits, and other stakeholders to align efforts and maximize program impact.

The Fellow will then focus on formalizing partnerships and establishing a long-term sustainability plan to ensure continued success beyond the Fellowship period. This will include designing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to measure program impact and track key metrics, such as energy savings, household participation, and overall satisfaction. The Fellow will also develop a training and handover plan for city staff and partner organizations, ensuring that all partners are equipped to continue supporting program implementation. By the end of the fellowship, the Fellow will have created a detailed roadmap for scaling the program across the city equitably, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience for Phoenix’s low-income residents.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

By April 2026, the FUSE Executive Fellow will have produced the following:

  • Comprehensive Strategic Implementation Plan: Developed a robust strategic plan integrating the Solar For All program with Phoenix’s broader sustainability goals, including strategies for leveraging multiple funding sources to support low-income residents.
  • Outreach and Marketing Campaign: Launched a bilingual, multi-channel marketing and outreach campaign to promote the Solar For All program, reaching low-income households and generating high engagement and awareness.
  • Community Partnership Network: Built a coalition of community-based organizations, utilities, and training institutions to support outreach, application assistance, and workforce development.
  • Long-Term Program Sustainability Strategy: Produced a comprehensive report and sustainability plan, outlining recommendations for ongoing program funding, partnership maintenance, and long-term impact measurement.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

  • Executive Sponsor – Mario Paniagua, Deputy City Manager, City of Phoenix
  • Project Supervisor – Mark Hartman, Chief Sustainability Officer, Office of Sustainability, City of Phoenix

QUALIFICATIONS

  • 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 with core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position.