The City of Phoenix, Arizona is working to strengthen its local food economy and create new opportunities for integrating food systems into sustainable urban development. The FUSE Executive Fellow will conduct a food supply chain study and engage with private sector developers to explore strategies for supporting urban agriculture, including regenerative agriculture and agri-food tech innovation. Ultimately, this work will help Phoenix expand food access, build stronger market infrastructure, and create a more resilient, connected, and sustainable food network for all residents.

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

Urban agriculture plays a vital role in building climate resilience, advancing environmental equality, and improving food access for underserved communities. Integrating sustainable farming practices into urban planning can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, support local economies, and ensure comprehensive access to fresh, nutritious food. These efforts are especially critical in communities where residents face food insecurity, limited economic opportunity, and disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards. Maintaining urban agriculture and strategies such as regenerative agriculture can help address these disparities while restoring soil health, reducing heat island effects, and improving public health outcomes.

In Phoenix, Arizona, climate challenges such as extreme heat, prolonged drought, and rapid land development are especially severe. Despite Maricopa County’s status as a top agricultural producer, most food consumed in Phoenix is imported. Many small-scale growers struggle to access markets and the infrastructure needed to participate in and contribute to a strong local food economy. To address these concerns, the City of Phoenix has taken proactive steps to promote food resilience and support sustainable urban agriculture and the development of a connected food network. The Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) is the lead for food systems programs and has completed the implementation of the 2025 Food Action Plan with success and is now leading the effort to develop the City’s 2030 Food Action Plan, which prioritizes resource conservation, food accessibility, and local food system development.

Phoenix will partner with FUSE to help advance two key goals: conducting an extensive local food supply chain study and engaging private sector developers to explore opportunities for incorporating food assets into future development. The fellow’s work will also contribute to the city’s broader food systems vision of supporting the local food economy by strengthening the ecosystem needed to sustain existing urban agriculture, including regenerative agriculture and cultivating space for future agri-food tech innovation. Ultimately, this will help Phoenix drive sustainable development, expand food access, and build a more resilient, connected, and food-secure future for all residents.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Beginning in October 2025, the FUSE Executive Fellow will work with the OEP to strengthen the city’s local food economy and integrate food systems innovation into urban development practices. The fellow will support efforts to create a stronger ecosystem for existing urban agriculture, including regenerative agriculture, and build space for future agri-food tech innovation.

The fellow will begin by conducting a comprehensive food supply chain study focused on Phoenix’s current local food economy. This work will include gathering data on what is being grown locally, what is consumed locally versus exported, identifying market opportunities for existing producers, and assessing the presence and gaps among local food processors, aggregators, and distributors. The fellow will engage stakeholders across the local food value chain, including producers, manufacturers, distributors, and institutional buyers, to build a full picture of the city's food system landscape. Based on these findings, the fellow will develop project goals and deliverables for review and approval by OEP leadership before proceeding to the next phase of work.

Using the insights gathered, the fellow will support the development of strategic recommendations to help Phoenix understand the landscape of urban agriculture, including regenerative agriculture, identify market opportunities and the gaps to strengthen the local food economy by building an ecosystem that sustains existing urban agriculture, including regenerative agriculture and creates space for future agri-food tech innovation. The fellow will summarize key opportunities, challenges, and potential pathways for maintaining and expanding sustainable agriculture, increasing access to infrastructure, and encouraging integration of food elements into public and private development.

Building on this foundation, the fellow will engage the private sector development community to explore opportunities for incorporating food system assets—such as urban agriculture, community kitchens, markets, and educational spaces—into new housing, commercial, retail, and transit-oriented development projects. The fellow will assess local interest, identify barriers and incentives, and research best practices from other cities. They will also develop educational resources to help raise awareness among developers about the value and feasibility of integrating food systems into urban design.

By the conclusion of the project, the fellow will deliver a comprehensive food supply chain analysis with actionable recommendations to strengthen the local food economy. The fellow will also produce a report on public-private partnership strategies for integrating food elements into development projects, propose conceptual project options for future integration, and offer recommendations—where appropriate—for adjustments to local practices or incentives that could support these efforts. These activities will help position Phoenix as a national leader in sustainable urban food systems development.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

  • Executive Sponsor: Nancy Allen, Environmental Programs Administrator
  • Project Supervisor: Rosanne Albright, Environmental Programs Manager

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.