Scaling Regional Infrastructure Systems Innovation

Overview

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC) is expanding internal systems, governance capacity, and regional communications as the region grows toward one million residents by 2050. The FUSE Executive Fellow will help modernize internal operations, clarify strategic direction, and build a coordinated external communication framework that supports regional alignment and long-term infrastructure investment. This two-year fellowship will strengthen institutional capacity and advance efficient, transparent, and accountable regional governance.

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

Salary: Executive Fellows are FUSE employees and receive an annual salary of $95,000. Fellows can access health, dental, and vision insurance benefits. This amount is not representative of market-rate salaries for experienced professionals in the program but is intended as compensation for a year of public service.

About the FUSE Executive Fellowship

FUSE is a national nonprofit that increases local government capacity 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 with government partners and community stakeholders to define a scope that achieves progress toward high-priority local needs. Projects address affordable housing, economic mobility, climate resilience, public safety, infrastructure, technology, and more.

FUSE conducts a full executive search for each project to ensure the selected candidate has at least 15 years of professional experience, the required competencies, and deep community connections.

Executive Fellows are embedded in government agencies working with senior leaders for at least one year of full-time work. Prospective responsibilities may include data analytics and research, developing operations and financial models, building change management and strategic planning processes, and/or building coalitions to support project implementation. Fellows are data-driven and results-oriented and can manage complex projects. They build relationships with stakeholders, foster alignment within and across government layers, and build partnerships between governments and communities.

Throughout the fellowships, Executive Fellows receive training, coaching, and professional support to help achieve project goals.

Across the country, fast-growing metropolitan regions must coordinate infrastructure, land use, environmental planning, and mobility across jurisdictions. In polycentric, rapidly growing regions, coordinating planning and decision-making is challenging. As population grows and infrastructure costs rise, local governments balance community priorities with regional investments. Without strong regional systems and clear communication, growth can strain infrastructure, delay projects, and create confusion about funding, governance, and long-term priorities.

Northwest Arkansas is one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States and is projected to surpass one million residents by 2050. The region includes multiple mid-sized cities and 39 distinct local jurisdictions with independent decision-making authority. NWARPC serves as the Council of Governments and designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), coordinating transportation planning, grant administration, and regional initiatives. As regional transportation investments expand, NWARPC’s responsibilities grow in scale and complexity.

The organization operates with a small staff and legacy systems designed for a smaller region.

NWARPC is developing a five-year strategic plan to examine organizational structure, revenue models, and long-term service delivery to translate regional priorities into a near-term roadmap that aligns resources, clarifies roles, sets performance benchmarks, and coordinates partners for integrated regional planning. This fellowship offers an…