New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is working to improve internal operations, enhance project efficiency, and optimize resource allocation for better project execution. The FUSE Executive Fellow will work to optimize processes, tools and methodologies for DEP’s newly designed Project Management Office (PMO) to support long term implementation success. Within the PMO, the Executive Fellow will lead the initiation, exploration and potential implementation of vital important new strategic projects, in addition to identifying future roadmap project activity. Ultimately, this work will help DEP improve operational efficiency, advance environmental justice, and deliver more equitable outcomes for all New Yorkers.

Fellowship Dates: April 28, 2025 – April 24, 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 working to expand social and economic opportunities, particularly for communities that have been limited by a history of systemic and institutionalized racism. FUSE partners with local governments and communities to more effectively address pressing challenges by placing experienced professionals within city and county agencies. These FUSE Executive Fellows lead strategic projects designed to advance racial equity and accelerate systems change. Since 2012, FUSE has led over 250 projects in 40 governments across 20 states, impacting the lives of 25 million people.

When designing each fellowship project, FUSE works closely with government partners and local stakeholders to define a scope of work that will achieve substantive progress toward regional priorities. FUSE then conducts an individualized search for each 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 communities being served. They are data-driven and results-oriented and able to effectively manage complex projects by developing actionable roadmaps and monitoring progress to completion.

Executive Fellows are hired as FUSE employees and embedded in government agencies for at least one year of full-time work. Throughout their fellowships, they receive training, coaching, and professional support from FUSE to help achieve their project goals. FUSE Executive Fellows bring diverse perspectives and new approaches to their projects. They build strong relationships with diverse arrays of stakeholders, foster alignment within.

PROJECT CONTEXT

New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is responsible for managing the city’s water supply, stormwater systems, and pollution control infrastructure to create a more climate resilient future. As threats from climate change continue to increase and the department grows in response, DEP is seeking to advance its efforts to improve its internal operations, enhance project efficiency, and better allocate resources. In particular, they are working towards better project execution and expense management across DEP’s 6,000-member workforce, which handles capital projects, day-to-day operations, and financial management.

The PMO

In 2024, DEP worked with FUSE to design a new Project Management Office (PMO) with the goal of improving operational efficiency within business operations functions, such as Procurement, Information Technology, Budget and Human Resources, and supporting its critical environmental and infrastructure projects. The 2024 FUSE Executive Fellow laid the groundwork by establishing the PMO’s structure, defining its processes, and setting up initial tools and templates for project management. Now that the PMO structure is in place, the system needs to be tested and refined to ensure its efficiency prior to full scale implementation.

New York City will partner with FUSE to refine and optimize the newly established PMO within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and lead key strategic projects, using the new PMO framework. The FUSE Executive Fellow will:

  1. Conduct a listening tour to understand the bureaus of DEP in terms of process and opportunities for improvement, that will positively impact on efficiency, climate resilience and environmental justice, building upon the work already completed in this area.
  2. Identify inefficiencies and pain points; develop strategic recommendations to streamline these processes, which will be presented for approval at the new Project Governance Board.
  3. Review and recommend strategic project roadmap activity, based on listening tour conversations and review of the newly created Process Library.
  4. Conduct pilot projects to ground truth program design efficiencies
  5. Create an implementation plan for long-term improvements.

Ultimately, this will help DEP enhance operational efficiency, advance environmental justice, and better manage its projects to deliver more equitable outcomes for all New Yorkers.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Beginning in April 2025, the FUSE Executive Fellow will work with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to refine and optimize its newly established Project Management Office (PMO), the Office of Performance and Program Management. The Executive Fellow will engage with various stakeholders across DEP’s divisions to assess and improve current project execution and expense management practices under the new PMO, thereby ensuring public funds are used effectively to advance environmental justice and equity.

PMO Optimization

Using the information gathered, the Executive Fellow will assess how effectively the PMO framework handles project execution and identify key pain points and areas for improvement, particularly regarding PMO project management tools that can support optimized project management processes. They will then provide detailed recommendations for refining PMO tools and processes. The Executive Fellow will identify future project roadmap activity, enhancing business processes and tools, and integrating technology solutions to improve operations. These recommendations will address both short-term wins and long-term improvements.

This project will serve as a real-world application of the PMO framework, assessing its ability to handle complex, cross-departmental projects, and refining processes based on feedback. The Executive Fellow will then propose new workflows to enhance operational efficiency, as needed. This ground truthing work will allow DEP to adjust and improve the PMO’s structure and processes before scaling them up across the department.

Strategic Project Implementation

Identification and Implementation of Key Improvement Projects supporting business innovation and optimization, with strong consideration of impact against DEP Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice strategic goals

The Executive Fellow will begin by conducting a comprehensive listening tour and research phase, involving key stakeholders from DEP, external contractors (e.g. MWBEs) and existing documentation to gather insights into existing pain points, inefficiencies, and process challenges in the department’s project implementation practices. Based on the findings, the Fellow will develop recommendations of key projects and their associated deliverables, that will be reviewed and approved by DEP leadership for addition to the project road map and potential implementation (the fellow will implement up to 3 identified projects, subject to complexity and time restraints).

By the conclusion of the fellowship, the Executive Fellow will have created an operational plan for (1) the PMO’s ongoing refinement and optimization, having implemented any quick wins and (2), Identification of key roadmap projects, initiating any projects with strategic priority using the PMO methodology. These plans will include key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for project management processes, and recommendations for the continued use of technology to improve transparency and efficiency. This plan will also include recommendations for ongoing improvements, resource needs, and training requirements to help institutionalize these improvements and ensure the PMO's long-term success. The Fellow will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout the process to gain buy-in and ensure the long-term sustainability of the proposed changes.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

By April 2026, the Executive Fellow will have produced the following:

  • Strategic Recommendations for PMO Optimization: Developed a comprehensive set of recommendations to refine, optimize and expand PMO. This includes suggestions for enhancing business processes, and integrating technology solutions to improve efficiency and transparency.
  • Strategic Project Roadmap: The identification of business operations future roadmap projects via the utilization of the process resource library and listening tour conversations. Specific focus on projects that strongly support climate resilience and social justice goals, as defined in the DEP Strategic Plan.
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Created SOPs / Process maps for key strategic projects identified, ensuring consistent application of the improved workflows across DEP’s divisions and promoting long-term operational efficiency.
  • Pilot Project Implementation: Launch and manage key strategic pilot projects as identified in the listening tour / research phase, using real-world data and feedback on how the new PMO processes and systems handle complex, cross-departmental projects. Adjusted and refined processes based on pilot results before broader implementation.
  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Implementation Plan: Developed KPIs to measure the success of the PMO and its processes, along with a detailed operational plan for the ongoing refinement and optimization of the PMO. This includes resource needs, training requirements, and recommendations for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the improvements.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

  • Executive Sponsor – Rohit Aggarwala, Commissioner, NYC Department of Environmental Protection and NYC Chief Climate Officer
  • Project Supervisor – Nerissa Moray, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Performance Officer, NYC Department of Environmental Protection

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 with core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position.