Infrastructure Project Manager

ABOUT THE FUSE EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP The City of Centerton, Arkansas, seeks a FUSE Executive Fellow to help modernize stormwater and floodplain management systems by strengthening internal processes, improving inter-agency coordination, and building capacity for stormwater permitting and compliance. Over two years, the fellowship aims to improve service delivery, reduce risk, and embed resilient stormwater management practices to keep pace with growth. The Fellow will 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 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. PROJECT BACKGROUND Centerton is one of the fastest-growing communities in Northwest Arkansas, with residential and commercial development placing increasing pressure on stormwater systems and floodplain management. As headwaters for multiple watersheds, decisions in Centerton affect neighboring jurisdictions and vulnerable populations, including residents in flood-prone areas who face risks to property, safety, and affordability. Effective stormwater and floodplain management protects life and property, maintains eligibility for federal programs, and helps ensure growth does not disproportionately burden lower-income households. The City must comply with federal and state requirements, including FEMA floodplain regulations and Community Rating System (CRS) participation, which provide critical flood insurance discounts to residents. Rapid growth has created backlogs of permits, incomplete or fragmented records, and processes that rely on institutional knowledge rather than standardized systems, increasing staff workload and the risk of compliance gaps that could affect resilience and equity outcomes. Centerton has strong floodplain management practices and maintains 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 updating stormwater and floodplain codes and participates in regional discussions about stormwater management, trails, and downtown redevelopment. Limited staff capacity and the complexity of these systems constrain proactive modernization and leveraging 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 Fellow will focus on discovery and relationship-building, including a listening tour with Engineering and Planning staff, external engineering partners, and relevant state and federal agencies. The 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 research best practices from comparable communities managing growth-related stormwater challenges and will develop refined project goals, priorities, and deliverables for City leadership’s review after the discovery period. Following discovery, the Fellow will lead implementation-focused work to stabilize and modernize floodplain management systems. Core activities 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 processes. The Fellow will coordinate 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. 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 opportunities for area-wide or regional detention. While not serving as a technical designer, the Fellow will manage feasibility scoping, stakeholder coordination, and sequencing of next steps, including pursuing grant funding or partnerships. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr FUSE