Strengthening Pathways to Family Economic Mobility

Fresno County is working to strengthen economic mobility by improving how health, education, and workforce systems align to support families. In partnership with the Cradle to Career (C2C) Initiative, the FUSE Executive Fellow will develop a countywide strategy and integrated framework to support more coordinated, effective implementation across cross‑sector partners. This is a two‑year fellowship, with Year One focused on discovery, framework development, and initial implementation, and Year Two focused on scaling solutions and embedding sustainable practices within County operations.

Ultimately, this work will expand access to care and workforce pathways and strengthen long‑term outcomes for communities across Fresno County.

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

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.

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.

Access to coordinated health services, strong educational pathways, and stable employment opportunities is essential to supporting long‑term economic mobility and community well‑being. In Fresno County, many families, particularly those in low‑income and historically underserved communities, experience barriers to accessing care, maintaining workforce stability, and navigating fragmented systems that operate independently rather than as a cohesive whole. These challenges affect residents across the full life continuum, from prenatal care through workforce participation, and can influence school attendance, academic outcomes, and long‑term financial stability.

As the County works to strengthen outcomes for a young and growing population, there is a critical opportunity to better align systems so that families can more consistently access the services and supports needed to thrive.

Fresno County has made significant progress in building the foundation for a more integrated approach to address these issues. Through the Cradle to Career (C2C) initiative, over 100 cross‑sector partners, including…