Chief Executive Officer at FUSE

FUSE is a national nonprofit that increases 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.

About The Organization

Over the past 14 years, FUSE has led over 400 projects with more than 58 city and county agencies across 26 states, driving lasting impact in economic mobility, affordable housing, climate resilience, healthcare access, public safety, infrastructure, technology, and more. Working locally in communities throughout the country, we are impacting a total population equivalent to more than 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. 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.

Our place-based approach breaks down barriers between governments and the people they serve, helping to unite and strengthen communities. Our total team ranges from 60 to 80 individuals at any given time, comprised of 30 core staff members who all work remotely and the Executive Fellows (who are FUSE employees seconded full-time to government agencies throughout the country). FUSE has a close-knit staff culture known for high performance, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to the organization's mission.

Our work is propelled by a combination of fee-for-service contracts with local governments and national philanthropic investments from funders like Ballmer, Walton, Ford, Rockefeller, Kresge, Omidyar, Living Cities, and Waverley Street Foundation. You can learn more about FUSE at fuse.org.

About The Role

What You'll Do

FUSE is seeking a bold, innovative, and values-driven Chief Executive Officer to lead our organization into its next chapter, doubling our annual budget from $10M to $20M. Working with our dedicated team, government clients, and philanthropic partners, the CEO will drive significant growth in the coming years, charting our course as we continue to broaden our funder base and develop major investment opportunities at both the local and national levels.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a visionary leader who believes in the potential of local governments to deliver results for communities.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To

Strategic Leadership

• Set and drive organizational strategy, enabling FUSE to continue its growth trajectory, expanding the universe of cities and counties along with the set of issue areas in which FUSE Fellows are engaged.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to key stakeholders (e.g., mayors, philanthropists, think tanks, national associations), providing advice, insights, and lessons learned from ongoing fellowship projects in cities throughout the country.
• Anticipate and respond to dynamics in the funding landscape to ensure we are positioned to create and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
• Lead a robust philanthropic partnerships function that stewards major investments from some of the nation's leading foundations, enabling us to build on existing multi-year partnerships while broadening the community of funders who support our work.
• Guide the continuous refinement and expansion of FUSE's executive fellowship model to create more impactful, inclusive, responsive public systems.

Team and Organizational Leadership

• Set organizational culture, embodying FUSE's human-centric and collaborative approach to management.
• Manage the organization's Leadership Team, overseeing an overall team of thirty staff members working remotely.
• Ensure that staff members have the resources, skills, and infrastructure necessary to thrive in their roles.
• Work closely with the Board of Directors to ensure strong governance and provide all information necessary for the Board to function properly and make informed decisions.

External Partnerships

• Oversee strategies to bolster revenue streams, co-creating new avenues for leading philanthropies to partner with local governments in service to their geographic and issue-based priorities.
• Support the development of earned revenue strategies related to fee-for-service contracts with government clients, which currently account for 30% of total revenue.
• Serve as the leading external voice representing FUSE's work nationally, speaking at national conferences and writing for publication about how local governments are driving systemic change in America.
• Identify, pursue, and strengthen strategic relationships with think tanks and associations (e.g., current partners such as Brookings, the Urban Institute, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities).

Who You'll Work With

You will report to FUSE's Board of Directors.

You will direct and work closely with FUSE's leadership team, composed of four Vice Presidents (Philanthropic Partnerships, Government Partnerships, Fellow Recruitment, Program & Evaluation) and an interim Chief Finance & Operating Officer.

Required Skills And Experience

• A minimum of 15 years of executive leadership experience (CEO, Executive Director, or divisional leadership) in a high-impact, national nonprofit, government, or similar field related to civic innovation.
• A genuine passion for and belief in local government to deliver exceptional outcomes for its constituents.
• A track record of platforming exceptional leaders and belief in their ability to drive societal change.
• Demonstrable track record of successfully cultivating, stewarding, and diversifying significant revenue streams from major philanthropic institutions, government partners, and/or fee-for-service contracts.
• Alignment with FUSE's core values of Impact, Innovation, Diversity & Inclusion, Collaboration, and Resilience.
• Sophisticated familiarity with local governments and demonstrated experience in leading initiatives focused on policy change, systems improvement, or public sector innovation.
• Proven success in developing and translating a bold strategic vision into actionable plans, driving implementation, and using data to monitor progress and maximize organizational impact.
• Exceptional external leadership, communication, and public speaking skills, with the capacity to serve as the national, visible spokesperson for the organization and effectively advocate for FUSE's mission across diverse political and media contexts.
• Experience building, managing, and mentoring senior leaders on high-performing teams, including diverse and geographically distributed colleagues, fostering a culture of accountability and belonging.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience overseeing complex budgets, managing resource allocation, and ensuring organizational sustainability.

Additional Details

Location: FUSE is a fully virtual organization and this position can be based remotely from anywhere in the United States.

Travel: We anticipate significant travel (up to 50% time) for this role to attend meetings with funders and government partners in cities throughout the country, national conferences, Board meetings, and team retreats. The CEO will have total flexibility and autonomy over travel frequency and destinations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

FUSE is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position.