The City of Phoenix Aviation Department (AVN) is working to implement clean energy solutions throughout the airport system, including Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), Deer Valley (DVT), and Goodyear airports to increase resilience, reduce emissions, and support long-term climate goals. The FUSE Executive Fellow will work to develop a strategic roadmap for deploying clean energy solutions, such as on-site energy storage and microgrid infrastructure. This work will help AVN strengthen operational resilience, advance clean energy adoption, and deliver long-term benefits to airport workers, travelers, and surrounding communities.

Fellowship Dates: October 27, 2025 – October 23, 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 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 CONTEXT

Clean energy infrastructure plays a vital role in advancing climate resilience and ensuring uninterrupted access to critical services, especially at major public facilities like airports. As energy systems face mounting pressure from extreme weather, rising demand, and aging infrastructure, forward-looking solutions such as energy storage and microgrid systems have become essential tools for protecting public assets and the communities that rely on them. For airports, energy disruptions can lead to cascading delays, safety concerns, and economic losses that disproportionately impact frontline workers, low-income travelers, and surrounding communities already facing environmental and economic vulnerabilities. Investment in airport energy resilience that benefits all communities helps ensure safer operations, more reliable access to jobs and services, and a cleaner, more sustainable urban environment.

Phoenix has declared a climate emergency, committing to carbon neutrality by 2050, and the Aviation Department has taken important steps to align its operations with citywide sustainability and climate goals. The Aviation Department’s Sustainability & Resiliency Management Plan (SRMP) and Net Zero Carbon Roadmap outline strategic priorities to reduce emissions, enhance energy resilience, and expand clean energy use across airport facilities to achieve Net Zero by 2040. AVN is currently working with Arizona Public Service (APS) on potential utility-scale solar solutions, has launched an Electric Utility Master Plan to evaluate future energy needs, and is revising Sustainable Design Standards to align with sustainability and resiliency goals more closely. The department is currently working to identify and address potential challenges in translating long-range strategies into near-term implementation, particularly in areas like energy storage and microgrid adoption, which require cross-department coordination, stakeholder engagement, and a strong financial and technical case.

Phoenix will partner with FUSE to advance the implementation of clean energy solutions that strengthen airport operations and support broader climate resilience goals. The FUSE Executive Fellow will: conduct a landscape analysis and listening tour; complete a benchmarking study of airport energy systems nationwide; engage internal and external stakeholders to assess local feasibility; develop a strategic roadmap for on-site energy storage and microgrid deployment; support cross-departmental coordination; analyze return on investment scenarios; and help integrate energy resilience strategies into capital planning processes. Ultimately, this work will position AVN to lead among U.S. airports in resilient, low-carbon infrastructure while delivering long-term benefits to workers, travelers, and nearby communities.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Beginning in October 2025, the FUSE Executive Fellow will work with the Phoenix Aviation Department, utility partners, and internal city stakeholders to develop and implement a strategic plan for deploying on-site energy storage and microgrid solutions at PHX, DVT, and GYR. The scope will also include evaluating micro-nuclear technology, specifically Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as this emerging technology is gaining traction in aviation infrastructure applications. The fellow should assess the viability of the SMR platform as part of their comprehensive energy research for AVN. By providing technical insight, strategic alignment, and stakeholder engagement, the fellow will help AVN advance its clean energy goals and position the airport as a national model for sustainable, resilient infrastructure.

The fellow will begin by conducting a comprehensive listening tour with key stakeholders across the Aviation Department and the broader City of Phoenix in a deliberate effort to gather information and gain understanding on perspectives, needs, and concerns. This will include partners such as the Sustainability team, stakeholder division within the Aviation Department, lessees like American and Southwest Airlines, APS (Arizona Public Service), and city departments involved in climate planning and infrastructure investment, among others. The listening tour will aim to surface institutional challenges, current energy demands, stakeholder priorities, and opportunities for internal alignment. Importantly, the fellow will work to bring together a broad spectrum of voices throughout this process to ensure all perspectives are represented, including the interests of frontline workers and surrounding communities most affected by sustainability challenges and infrastructure disruptions.

The fellow will conduct a landscape analysis of current and planned energy infrastructure efforts across AVN, including the Aviation Department’s Sustainability & Resiliency Management Plan, the upcoming Electric Utility Master Plan, and the revised Sustainable Design Standards. The fellow will conduct benchmarking research on microgrid and energy storage initiatives at other major airports nationwide and conduct additional research into micro-nuclear and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) for viability, with careful assessment of actions that succeeded in favorable regulatory environments compared to governments with less supportive legislation. Using this research, the fellow will identify gaps, assess local feasibility, and develop specific project goals and deliverables for Aviation Department leadership to review and approve before proceeding.

The fellow will use the collected insights to create a roadmap for clean energy infrastructure deployment across AVN facilities. This will include identifying viable sites for microgrid and energy storage installation by evaluating each option’s cost-effectiveness, resilience impact, and alignment with long-term capital planning. The fellow will work to streamline internal coordination among divisions, build support from key decision-makers, and define return-on-investment models to help justify long-term funding. This may also involve supporting efforts to secure external funding from federal or state sources and facilitating conversations with APS to ensure regulatory compliance and shared planning.

The fellow will provide a peer review of the revised Sustainable Design Standards and develop draft updates if needed to institutionalize clean energy priorities and support ongoing coordination across divisions and departments. The fellow will also identify long-term implementation milestones, staffing and resource needs, and a transition plan to support the sustainability of the work beyond the fellowship. This will include recommendations for ongoing monitoring and evaluation efforts to ensure continued alignment with AVN’s climate goals and responsiveness to the evolving needs of airport operations and surrounding communities.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

  • Executive Sponsor: Chad Makovsky, Aviation Director
  • Project Supervisor: Jennifer Maples, Aviation Asset Manager & Sustainability Programs Administrator

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. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position.