Digital and Creative Director
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 is the executive nerve center of Detroit’s government, responsible for advancing the Mayor’s vision, shaping the public narrative, and maintaining direct lines of communication with residents. Within this office, the Digital & Creative Director plays a singular role: creating and managing all digital content that represents the Mayor—her voice, her priorities, her leadership, and her connection to the people of Detroit.
This position operates entirely within the Mayor’s communications ecosystem, separate from department-level public information. The role exists to ensure that the Mayor’s digital presence is authentic, modern, accessible, and deeply reflective of her community-first leadership style.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Digital & Creative Director is the Mayor’s dedicated creative strategist, responsible for shaping every aspect of her digital storytelling and public-facing image. This leader develops, produces, and manages all multimedia content that represents the Mayor—across platforms, formats, and audiences.
Operating with a high degree of independence, judgment, and creative rigor, the Director captures the Mayor’s day-to-day work, speech, priorities, and neighborhood presence, turning them into compelling narratives that resonate with Detroiters. The role requires speed, accuracy, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to producing high-quality digital work that reflects the Mayor’s values and strengthens her relationship with residents.
The Director works closely with the Mayor, Chief of Staff, senior communications staff, and advance/scheduling teams to ensure content is strategically aligned, timely, and seamlessly integrated into the Mayor’s overall communications strategy.
This role will drive the administration’s priorities, including:
Developing a digital strategy that amplifies the Mayor’s message of equity, community healing, and resident-centered leadership.
Building a strong, distinct personal brand for the Mayor that reflects her values, authenticity, and Detroit-first leadership style.
Creating content that highlights the Mayor’s work in neighborhoods, her presence with residents, and her commitment to listening and delivering.
Making high-quality digital information accessible to residents across platforms and devices.
Elevating community voices, grassroots stories, and neighborhood experiences that reflect Detroit’s resilience and creativity.
Ensuring the Mayor’s digital communication is timely, consistent, and fully aligned with her policy agenda.
Using data, analytics, and audience insights to ensure content is impactful, relevant, and built around resident engagement.
Supporting a modern, transparent, interactive digital presence that strengthens trust between the Mayor and the people of Detroit.
Core responsibilities include:
Lead all digital content creation for the Mayor, including photography, videography, graphics, captions, writing, and editing.
Manage all official social-media platforms operated in the Mayor’s name and oversee content calendars and posting strategies.
Develop a unique, coherent visual identity and brand voice exclusively for the Mayor.
Provide real-time coverage at events, community meetings, press conferences, and neighborhood engagements.
Translate the Mayor’s policies, speeches, and values into compelling digital narratives.
Produce signature content series that highlight resident stories, neighborhood impact, and community-based leadership.
Work closely with communications, scheduling, and advance teams to ensure digital content aligns with upcoming events, priorities, and messaging needs.
Use analytics to refine content strategy and strengthen engagement across platforms.
Manage creative workflows, including approvals, revisions, archiving, and content organization.
Oversee outside creative collaborators as needed and ensure all work meets the Mayor’s brand and quality standards.
Ensure the Mayor’s online presence is modern, accurate, consistent, and deeply rooted in Detroit’s culture, communities, and stories.
Work extended and flexible hours based on the Mayor’s schedule.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Digital Media, Graphic Design, Marketing, Film, or a related field
3–5+ years of experience in digital content creation, social media management, multimedia production, or creative direction; political or campaign experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to shape the digital identity or brand of a public figure, elected official, or executive leader.
Strong portfolio showcasing multimedia storytelling across platforms.
Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, video-editing tools, photography, and design.
Ability to work quickly, capture content in fast-moving environments, and deliver high-quality work under pressure.
Excellent writing and copyediting skills tailored for social media and digital platforms.
Experience managing executive-level communication workflows, approvals, and rapid-response content needs.
Deep familiarity with Detroit’s neighborhoods, culture, history, and community landscape.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and nontraditional hours as required by the Mayor’s schedule.
Rate of Pay: $109,693 - $179,889 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.