Deputy Director Department of Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity
ABOUT THE SHEFFIELD ADMINISTRATION
Detroit is buzzing with renewed energy as Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield steps into history as the city’s first Black woman to serve as its chief executive. Her landslide win — securing roughly 77% of the vote — reflects a strong mandate from Detroiters ready for a government that listens, heals, and delivers. Many see this moment as the start of a new chapter, led by someone with deep roots in the community and a steady, practical approach to governing that centers the needs of the people who call Detroit home.
Mayor-Elect Sheffield has tapped into a genuine sense of optimism, making clear that her focus is not on headlines but on the daily lives of residents. She is building a new administration that will take office on January 1, 2026, and is seeking committed, capable leaders to help shape Detroit’s future. If you’re ready to serve and ready to build, this is your moment to step forward. Come help write the next chapter for Detroit with us!
ABOUT THE OFFICE
Detroit’s Department of Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity (CRIO) safeguards the civil and human rights of all Detroiters and works to ensure that every resident—regardless of race, income, age, ability, language, gender identity, immigration status, or neighborhood—can fully access City services, economic opportunity, and participation in public life. CRIO leads the City’s civil-rights enforcement work, advances business inclusion and workforce equity, strengthens disability and language access, and embeds equity into housing, neighborhood development, and public-service delivery. Under the Sheffield Administration, CRIO plays a central role in aligning civil rights with housing justice, neighborhood revitalization, immigrant inclusion, re-entry supports, and poverty-reduction strategies, working in close partnership with community organizations, legal advocates, and City departments.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Deputy Director serves as the second-in-command of CRIO and supports the Director in advancing an integrated, citywide civil-rights and equity agenda that connects enforcement, economic opportunity, housing access, and neighborhood development. Reporting to the Director, the Deputy Director helps manage day-to-day operations, oversees key program areas, and ensures that civil-rights protections are consistently embedded across City policies, programs, and investments. The role requires a seasoned equity leader with strong operational instincts, deep civil-rights expertise, and the ability to translate values into systems, practices, and measurable outcomes that improve daily life for Detroiters.
This role will drive key priorities outlined in Mayor-Elect Sheffield’s policy agenda, including:
Strengthen CRIO’s capacity to enforce civil-rights protections while expanding its role as a proactive partner in housing, neighborhood development, and economic-opportunity initiatives
Ensure that housing access, fair housing enforcement, and anti-displacement strategies are treated as core civil-rights priorities across City government
Advance equitable access to City services through strong ADA compliance, language access, and inclusive service-delivery standards
Support business inclusion, procurement equity, and workforce equity strategies that expand opportunity for Detroit-based and historically excluded businesses and workers
Embed civil-rights and equity analysis into major City policies related to housing, homelessness, land use, workforce development, public safety, and immigrant inclusion
Strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations, legal advocates, and civil-rights leaders to ensure resident voices inform enforcement and policy decisions
Build data-driven systems that identify patterns of inequity and guide targeted, preventative interventions
Core responsibilities include:
Support the Director in overseeing CRIO’s civil-rights enforcement operations, including investigations, mediation, compliance reviews, and pattern-and-practice analysis
Manage and supervise key program areas such as fair housing, ADA compliance, language access, business inclusion, and workforce equity initiatives
Ensure civil-rights protections are integrated into housing, neighborhood revitalization, and economic-development programs across the City
Coordinate civil-rights reviews of major policy initiatives, development projects, and departmental reforms
Oversee day-to-day operations, staff supervision, workflow management, and internal systems to ensure timely, high-quality service delivery
Strengthen partnerships with housing agencies, workforce entities, planning and development departments, and neighborhood-based organizations
Support development of CRIO’s data, analytics, and reporting functions to track equity outcomes and inform policy recommendations
Serve as a liaison to community advocates, legal partners, and residents raising civil rights concerns or seeking resolution
Represent CRIO in interdepartmental working groups, community meetings, and external collaborations as assigned
Assist in preparing briefings, recommendations, and policy guidance for the Mayor, City Council, and executive leadership
Support organizational change efforts that build a culture of equity, accountability, and continuous improvement within CRIO
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in public administration, law, public policy, civil rights, or a related field preferred
Significant experience in civil-rights enforcement, equity policy, investigations, compliance, or related public-sector work
Demonstrated ability to manage programs, supervise teams, and support complex operations in a public-sector or mission-driven environment
Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws, fair-housing requirements, ADA standards, and language-access obligations
Experience collaborating with housing agencies, workforce systems, planning and development entities, or economic-development programs
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal and equity concepts into actionable guidance
Ability to work effectively with diverse communities, including those most impacted by discrimination or inequitable development
Proven ability to partner with elected officials, senior executives, attorneys, community advocates, and cross-sector stakeholders
Strong organizational, analytical, and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure
High emotional intelligence, cultural humility, and sound judgment in navigating sensitive community and political contexts
Familiarity with Detroit’s neighborhoods, communities, and local government systems, or the ability to quickly develop this knowledge, or the ability to develop this knowledge quickly.
Rate of Pay: $120,000 – $179,000 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.