Fresno County is working to strengthen economic mobility by improving how health, education, and workforce systems align to support families. In partnership with the Cradle to Career (C2C) Initiative, the FUSE Executive Fellow will develop a countywide strategy and integrated framework to support more coordinated, effective implementation across cross-sector partners. This is a two-year fellowship, with Year One focused on discovery, framework development, and initial implementation, and Year Two focused on scaling solutions and embedding sustainable practices within County operations. Ultimately, this work will expand access to care and workforce pathways and strengthen long-term outcomes for communities across Fresno County
Fellowship Dates: October 26, 2026 – October 20, 2028
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.
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.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Access to coordinated health services, strong educational pathways, and stable employment opportunities is essential to supporting long-term economic mobility and community well-being. In Fresno County, many families, particularly those in low-income and historically underserved communities, experience barriers to accessing care, maintaining workforce stability, and navigating fragmented systems that operate independently rather than as a cohesive whole. These challenges affect residents across the full life continuum, from prenatal care through workforce participation, and can influence school attendance, academic outcomes, and long-term financial stability. As the County works to strengthen outcomes for a young and growing population, there is a critical opportunity to better align systems so that families can more consistently access the services and supports needed to thrive.
Fresno County has made significant progress in building the foundation for a more integrated approach to address these issues. Through the Cradle to Career (C2C) initiative, over 100 cross-sector partners, including education, public health, and community-based organizations, are working together to align efforts around shared goals. The County and the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools have also partnered to develop the Fresno County Information Exchange, a data infrastructure designed to improve care coordination and enable more informed, real-time decision-making. Additional efforts include expanding community health worker and home visiting networks, strengthening workforce development pathways, and aligning with statewide initiatives such as CalAIM to support more responsive and sustainable service delivery models. As these initiatives continue to evolve, the County is building momentum toward a more coordinated, outcomes-driven system.
Fresno County Superintendent of Schools will partner with FUSE to bring these efforts together into a unified, actionable strategy that advances health, education, and workforce outcomes. The FUSE Executive Fellow will: conduct a landscape analysis and stakeholder listening tour across key systems; develop an integrated framework that aligns healthcare access, workforce development, and data infrastructure; identify opportunities to strengthen coordination and streamline service delivery; and create a funder-ready investment strategy to support long-term implementation. Ultimately, this work will help Fresno County translate strong partnerships and existing investments into a cohesive system that expands access to services, strengthens pathways to economic mobility, and improves outcomes for families across the region.
PROJECT APPROACH
Beginning in Fall 2026, the FUSE Executive Fellow will work with the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools and cross-sector partners to advance a coordinated strategy that aligns health, education, and workforce systems to strengthen economic mobility. The Fellow will focus on translating existing partnerships, data infrastructure, and service networks into a cohesive, actionable framework that supports improved access to care, stronger workforce pathways, and more consistent outcomes for families. Through this work, the Fellow will help Fresno County move from alignment toward coordinated decision-making and implementation across systems.
During the first 90 days, the Fellow will conduct a comprehensive discovery phase to build a deep understanding of the County’s current landscape, including existing partnerships, initiatives, and system components. The Fellow will lead a structured listening tour with stakeholders across the Cradle to Career (C2C) initiative, the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, the Department of Public Health, First 5 Fresno County, and other County agencies, as well as community-based organizations and leadership council members representing multiple sectors. The fellow will also engage external partners, including workforce organizations and healthcare providers, to gather diverse perspectives on service delivery, coordination, and community needs.
The Fellow will also conduct a landscape analysis and review key materials, including existing plans, governance structures, and data systems such as the Fresno County Information Exchange, while assessing relevant state initiatives such as CalAIM. A strategic partnership with the FUSE Fellow assigned at Fresno County Department of Public Health and First 5 Fresno County will be established, and work product will be aligned as appropriate throughout the Fellowship. The Fellow will research best practices from comparable communities that have successfully aligned cross-sector systems to improve outcomes. Based on these insights, the Fellow will synthesize findings and present concepts for evolving and refining the project approach, including initial frameworks and strategic options, for review and approval by County leadership before advancing to the next phase of work.
Using the insights gathered during discovery, the Fellow will lead the development of an integrated framework that aligns healthcare access, workforce development, and data infrastructure into a coordinated system. This work will include mapping existing programs and partnerships, identifying gaps and redundancies, and clarifying roles and responsibilities across agencies and organizations. The Fellow will facilitate cross-sector collaboration and support leadership in making informed decisions by translating complex inputs into clear, actionable strategies and visual frameworks.
The Fellow will work closely with C2C partners, County departments, education leaders, and community-based organizations to ensure the approach reflects local priorities and builds on existing momentum. In parallel, the Fellow will support the development of a funder-ready investment strategy by analyzing current funding streams, identifying opportunities for alignment, and articulating a clear case for additional investment to support long-term implementation. The Fellow will also identify policy and operational opportunities to strengthen coordination and improve service delivery, while remaining responsive to evolving insights and priorities that emerge throughout the project.
By the end of Year One, the fellow will have established a strong foundation for advancing cross-sector alignment, including a comprehensive understanding of existing systems, strengthened relationships among key partners, and initial frameworks to support more coordinated implementation across health, education, and workforce efforts. Building on this progress, the fellow and County leadership will collaborate to define more specific goals, success measures, and a refined scope of work for Year Two, informed by lessons learned, stakeholder engagement, and early implementation outcomes.
By the end of the Fellowship, Fresno County will have a clearer and more actionable strategy for aligning systems that support health, education, and workforce outcomes. Leaders across sectors will have a shared understanding of priorities, roles, and pathways for coordination, supported by frameworks and tools that enable more effective decision-making. The County will be better positioned to align resources, strengthen service delivery, and advance data-informed approaches that improve outcomes for families. To ensure sustainability, the fellow will work with County leadership and C2C partners to integrate strategies and frameworks into existing governance structures, establish ownership of next steps, and create a foundation for continued coordination and implementation beyond the fellowship period.
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
By Fall 2028, the Executive Fellow will have produced the following:
- Developed an Integrated Health, Education, and Workforce Framework – Designed a comprehensive, cross-sector framework that aligns healthcare access, workforce development, and data infrastructure into a coordinated system, enabling clearer decision-making and more effective service delivery across Fresno County.
- Completed a Systems Alignment and Gap Analysis – Produced a detailed assessment identifying gaps, redundancies, and opportunities for alignment across existing programs, partnerships, and funding streams, supporting more strategic prioritization and coordination among County and community partners.
- Created a Funder-Ready Investment Strategy – Developed a clear, data-informed investment case with defined outcomes, cost estimates, and capital alignment opportunities to position the County and its partners to secure and deploy funding more effectively.
- Delivered an Implementation Roadmap and Governance Structure – Established a practical roadmap with defined roles, timelines, and governance recommendations to support coordinated execution and sustained cross-sector collaboration.
- Established a Shared Data and Measurement Framework – Designed a set of aligned metrics and data strategies to track progress across health, education, and workforce outcomes, enabling ongoing evaluation and continuous improvement.
KEY STAKEHOLDERS
- Executive Sponsor – Dr. Matilda Soria, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
- Project Supervisor – Linda Gleason, Fresno Cradle to Career, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
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.