Director - Buildings, Safety, Environment and Engineering (BSEED)
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 Buildings, Safety, Engineering & Environmental Department (BSEED) is the City of Detroit’s primary regulatory and code-enforcement agency, responsible for ensuring that buildings, businesses, and developments across Detroit are safe, compliant, and aligned with the city’s long-term vision for healthy, thriving neighborhoods. The department issues permits, conducts inspections, enforces zoning and property-maintenance codes, leads environmental compliance, and supports residents, homeowners, tenants, and businesses through clear and accountable processes. As Detroit continues to grow and reinvest in its neighborhoods, BSEED plays a crucial role in ensuring that development is equitable, construction is safe, and property standards protect quality of life. Under Mayor-Elect Sheffield’s administration, the department is central to delivering dignity-centered services, improving neighborhood conditions, strengthening housing stability, and rebuilding trust between residents and government.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Director of BSEED serves as Detroit’s chief regulatory and code-enforcement executive, responsible for modernizing inspections, improving permitting systems, strengthening property-maintenance compliance, advancing environmental-justice priorities, and ensuring that residents and businesses experience clear, consistent, and fair processes. Reporting directly to the Chief of Housing, Planning, Workforce & Economic Development, the Director oversees all divisions of BSEED, including inspections, permits, property maintenance, business licensing, zoning administration, environmental compliance, and construction-plan review.
This leader must bring a resident-centered approach to code enforcement—balancing safety, accountability, and compassion—while ensuring that development moves efficiently and responsibly. The Director will lead major reforms aligned with the Sheffield administration’s priorities, including making permitting faster and more predictable, improving rental inspections, supporting infill housing and single-family development, expanding environmental-health protections, and ensuring BSEED works effectively with the Detroit Land Bank Authority, Planning & Development, Housing & Revitalization, and neighborhood-based teams. The role requires strong operational leadership, deep knowledge of regulatory systems, and a commitment to equity, transparency, and neighborhood well-being.
This role will drive the administration’s priorities, including:
Accelerate safe, high-quality infill housing and single-family development through improved permitting, inspections, and plan-review processes
Strengthen rental-inspection and property-maintenance enforcement to improve housing quality for tenants and support stable neighborhoods
Advance environmental-justice initiatives by improving environmental monitoring, responding to community concerns, and ensuring industrial compliance
Ensure clear, predictable, and timely permitting processes for homeowners, small builders, and neighborhood-scale developers
Improve business licensing and zoning review to support small business growth, neighborhood storefront activation, and equitable economic opportunity
Support community-driven development by coordinating with neighborhood planning teams, the Detroit Land Bank Authority, and Housing & Revitalization
Improve resident-facing customer service with accessible communication, simplified processes, and clear timelines
Expand data transparency to give Detroiters insight into permitting activity, code-enforcement progress, and environmental-safety outcomes
Coordinate closely with the Chief of Neighborhood Affairs to respond to resident complaints, improve property upkeep, and address chronic nuisance properties
Ensure staff training, workforce stability, and operational reforms that support fair enforcement and consistent service delivery
This description outlines the general nature and key responsibilities of the role and is not intended to be exhaustive; duties, responsibilities, and activities may be modified at the discretion of the Mayor.
Core responsibilities include:
Provide executive leadership for all BSEED divisions including inspections, permits, zoning, licensing, environmental compliance, and property maintenance
Oversee the administration of building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and structural inspections to ensure safety and code compliance
Lead modernization of Detroit’s permitting, licensing, and plan-review systems to reduce delays and improve user experience
Strengthen rental-inspection programs and enhance enforcement strategies that improve housing conditions for tenants while supporting responsible landlords
Direct environmental-compliance work, including monitoring of industrial activity, air quality concerns, environmental-health risks, and enforcement actions
Ensure zoning administration aligns with neighborhood plans, economic-development goals, and community-driven development strategies
Collaborate with departmental partners to accelerate infill housing, single-family construction, adaptive reuse, and small-scale development
Advance data-driven performance management to track service delivery, improve turnaround times, and enhance accountability
Oversee customer-service operations to ensure residents and small businesses receive clear, accessible, and responsive guidance
Strengthen relationships with community groups, neighborhood associations, business owners, developers, and Detroiters navigating the regulatory system
Support coordinated enforcement strategies with the Detroit Land Bank Authority, Public Works, Neighborhoods, Housing & Revitalization, and Law Department
Develop and manage department budgets, staffing plans, training programs, and operational priorities
Represent BSEED in public meetings, council sessions, neighborhood forums, and regional regulatory partnerships
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in public administration, engineering, planning, law, construction management, or related field preferred
Ten or more years of senior-level experience in building inspections, code enforcement, regulatory management, construction, permitting, environmental oversight, or municipal operations
Strong understanding of Detroit’s built environment, housing challenges, rental landscape, small-development ecosystem, and neighborhood infrastructure
Demonstrated ability to lead complex regulatory or inspection systems with clear standards, consistent enforcement, and high-quality operational performance
Experience improving permitting, licensing, or inspection workflows through digital modernization and process improvement
Knowledge of Michigan construction codes, zoning laws, environmental regulations, property-maintenance standards, and relevant state and federal requirements
Strong community-engagement skills with the ability to build trust among residents, neighborhood groups, builders, landlords, and business owners
Proven success managing large teams, unionized workforces, and high-volume service operations in a fast-moving environment
Commitment to equity-centered enforcement practices, transparency, and resident dignity
Experience working in Detroit or a similar large urban environment strongly preferred
Rate of Pay: $109,693 – $179,888 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.