FUSE Executive Fellow | Stormwater and Floodplain Systems Modernization

The City of Centerton, Arkansas, is experiencing rapid growth, placing increasing demands on its stormwater and floodplain management systems. The FUSE Executive Fellow will support the City in modernizing these systems by strengthening internal processes, improving inter-agency coordination, and building sustainable capacity for stormwater permitting and compliance. Over two years, this fellowship will help Centerton improve service delivery, reduce risk, and embed resilient stormwater management practices that can keep pace with continued growth. They will also participate in the floodplain management permitting process and other stormwater compliance review activities.

Fellowship Dates: October 26, 2026 – October 22, 2027

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.

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.

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.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Centerton is one of the fastest-growing communities in Northwest Arkansas, experiencing sustained residential and commercial development that places increasing pressure on stormwater systems and floodplain management. As the headwaters for multiple watersheds, decisions made in Centerton have downstream impacts on neighboring jurisdictions and vulnerable populations, including residents living in flood-prone areas who face heightened risks to property, safety, and affordability. Effective stormwater and floodplain management is essential to protecting life and property, maintaining eligibility for federal programs, and ensuring that growth does not disproportionately burden lower-income households, who are least able to absorb flood-related losses or insurance costs.

The City must comply with complex federal and state requirements, including FEMA floodplain regulations and Community Rating System (CRS) participation, which provide critical flood insurance discounts to residents. However, rapid growth has resulted in backlogs of permits, incomplete or fragmented records, and processes that rely heavily on institutional knowledge rather than standardized systems. These challenges increase staff workload, slow development reviews, and create a risk of compliance gaps that could undermine long-term resilience and equity outcomes.

Centerton has maintained strong floodplain management practices, achieving one of the highest CRS ratings in the state. City staff manage floodplain permits, elevation certificates, map amendments, and inspections while coordinating with developers, consultants, and state and federal agencies. The City has begun making incremental updates to stormwater and floodplain codes and participates in regional conversations about stormwater management, trails, and downtown redevelopment. However, limited staff capacity and the technical and administrative complexity of these systems have constrained the City’s ability to proactively modernize processes, plan for regional or area-wide detention, or fully leverage external funding opportunities.

This FUSE fellowship presents an opportunity to strengthen Centerton’s stormwater and floodplain management systems at a pivotal moment of growth and infrastructure investment. By improving internal organization, clarifying workflows, and tracking procedures, the City can move toward a more efficient, transparent, and resilient approach.

PROJECT APPROACH

Across the first 90 days of the fellowship, the FUSE Executive Fellow will focus on in-depth discovery and relationship-building. The fellow will conduct a listening tour with key stakeholders, including Engineering and Planning staff, external engineering partners, and relevant state and federal agencies. This phase will include reviewing existing stormwater studies, floodplain permits, elevation certificates, CRS documentation, and related records, as well as assessing current workflows for permitting, review, approval, and recordkeeping. The fellow will also research best practices from comparable communities managing growth-related stormwater challenges. Based on insights gathered, the fellow will develop and present refined project goals, priorities, and anticipated deliverables for City leadership’s review and approval following the discovery period.

Following discovery, the Fellow will lead implementation-focused work to stabilize and modernize floodplain management systems. Core activities will include organizing and digitizing floodplain and stormwater records into accessible, auditable systems; developing standardized permitting, review, and documentation workflows; and expediting the final and closeout process.

The Fellow will coordinate closely with internal staff and external consultants to improve tracking of permits, map amendments, and inspections, and to ensure readiness for FEMA reviews, CRS recertification, and state-mandated flood planning processes. The Fellow will also develop applicant-facing guidance, internal templates, checklists, and dashboards that improve transparency, predictability, and leadership oversight.

In parallel, the Fellow will support early-stage planning for broader stormwater solutions, including identifying potential opportunities for area-wide or regional detention that could reduce downstream impacts and ease development constraints. While not serving as a technical designer, the Fellow will manage feasibility scoping, stakeholder coordination, and sequencing of next steps, including identifying and pursuing grant funding or partnerships to support future design and implementation. They will participate in stormwater inspections and reviews in the field.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

By October 2027 (end of Year One), the fellow is expected to have supported:

• Floodplain Records System: Established a consolidated, digitized system for stormwater and floodplain records.
• Standardized Floodplain Permitting Processes: Developed and implemented standardized workflows, templates, and internal checklists for floodplain permitting.
• Staff Tools and Management Dashboards: Created applicant-facing guidance, internal tools, and management dashboards that increase transparency, support day-to-day decision-making, and allow leadership to track workload, timelines, and regulatory compliance.
• Stormwater Planning and Feasibility Support: Advanced early-stage planning for stormwater infrastructure solutions by coordinating feasibility scoping and identifying opportunities for area-wide or regional detention.
• Stormwater Review: Participate in the stormwater review process.

By October 2028 (end of Year Two), the fellow is expected to have supported:

• Embedded Sustainable Management Systems: Fully embedded stormwater and floodplain management systems, practices, and coordination structures that the City can maintain beyond the fellowship, strengthening long-term resilience and regulatory capacity.
• Advancement of Stormwater Infrastructure Outcomes: Supported the advancement of at least one major planning, funding, or implementation pathway for stormwater infrastructure improvements aligned with Centerton’s growth trajectory and regional water priorities.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Executive Sponsor – Bill Edwards, Mayor of Centerton, City of Centerton
• Project Supervisor – Lorene Burns, Planning Director, City of Centerton
• Project Supervisor – Alan Craighead, City Engineer, City of Centerton

QUALIFICATIONS

• Synthesizes complex information into clear and concise recommendations and action-oriented implementation plans.
• Develops and effectively implements both strategic and operational project management plans.
• Generates innovative, data-driven, and result-oriented solutions to complex challenges.
• Respond quickly to changing ideas, responsibilities, expectations, trends, strategies, and other processes.
• Communicates effectively verbally and in writing and excels in active listening and conversing.
• Fosters collaboration across multiple constituencies to support more effective decision-making.
• Establishes and maintains strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, both inside and outside of government, particularly community-based relationships.
• Embraces differing viewpoints and implements strategies to find common ground. Demonstrates confidence and professional diplomacy while effectively interacting with individuals at all levels of various organizations.