The Director of Strategic Partnerships will work with city and county leaders throughout the country to design FUSE Executive Fellowship projects and secure the required government funding and contracts needed to realize those projects and achieve a positive impact within communities.

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

ANNUAL SALARY: $132,000 with an annual bonus of up to $10,000.

ABOUT FUSE

FUSE is a national nonprofit working to expand social and economic opportunities, particularly for communities 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 400 projects in 58 local governments across 26 states.

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 and across various layers of government, and build partnerships between governments and communities. For more information: https://www.fusecorps.org

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Strategic Partnerships team at FUSE is composed of four Directors of Strategic Partnerships (including this position), who each manage their own portfolio of current and prospective government partners and securing contracts and funding for executive fellowship projects. Additionally, this position leads the process to co-create FUSE executive fellowship projects with our partners, ensuring all projects continue to focus on narrowing racial disparities across all of our key issue areas (jobs, housing, health, education, justice, and climate) and in diverse metropolitan communities throughout the country. The team works closely together as a collaborative unit to help advance the organization’s work on a national basis.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES - Specific responsibilities will include, but not be limited to the following:

• Lead the process to secure projects and funding across a portfolio of 10-20 cities and counties, assuming responsibility for several existing government partners and prospects as well as exploring new opportunities for expansion in targeted communities selected by the Director.
• Develop and cultivate relationships with an array of leaders in each community, including government officials, private sector executives, philanthropic organizations, and social sector and community leaders. Attend national and regional conferences and events to build and maintain relationships with mayors, city managers, county executives, department leaders, and their staff.
• Lead the process to develop each project, including conducting structured interviews with government officials and facilitating the development of a detailed project description that clearly and compellingly articulates the project’s goals and potential impacts. Ensure that racial equity is a key consideration in this process and help co-design projects that have the potential to reduce racial disparities within communities meaningfully.
• Ensure the required funding is secured for each project through government funding sources (such as sole source contracting, requests for proposals, reallocation of unfilled staff positions, leveraging federal funds) and – when necessary – engaging with local and national philanthropic funders who can help to underwrite projects.
• Lead the full contracting process to enable the launch of approximately 20 projects each year, including developing proposals, troubleshooting contracting challenges, presenting at council meetings, or other steps to secure fully executed contracts. As needed, establish relationships with government leaders responsible for budgeting, procurement, contracting, and legal in each partner community.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A passion for FUSE's mission and program model, a commitment to advancing racial equity, intellectual curiosity of major issues that impact our nation's cities, and a belief in the importance of cross-sector collaboration, civic innovation, and community engagement.
• A minimum of 10 years related work experience, particularly in roles that required direct responsibility for sales, business development, fundraising, and/or partnership cultivation. Prior experience working in or with governments is highly preferred but not required.
• Exceptional emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, with the warmth and authenticity to build trusting relationships with a wide array of stakeholders ranging from the chief executives of major US cities to the community members that they and FUSE are serving.
• Versatile and persuasive communication skills, with an understanding of how to adjust messaging to fit different audiences and effectively communicate the compelling nature of an investment opportunity to potential partners and supporters.
• A “get it done” attitude, with the ability to stay focused and nimble in a dynamic environment.
• Strength in executive functioning, multi-tasking, and time management. Self-starter and self-led.
• A team player who is able to collaborate on a virtual national team and make a positive contribution to organizational culture.
• Ability to travel as needed for in-person meetings with government partners, national conferences, and periodic team meetings. Most travel will be flexible on dates, at the Director’s discretion, and can generally accommodate varying schedules of availability.

TO APPLY

If this position piques your interest, please apply here with 1) your resume and 2) a targeted cover letter explaining why you are interested in FUSE and the Director of Strategic Partnerships roles. Please address letters to James Weinberg, CEO. Applications will be collected and reviewed on a rolling basis.

FUSE has retained DH Search to lead the search for a Director of Strategic Partnerships. DH Search partners with mission-driven organizations to hire the people they need to create a more just and equitable world. Learn more at www.dhsearch.net.

FUSE is an equal opportunity employer with a core value of incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work at every level. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position.