The City of Phoenix, Arizona, is working to strengthen its local food economy and better integrate food systems into urban development as part of its broader commitment to building a regenerative, climate-resilient food system. The FUSE Executive Fellow will conduct two critical analyses: a comprehensive food supply chain study and an evaluation of developer incentives to support food system integration.

Together, this work will help Phoenix identify opportunities to support regenerative agriculture and land use practices, strengthen local production and distribution networks, and embed food systems into the built environment in ways that restore environmental health and community resilience. Ultimately, this work will help Phoenix identify key gaps in its food system, align development practices with sustainability goals, and create a more resilient, connected, and equitable regenerative food ecosystem for all residents.

Fellowship Dates: October 26, 2026 – October 22, 2027

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

Urban food systems are a vital part of advancing climate resilience, economic opportunity, and equitable access to healthy food. Strengthening local food systems can reduce dependence on imported goods, lower environmental impacts, support local producers, and improve access to fresh food in underserved communities. These efforts are especially important in cities experiencing rapid growth and development pressures, where land use decisions and infrastructure investments significantly shape long-term food access and sustainability outcomes.

In Phoenix, Arizona, extreme heat, water constraints, and rapid development create both challenges and opportunities for building a resilient local food economy. Despite being located within a major agricultural region, much of the food consumed in Phoenix is imported, and there is limited visibility into how food moves through the local supply chain. At the same time, ongoing development across the city presents an opportunity to better integrate food assets, such as urban agriculture, community kitchens, and food retail and distribution hubs, into new projects. Still, the City lacks a clear understanding of the barriers and incentives that influence developer decision-making.

The Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) is leading the development of the City’s 2030 Food Action Plan, which prioritizes strengthening local food systems, improving access to nutritious food, and advancing sustainability goals. Two key components of this plan, a citywide food supply chain analysis and an evaluation of developer incentives, require dedicated capacity to advance. Phoenix will partner with FUSE to support this work. The FUSE Executive Fellow will conduct in-depth research, stakeholder engagement, and analysis to deliver actionable recommendations that inform the City’s strategy and guide future policy and programmatic decisions.

PROJECT APPROACH

Beginning in November 2026, the FUSE Executive Fellow will work with the Office of Environmental Programs, internal city departments, and external stakeholders to conduct two major studies that will inform Phoenix’s food systems strategy and development practices. The Fellow’s work will be focused on completing two primary deliverables: 1) A comprehensive food supply chain analysis and 2) a developer incentives and engagement analysis. These analyses will serve as the foundation for future City action and will directly inform the implementation of the 2030 Food Action Plan. The Fellow’s work will be primarily research- and strategy-focused; implementation of recommendations will occur only if time allows after completion of these core deliverables.

The Fellow will begin by conducting a 90-day period of in-depth discovery and assessment, including a targeted listening tour and landscape analysis to understand Phoenix’s current food system, development environment, and related initiatives. This will include engagement with local food producers, processors, distributors, local institutions, community organizations, city departments, and private developers. The Fellow will also review existing data, policies, and best practices from peer cities to establish a strong foundation for both analyses. Drawing on insights from the discovery phase, the Fellow will refine project goals, priorities, and anticipated deliverables for review and approval by City leadership.

Next, the Fellow will conduct a comprehensive food supply chain analysis to assess how food moves through Phoenix, from production and processing to distribution, consumption, and waste. This analysis will identify key gaps, inefficiencies, and opportunities within the system, including areas where the City can play a direct role or partner with external stakeholders to strengthen the local food economy and support the expansion of regenerative agriculture and circular food system practices. The Fellow will evaluate factors such as local production capacity, infrastructure needs, market access, and opportunities to increase awareness and utilization of local food resources.

Building on this work, the Fellow will engage the private development community to better understand how food system elements can be incorporated into new and existing development projects. The Fellow will conduct interviews with developers across the residential, commercial, and mixed-use sectors to identify barriers, motivations, and opportunities for integrating food assets, such as urban agriculture, food retail, and community food spaces. The Fellow will also research best practices and potential incentives, such as zoning flexibility, density bonuses, or financial tools, that could encourage developers to include food-related components in their projects.

The Fellow should understand that it may be necessary to simultaneously complete both studies to meet the deliverable deadlines. The Fellow is expected to work with their Supervisor to develop a work plan and schedule no later than 90 days from their start date.

Using insights from both analyses, the Fellow will develop a set of strategic recommendations that outline how the City of Phoenix can strengthen its food system and align development practices with its sustainability and food access goals. These recommendations will identify priority opportunities, potential implementation pathways, and roles for both the City and external partners. If time allows, the Fellow may support early-stage planning for implementation of select recommendations; however, the primary focus of the fellowship will remain on completing the two core analytical reports.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

By October 2027, the Executive Fellow is expected to have produced the following:

  • Stakeholder Engagement Summary – Documented insights and key themes from stakeholder interviews, meetings, and outreach efforts to support ongoing collaboration and decision-making.
  • Completed Food Supply Chain Analysis – Delivered a comprehensive report assessing Phoenix’s local food system, including production, processing, distribution, access, and waste, and identifying key gaps, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening the local food economy and advancing regenerative agriculture systems in and around Phoenix.
  • Developer Incentives and Engagement Report – Produced a report summarizing engagement with the development community, identifying barriers and opportunities, and recommending strategies and incentives to support integration of food assets into development projects.
  • Strategic Recommendations to Advance the 2030 Food Action Plan – Developed a set of actionable, prioritized recommendations that align with the City’s food systems goals and inform future policy, programmatic, and partnership efforts.
  • Implementation Considerations and Next Steps – Outlined potential pathways for advancing priority recommendations, including considerations for feasibility, partnerships, and future phases of work.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

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

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.