Catalyzing Bold, Inclusive Affordable Housing Expansion

Albuquerque's housing prices have soared for renters and owners alike. The City has a bold vision to develop 5,000 affordable housing units by 2027. The FUSE Executive Fellow will advance this goal by developing a program to finance Accessory Dwelling Units, develop a housing plan for the International District, and establish an annually recurring affordable housing trust fund for the City. As a result, Albuquerque will have more affordable, dignified homes for low-income residents.

Fellowship Dates: April 28, 2025 - April 24, 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 working to expand social and economic opportunities, particularly for communities that have been 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 over 250 projects in 40 governments across 20 states, impacting the lives of 25 million people.

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.

PROJECT CONTEXT

New Mexico is one of the most diverse states in the country. Albuquerque reflects the state's diversity, with nearly 80% of residents identifying as a person of color and 10% identifying as an immigrant. In addition, Albuquerque is growing, with new arrivals drawn by economic opportunity and the weather.

Unfortunately, Albuquerque residents face a challenging housing market. Last year, the price of single-family homes increased by 8%. Over the last generation, prices increased by nearly 300%; wages have not kept pace. Median and low-income renters and potential homeowners are priced out of the market, as more than one third of households experience a cost burden.

A notable example of this challenge is the International District-one of the more diverse neighborhoods in the City. While the district has a high poverty rate, its location along Route 66 means there are many infill/underutilized properties that could be developed and/or converted into affordable housing. With some investment, the International District could house many new and established Albuquerque residents.

The City of Albuquerque is committed to facing this challenge head-on and has set a goal of building 5,000 affordable housing units by 2027. To achieve this, the City updated zoning laws to allow for hotel conversions into housing, and to permit Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), appropriated $20 million to Affordable Housing, and secured a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant to develop a strategy to transform the International District.

By increasing density, building more units, and transforming the International District (while preserving current residents), the City aims to make housing more affordable for its lowest income citizens. The Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness (HHH) convenes and collaborates with stakeholders working toward this affordable housing goal. The team needs additional administrative capacity to be effective coordinators and stewards of grant funds.

The FUSE Executive Fellow will help to increase HHH's capacity to manage the funds, programs, and relationships necessary to build 5,000 affordable housing units by 2027. The Executive Fellow will design and secure funding for a new program to help homeowners - - Finance ADUs; coordinate the Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant; and secure funding for an affordable housing trust that will finance the City's administrative costs and funding gaps for ongoing programs. As a result of this work, more low-income Albuquerque residents will be able to secure housing that fits their needs and budget.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Starting in May 2025, the FUSE Executive Fellow will develop deep relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including City agencies (e.g., the Mayor's Office, Planning Department, Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Transit Department, Department of Finance), affordable housing industry partners (e.g., Urban Land Institute, National Association of Industrial Office Parks, Urban land institute, American Planners Association New Mexico Bankers Association, New Mexico Chapter of the American Institute of Architects), and members of the public (with an emphasis on BIPOC individuals and communities who are cost burdened). The Executive Fellow will seek to understand the resources, opportunities, and aspirations these partners have for affordable housing. In addition, the Executive Fellow will review best practices for equitable, inclusive housing development in communities similar to Albuquerque. Finally, the Executive Fellow will work with their Executive Sponsor and Project Supervisor to develop and approve specific project goals and deliverables. While these goals and deliverables will likely include the ones listed below, they may differ based on situational changes and the Executive Fellow's specific skills and experience.

Next, the Executive Fellow will design and secure funding for a new program that assists homeowners in financing ADUs (e.g., casitas, mother-in-law apartments). This program should support HHH in identifying and subsidizing the creation of units that will house low-income residents. The Executive Fellow should also consider how to market this new program, so that the City can draw in appropriate homeowners who are interested in constructing eligible ADUs.

At the same time, the Executive Fellow will serve as the HHH lead for the Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant. By the end of the fellowship, the planning team will have developed a comprehensive, inclusive plan to transform the International District while developing high-quality affordable housing for current and new residents. If successful, HHH will have a competitive application for a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant to turn the plan into action.

Finally, the Executive Fellow will identify and secure money for an affordable housing trust fund. This could include a increased bond measure or additional funding from the city. If successful, HHH will have an predictable, renewable source of unrestricted funds that it can use to finance administrative costs and fill funding gaps for key programs. In addition, the trust fund should increase staff bandwidth by reducing the need to find temporary funding to fill different gaps.

To ensure sustainability, HHH must be able to manage the two new programs (ADU funding and Choice Neighborhoods implementation) in addition to their current workload or hire additional staff using funding from the trust. Therefore, City staff must inform the program designs to ensure their functionality and the Executive Fellow must facilitate handover of ongoing tasks prior to the end of the year.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

By April 2026, the Executive Fellow will have overseen the following:

• Conduct a Stakeholder Listening Tour - Develop relationships with stakeholders in City government, local non-profit and real estate leaders, and members of the public to understand the resources, constraints, perceived opportunities, potential threats, and aspirations affecting affordable housing in Albuquerque. Conduct extensive best practices research related to effective, inclusive housing development in similar communities.
• ADU Program - Design and secure funding for a program that empowers homeowners to build ADUs that can provide affordable, long-term housing to low-income residents.
• Choice Neighborhoods Grant Management - Facilitate activities funded by the Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant. Prepare the team to apply for and implement a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant.
• Affordable Housing Trust - Identify and secure funding for a trust that will supply predictable, recurring, unrestricted funds for affordable housing in Albuquerque.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Executive Sponsor - Joseph Montoya, Deputy Director of Housing
• Project Supervisor - Monica Montoya, Community Development Division Manager, and Rick Giron II, Community Services Project Manager

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.

FUSE is an equal-opportunity employer with core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position.