Preserving Agricultural Land Community Engagement | FUSE Executive Fellowship

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How to Apply

section for application instructions.

7 Jul 2025

Priority Final date to receive applications:
July 25, 2025.

Bernalillo County, New Mexico is working to preserve agricultural land and expand access to land-based opportunities. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop and implement strategic recommendations to strengthen landowner-grower connections, enhance public outreach, and support inclusive engagement practices within the Assessor’s Office. Ultimately, this will help Bernalillo County protect its agricultural heritage, foster intergenerational land stewardship, and build a more resilient and community-centered local food system.

Fellowship Dates:
October 27, 2025 – October 23, 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 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.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Preserving agricultural land is essential to protecting cultural heritage, supporting local food systems, and advancing access to land-based economic opportunities. In Bernalillo County, New Mexico, many agricultural lands have been stewarded by Latino families for generations and they face increasing pressure from urban development and generational transitions. Many older landowners are no longer able or willing to farm and without clear, accessible options for succession or land leasing, these properties are often sold or sit fallow.

At the same time, a new generation of aspiring growers is eager to farm but lacks access to land and the technical knowledge needed to navigate lease agreements, water rights, and tax exemptions. These dynamics create disparities in land access and can further displace historically rooted communities.

Bernalillo County will partner with FUSE to help build a more accessible and community-centered approach to agricultural land preservation. The FUSE Executive Fellow will: conduct a landscape analysis and listening tour; lead stakeholder engagement and community…