California is launching a new statewide biomass utilization grant program to reduce wildfire risk, promote sustainable forest management, advance regenerative agricultural practices, and strengthen rural and tribal economies. The FUSE Executive Fellow will work with the California Department of Conservation to design and implement the $50 million initiative by developing inclusive grantmaking strategies, technical assistance models, and long-term evaluation tools that support multiple beneficial uses of forest biomass, including mass timber for low-carbon construction and applications that advance regenerative agriculture. Ultimately, this work will help California build a more climate-resilient future and expand economic opportunity for communities most impacted by wildfire.

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

California’s wildfire crisis continues to intensify due to prolonged drought, rising temperatures, and accumulated forest fuels, placing communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure at growing risk. Rural regions and forest-dependent communities—many of which have limited economic resources and face persistent barriers to investment—are particularly vulnerable to wildfire-related displacement, economic disruption, and health impacts from smoke and air pollution.

The California Department of Conservation (DOC), along with state and federal partners, has taken important steps to address this gap. DOC previously launched the Forest Biomass to Carbon-Negative Biofuels Pilot Program to support the development of low-emission technologies that convert forest biomass into clean fuels. Building on this work, Proposition 4 (Public Resources Code Section 91530) allocates $50 million to create a new grant program that funds long-term capital infrastructure for non-combustion biomass utilization. This effort aligns with the state’s broader Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and supports the goals of the Wood Utilization Work Group, a statewide coalition working to grow a market-driven forest resilience sector that creates environmental, economic, and public health benefits. It also aligns with the State’s climate goals as described in California’s 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality and various goals to draw down fossil fuel use, increase building embodied carbon, and other technological and economic objectives.

California will partner with FUSE to support the successful launch and implementation of this new biomass utilization grant program. The FUSE Executive Fellow will: conduct a landscape analysis and stakeholder listening tour to understand current challenges and opportunities; design an inclusive and accessible grant program framework; engage public, private, tribal, and nonprofit partners; and develop implementation strategies to select successful awards that promote innovation, workforce development, and environmental outcomes.

PROJECT APPROACH

Beginning in November 2026, the FUSE Executive Fellow will work with the California Department of Conservation (DOC), public agencies, tribal and rural communities, and other stakeholders to design and implement California’s new statewide biomass utilization grant program funded through Proposition 4. This program will fund long-term, non-combustion infrastructure projects that transform excess forest biomass into sustainable products that support low-carbon construction.

The fellow will begin by supporting public outreach, including focused conversations with key stakeholders across government, tribal nations, the private sector, community-based organizations, and institutions involved in wildfire mitigation and forest resilience. This work will also include identifying opportunities to expand awareness and adoption of different biomass utilization pathways, including community-based education on how biomass can support regenerative agriculture and improve soil conditions.

The fellow will review lessons from the Forest Biomass to Carbon-Negative Biofuels Pilot and analyze successful non-combustion biomass strategies used in other states and regions. Drawing from this research, existing landscape analyses, and stakeholder feedback, the fellow will develop specific project goals and deliverables for DOC to review and approve before moving into full program design and implementation.

The fellow will then develop strategic recommendations for the rollout of the biomass utilization grant program. This will include designing the grant solicitation, evaluation criteria, and equity-focused access strategies. The fellow will work closely with DOC and interagency partners—such as CAL FIRE, the California Energy Commission, and the Governor’s Office Land Use and Climate Innovation—to ensure alignment with state priorities and interdepartmental coordination. They will also engage other state entities focused on woody biomass utilization to align the program with broader market development goals.

The fellow will support early implementation efforts by developing solicitation materials, templates, and guidance materials for applicants, proposing technical assistance and support frameworks, and helping DOC identify opportunities to pilot or phase project types. The fellow will also develop long-term sustainability tools, including a monitoring and evaluation framework to track project outcomes and inform future DOC grantmaking. This framework will ensure that the grant program remains responsive to community needs, supports high-impact projects, and contributes to California’s climate resilience, wildfire mitigation, and rural economic development efforts over time.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

By October 2027, the fellow will have produced the following:

Designed and Launched Statewide Grant Program – Worked with DOC and interagency partners to design and begin implementation of a $50 million biomass utilization grant program, including finalizing solicitations, guidelines, and evaluation criteria that support climate resilience and rural economic development.
Developed Education and Equity Strategy for Industry Growth – Based on existing knowledge and stakeholder input, create a strategy to advance public knowledge about biomass utilization.
Established Technical Assistance and Support Program – With stakeholder preferences, needs, and information, identify, plan, and recruit participation in a series of convenings.
Strengthened Interagency and Stakeholder Collaboration – Facilitated coordination across DOC, CAL FIRE, the California Energy Commission, and other State agencies, as well as the Wood Utilization Work Group, to ensure continued alignment, knowledge-sharing, and momentum beyond the fellowship term.
Built Performance Monitoring and Sustainability Plan – Developed a performance evaluation framework and sustainability tools to measure outcomes such as emissions reductions and job creation, and to support long-term program improvement and impact tracking.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Executive Sponsor – Gabe Tiffany, Chief Deputy, Department of Conservation
Project Supervisor – Elizabeth Betancourt, Natural and Working Lands Policy Advisor, Department of Conservation

QUALIFICATIONS

15+ years of progressively responsible experience in organizational transformation and change management, from practitioner to enterprise-level leadership.
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.

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