Director - Department of Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity
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
Detroit’s Department of Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity (CRIO) safeguards the civil and human rights of all Detroiters and ensures that every resident—regardless of race, income, age, ability, language, gender identity, immigration status, or neighborhood—can access City services, economic opportunity, and full participation in public life. The department leads the City’s civil‑rights enforcement, investigates discrimination complaints, oversees business‑inclusion efforts, advances disability and language access, and strengthens equity across workforce systems, housing access, and public services. 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 initiatives. The department works closely with community partners, legal advocates, civil‑rights organizations, and City agencies to dismantle systemic barriers and advance equity for all Detroiters.
CRIO leads the City’s civil-rights enforcement work; oversees business-inclusion and certification programs; advances workforce equity, disability rights, and language-access initiatives; and partners with community organizations, immigrant- and disability-rights advocates, labor groups, and regional institutions. The department also strengthens fair-housing protections, collaborates closely with housing and neighborhood-development agencies, and works to eliminate structural barriers to opportunity. Building on Detroit’s civil-rights legacy and its emerging equity frameworks, CRIO continues to launch and scale initiatives that weave civil rights into every aspect of neighborhood and economic development, helping make the City a place where all residents can participate in—and benefit from—Detroit’s revival.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Director serves as Detroit’s chief civil-rights and equity officer, responsible for advancing an integrated civil-rights agenda that connects enforcement, economic opportunity, housing access, and neighborhood development into a unified strategy for equity across the city. The Director is expected to bring a proven track record of launching and leading integrated, cross-sector civil-rights initiatives that link fair housing, community investment, and equitable development to broader civil-rights protections. This role blends Detroit’s equity-driven mission with the investigatory and compliance functions found in major civil-rights departments nationwide.
The Director oversees discrimination investigations, mediation, compliance reviews, and pattern-analysis work; leads programs that promote business inclusion and community opportunity; and ensures adherence to local, state, and federal civil-rights laws. The position advises the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on equity impacts, emerging concerns, and opportunities to strengthen rights, protections, and economic mobility across Detroit. The Director also plays a central role in ensuring that housing access, neighborhood revitalization, and economic development are treated and advanced as core civil-rights priorities for all Detroiters.
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:
Lead Detroit’s civil‑rights enforcement system, including investigations, mediation, compliance reviews, and systemic pattern analyses.
Identify and eliminate discriminatory barriers across housing, employment, contracting, public safety, neighborhood services, and City programs.
Oversee fair‑housing enforcement, ADA compliance, and language‑access programs, ensuring all Detroiters can fully access City services.
Conduct civil‑rights reviews of major policy reforms related to housing, homelessness, land use, workforce, public safety, and immigrant inclusion.
Ensure civil‑rights protections are embedded in Neighborhood Opportunity & Empowerment Hubs, including access for residents with disabilities and limited English proficiency.
Partner with Detroit Housing Commission, DLBA, HRD, and Planning to strengthen fair‑housing outcomes and prevent displacement.
Advance equity in procurement, business certification, and contracting, prioritizing Detroit‑based and MWBE‑owned businesses.
Oversee development of a citywide civil‑rights data and analytics function to detect inequities and inform policy solutions.
Work closely with immigrant‑rights advocates, disability‑rights leaders, legal aid partners, and community‑based organizations to strengthen protections.
Represent the City in civil‑rights litigation strategy, policy development, regional collaborations, and federal/state compliance matters.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local civil‑rights laws, affirmative‑action standards, and nondiscrimination regulations.
Provide civil‑rights guidance to the Mayor, City Council, and executive leadership on emerging concerns and opportunities to advance equity.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s in public administration, law, public policy, civil rights, or a related field preferred.
Extensive leadership experience in civil-rights enforcement, equity work, investigations, compliance, or related public-sector roles.
Track record of launching and leading integrated civil-rights initiatives that connect housing, neighborhood development, economic inclusion, and anti-discrimination enforcement.
Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws, fair-housing regulations, ADA requirements, and language-access standards.
Familiarity with major construction projects, contracting processes, business-inclusion programs, and compliance requirements.
Ability to oversee investigations, mediation, compliance reviews, and pattern-and-practice analyses.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal, equity, and policy issues to diverse audiences.
Ability to work effectively with diverse communities, including those most impacted by discrimination or inequitable development.
Proven ability to collaborate with elected officials, city executives, attorneys, business leaders, community advocates, and enterprise partners.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project-management skills, with the ability to deliver results under pressure and tight timelines.
High emotional intelligence, cultural humility, and the ability to navigate complex political and community dynamics.
Ability to manage teams, lead organizational change, and promote a culture of equity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Working knowledge of Detroit, its communities, and local government, or the ability to quickly develop this knowledge.
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.