Deputy Chief of Staff
ABOUT THE SHEFFIELD ADMINISTRATION
Detroit is entering a historic new chapter under Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield, the city’s first woman to serve as Mayor. Elected with a decisive mandate, Mayor-Elect Sheffield brings a steady, community-rooted approach to governing—one focused on listening to residents, healing long-standing divides, and delivering meaningful improvements in daily life across every neighborhood. She will take office on January 1, 2026, with a commitment to building a city that lifts every family and expands opportunity for all.
As she forms her administration, Mayor-Elect Sheffield is assembling a talented, diverse team of leaders who bring deep expertise, lived experience, and the courage to put forward bold, innovative ideas that move Detroit forward. Her team will drive a City government grounded in collaboration, equity, transparency, and results. The Sheffield Administration seeks mission-driven individuals who are ready to serve, ready to build, and ready to help shape Detroit’s future.
ABOUT THE OFFICE
The Mayor’s Office serves as the executive center of Detroit’s government, providing leadership, coordination, and alignment across all City departments. The office supports execution of the Mayor’s priorities, oversees major initiatives, and ensures responsive, community-centered service delivery. Working closely with senior leaders, department directors, community stakeholders, and regional partners, the office plays a central role in advancing a Detroit that listens, heals, and delivers.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Deputy Chief of Staff is a senior member of the Mayor’s leadership team and serves as the Chief of Staff’s principal partner in managing daily operations of the Mayor’s Office. The role supports cross-departmental coordination, oversees internal workflow, ensures high-quality briefing materials, provides guidance to staff, and manages priority execution to ensure the Mayor’s time, attention, and decision-making are used effectively. The Deputy Chief of Staff acts as an extension of both the Mayor and Chief of Staff, helping to translate priorities into operational plans and ensuring follow-through across departments.
The Deputy Chief of Staff plays a critical role in ensuring the Mayor is fully prepared for meetings, events, community engagements, and decision-making processes. This includes coordinating the production of briefings, ensuring deadlines are met, maintaining quality control of all written and verbal materials, and confirming that every engagement reflects the Mayor’s expectations, values, and strategic goals. The role requires strong judgment, political acumen, operational discipline, and a commitment to community-rooted leadership consistent with the Sheffield administration.
This position supports management of internal staff, facilitates communication between the Mayor’s Office and City departments, and helps to resolve operational challenges quickly and effectively. The Deputy Chief of Staff may represent the Mayor or Chief of Staff in meetings, serve as a problem-solver for emerging issues, and help maintain high-functioning, mission-aligned operations across the administration.
This description outlines the general nature and key responsibilities of the role and is not intended to be exhaustive; duties and activities may be modified at the discretion of the Mayor or Chief of Staff.
Core responsibilities include:
Support the Chief of Staff in managing daily operations of the Mayor’s Office
Coordinate internal communication, ensuring clear, timely, and accurate flow of information between departments
Oversee the production, quality control, and timely delivery of briefing materials, memos, talking points, meeting agendas, and decision documents
Ensure the Mayor is fully prepared for all engagements; schedule pre-briefings, follow-ups, and staff assignments to maintain high-quality preparation
Work closely with the Director of Scheduling & Logistics to protect the Mayor’s time, energy, and capacity, and to ensure meetings and events are aligned with strategic priorities
Facilitate cross-departmental coordination to advance initiatives and resolve operational issues
Manage staff within the Mayor’s Office, supporting accountability, workflow, and professional development
Assist with community engagement planning, major events, neighborhood touchpoints, and strategic projects overseen by the Mayor’s Office
Represent the Mayor or Chief of Staff in meetings, committees, public events, or negotiations when needed
Support intergovernmental coordination and relationship-building with City Council, state and federal partners, regional authorities, and other key stakeholders
Review materials prepared for the Mayor and ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment with policy priorities
Help manage internal decision-making processes, identify issues requiring escalation, and ensure timely follow-through
Support budget planning and oversight for the Mayor’s Office
Work extended hours, including evenings and weekends, as required for government operations
Perform additional duties as directed by the Mayor or Chief of Staff
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree required; a master’s degree (MPA, MPP, MBA, JD) preferred
Extensive experience supporting senior executives in government, particularly within a Mayor’s Office, Governor’s Office, or other executive branch; strong preference for candidates with experience working directly for an elected official
Deep understanding of municipal operations, intergovernmental relations, public administration, and Detroit’s community, political, and institutional landscape
Proven ability to manage complex workflows in fast-paced environments, including briefing materials, scheduling priorities, and cross-departmental coordination
Executive-level experience in one or more of the following is preferred: executive logistics; process streamlining and performance improvements; communications and public affairs
High emotional intelligence, cultural humility, and strong relationship-building skills with diverse communities, neighborhood leaders, unions, business stakeholders, and regional partners
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex issues into clear, actionable materials for executive decision-making
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, manage staff, and maintain a culture of respect, accountability, and service
Strong political judgment and discretion, with experience managing sensitive issues, urgent situations, and high-stakes decision cycles
Commitment to advancing the Mayor-Elect’s values of equity, transparency, neighborhood empowerment, and resident-centered governance
Experience working in Detroit or a major urban environment is strongly preferred
Rate of Pay: $109,670– $179,816 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Benefits: Our goal is to attract and retain a highly skilled workforce by providing generous healthcare and other benefits to eligible employees. Learn more about benefits for City of Detroit employees.
Equal Opportunity in Employment: The Sheffield Administration is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Even if you do not meet all of the requirements listed above, we encourage you to apply if you believe you have the skills, experience, and expertise necessary to thrive in this role. The City of Detroit is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates of all backgrounds—including those historically underrepresented in municipal government—to apply.
APPLY HERE