San Francisco is committed to addressing health disparities and transforming its public health system to advance equity, ensuring that its strategies, systems, and outcomes move together toward a shared vision of thriving communities. The FUSE Executive Fellow will align priorities, clarify ownership, and strengthen coordination across the Department of Public Health, helping to drive more consistent and effective implementation of population health efforts. Ultimately, this work will improve how the department drives measurable progress and strengthens long-term health outcomes for communities across San Francisco. This fellowship is part of FUSE’s two-year model, with Year One focused on advancing coordination, strategy, and early implementation, and Year Two focused on building on this progress to deepen impact and support sustained, long-term outcomes.

This fellowship is pending legislative approval by the City & County of San Francisco.

Fellowship Dates: October 26, 2026 – October 20, 2028

Salary: This project is part of a collaboration between FUSE and Coro California in service to the City and County of San Francisco. The selected candidate will be hired as a FUSE Executive Fellow and will also have the opportunity to enroll in the Coro San Francisco Executive Fellows Experience, which provides additional networking, training, and leadership development designed to strengthen project impact.

The fellow will receive FUSE employment benefits and an annual salary of $95,000 from FUSE. Fellows who choose to participate in the Coro experience will receive a separate annual stipend of $70,000 from Coro. Participation in the Coro experience is optional. If participating in the Coro experience, the combined annual compensation would total $165,000 before taxes.

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

Coordinated, data-informed population health systems are essential to improving health outcomes and advancing equitable access to care. These systems enable public health departments to align programs, partnerships, and resources to address complex health challenges in a structured and sustained way. For residents experiencing disproportionate health burdens, particularly communities of color, consistent and coordinated approaches to prevention, treatment, and care play a critical role in improving life expectancy, reducing avoidable mortality, and strengthening long-term well-being. When cities invest in strong internal systems that connect data, strategy, and implementation, they create the conditions for more responsive, effective, and equitable outcomes.

In San Francisco, the Department of Public Health (DPH) leads a comprehensive, citywide effort to improve population health through clinical services, behavioral health, public health and prevention programs, and community partnerships. The department has made significant investments in priority areas such as overdose prevention, cardiovascular health, and maternal and infant health, and continues to expand partnerships with healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and academic institutions such as UCSF. Under new leadership, DPH has sharpened its focus on advancing health equity as a core strategic priority and is working to more clearly define how this commitment translates into measurable outcomes. As these efforts have expanded, the department is further aligning how initiatives are structured and coordinated by strengthening connections across programs, improving how data informs decision-making, and increasing consistency in how complex health challenges are addressed.

San Francisco will partner with FUSE to strengthen the systems and structures that support population health and equity outcomes across DPH. The FUSE Executive Fellow will conduct a comprehensive listening tour, landscape analysis, and assessment of current initiatives and coordination efforts; develop a cohesive, department-wide approach for addressing health disparities that aligns strategy, partnerships, and performance measurement; design practical frameworks and tools to support implementation; and pilot improvements in collaboration with staff and partners. Ultimately, this partnership will enable DPH to operate with greater alignment and clarity, ensuring that its efforts deliver more consistent, measurable, and equitable health outcomes for communities across San Francisco.

PROJECT APPROACH

Beginning in Fall 2026, the FUSE Executive Fellow will work with the City of San Francisco’s Department of Public Health (DPH) to strengthen how the department advances health equity through a more coordinated, data-informed population health approach. The fellow will focus on aligning population health strategies and outcomes across priority areas such as overdose prevention, cardiovascular health, and maternal and infant health by connecting strategy, partnerships, and performance measurement. Through this work, the fellow will support DPH in operating more cohesively across divisions and with external partners to drive measurable progress in outcomes for communities most impacted by health disparities.

During the first 90 days, the fellow will conduct a comprehensive discovery phase to build a deep understanding of DPH’s current population health strategy and operating environment. The fellow will lead a structured listening tour with stakeholders across DPH, including leadership and staff from population health, behavioral health, clinical services, and data and analytics teams, as well as select external partners such as healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and academic institutions including UCSF. This process will capture insights into how priority health outcomes are currently defined and advanced, where alignment challenges exist across initiatives, and how data is used to inform decision-making and measure progress. The fellow will also conduct a landscape analysis and review key materials, including strategic plans, program documentation, existing data systems, and prior analyses across priority areas. In parallel, the fellow will research best practices from comparable public health agencies and national models that have advanced population health and equity outcomes. Based on these insights, the fellow will synthesize key findings and present concepts to refine the project approach, including proposed frameworks and priority outcomes for review and approval by DPH leadership before advancing to the next phase of work.

Using the insights gathered during discovery, the fellow will design and implement strategies to strengthen DPH’s approach to addressing health disparities across priority areas. This work will include developing a cohesive, department-wide model that aligns programs, partnerships, and data to support more coordinated action, as well as clarifying roles and responsibilities across divisions to improve execution. The fellow will support the development of consistent approaches for stakeholder engagement, working closely with internal teams and external partners, including city agencies, healthcare systems, community-based organizations, and academic partners, to align efforts and strengthen collaboration. The fellow will also establish a structured framework for performance measurement, including identifying priority process and outcome metrics and improving how data is used to guide decisions and assess impact. In collaboration with DPH leadership and staff, the fellow will pilot new approaches, gather feedback, and refine strategies to ensure they are practical, effective, and integrated into ongoing work. As needed, the fellow will support alignment with broader citywide initiatives, particularly in maternal and infant health, to ensure DPH’s efforts are coordinated within the larger ecosystem.

By the end of the fellowship, DPH will operate with a clearer and more aligned approach to advancing health equity across its programs and partnerships. This scope reflects Year One priorities, and the fellow and City will collaborate during the fellowship to define the scope and focus for Year Two based on progress and emerging opportunities. Staff will have a shared understanding of how to structure and coordinate efforts to address complex health challenges, supported by practical frameworks that guide decision-making, collaboration, and performance management. These improvements will strengthen the department’s ability to use data effectively, align stakeholders around shared goals, and drive more consistent progress in priority areas. To ensure sustainability, the fellow will work with DPH leadership to embed new approaches within existing teams and structures, establish clear ownership across divisions, and support ongoing refinement and accountability. This work will leave DPH better positioned to continue strengthening its population health approach and improving equitable outcomes for communities across San Francisco over time.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

By Fall 2027, the Executive Fellow will have produced the following:

  • Developed a Population Health Strategy and Outcomes Alignment Framework – Designed a comprehensive, department-wide framework that aligns priority initiatives, partnerships, and data systems across key focus areas, enabling more coordinated planning and execution across divisions and with external partners.
  • Defined Cross-Divisional Alignment and Accountability Structure– Established clear roles, responsibilities, and decision-making structures to strengthen coordination across divisions, improve accountability, and support more consistent execution of population health priorities.
  • Designed Standardized Tools and Data-Driven Processes – Created practical tools and resources, including workflow maps, stakeholder engagement frameworks, and performance tracking systems, to support consistent implementation and improve how data informs decision-making.
  • Piloted and Refined Priority Population Health Strategies Across Focus Areas – Implemented and tested new approaches in collaboration with DPH staff and partners, incorporating feedback to ensure solutions are effective, feasible, and integrated into ongoing work.
  • Developed a Performance Measurement and Sustainability Plan – Established key metrics, evaluation processes, and a roadmap for ongoing implementation to support continuous improvement and long-term sustainability of the department’s population health approach.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

  • Executive Sponsor – Dr. Naveena Bobba, Deputy Director of Health, SF Department of Public Health
  • Project Supervisor – Dr. Susan Philip, Director of the Population Health Division, SF Department of Public Health

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.