Director – Department of Neighborhoods
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 Neighborhoods (DON) is the frontline connection between residents and City Hall, working across the seven districts to ensure Detroiters can access services, shape local decision‑making, and participate fully in the city’s revitalization. Under Mayor‑Elect Sheffield, the DONs play an expanded leadership role in advancing neighborhood stability, anti‑displacement efforts, and equitable access to services through the City’s new Neighborhood Opportunity & Empowerment Hubs, accessible community centers in key locations that bring City Departments, essential programs, and community partner resources directly to residents. DON partners closely with block clubs, faith networks, youth organizations, senior advocates, and community‑based groups to strengthen neighborhood well‑being and ensure that every resident—regardless of ZIP code—benefits from reinvestment.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Director of Neighborhoods serves as Detroit’s chief neighborhood‑engagement and service‑coordination executive. This leader oversees district managers and field staff, drives cross‑departmental responses to neighborhood concerns, and ensures that Detroiters’ voices, needs, and priorities guide city action. The Director advances the administration’s community‑centered agenda by expanding access through Neighborhood Opportunity & Empowerment Hubs, deepening anti‑displacement work in partnership with the Housing & Revitalization Department, strengthening safety and environmental‑health coordination, and improving city service delivery across all communities. The role requires an equity‑driven, relationship‑centered leader with deep credibility in Detroit’s neighborhoods and an ability to mobilize partners around shared solutions.
This role will drive the administration’s housing and neighborhood priorities, including:
Launch and operationalize Neighborhood Opportunity & Empowerment Hubs as accessible, no‑wrong‑door entry points for housing, workforce, health, senior services, and youth programs
Strengthen anti‑displacement and housing‑stability efforts, including property‑tax relief outreach, home‑repair access, and tenant‑protection awareness.
Develop district-by-district revitalization plans led by communities, stakeholders, and businesses to create vibrant corridors with amenities, food, entertainment, and business opportunities unique to each neighborhood's character and needs.
Partner with the Health Department and Human Services to expand community‑based health access, maternal‑health supports, and behavioral‑health resources.
Coordinate neighborhood‑level public‑safety efforts with DPD, Fire, EMS, and violence‑prevention partners.
Elevate community voice in development decisions, neighborhood planning, and local investment strategies.
Serve as a liaison between the Mayor’s office and community through organizing and engagement with neighborhood networks.
Strengthen engagement with block clubs, neighborhood associations, youth groups, senior networks, and faith‑based organizations.
Expand access and inclusion for immigrant communities, returning citizens, seniors, and residents with disabilities.
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 the Department of Neighborhoods and oversee district managers, field teams, and engagement operations across all seven districts.
Serve as the administration’s primary liaison to residents, ensuring concerns are tracked, elevated, and resolved through coordinated multi‑agency action.
Oversee the launch and operations of Neighborhood Opportunity & Empowerment Hubs, ensuring seamless access to city services and community supports.
Coordinate responses to blight, illegal dumping, lighting issues, environmental hazards, and neighborhood‑safety concerns in partnership with DPW, GSD, BSEED, and Public Safety.
Establish and build trusted relationships with block clubs.
Build trusted relationships with neighborhood groups, small businesses, clergy, tenant advocates, and community organizations.
Collaborate with HRD to expand home‑repair access, prevent displacement, and support property‑tax relief and housing stability.
Partner with Public Health and Human Services to expand neighborhood‑based access to immunizations, screenings, maternal‑health supports, and behavioral‑health services.
Support youth and family programs addressing chronic absenteeism, violence prevention, and after‑school access.
Represent the Mayor’s Office at community meetings, district forums, public events, and regional collaboration efforts.
Manage departmental budgets, staffing, training, performance systems, and service‑tracking tools.
Qualifications:
Extensive experience in community engagement, neighborhood leadership, public administration, urban planning, or a closely related field.
Deep knowledge of Detroit’s neighborhoods, resident-led organizations, block clubs, faith networks, grassroots movements, and community-based institutions.
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage diverse field teams, especially in fast-paced, community-facing environments.
Experience coordinating cross-departmental responses to neighborhood issues including blight, housing stability, environmental hazards, public safety concerns, and infrastructure needs.
Knowledge of anti-displacement strategies, home-repair resources, tenant supports, property-tax relief tools, and neighborhood-stability programs.
Strong communication, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills, with the ability to earn trust and build relationships across diverse communities.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, cultural humility, and inclusive, community-centered problem solving.
Experience working with seniors, youth, immigrant communities, returning citizens, residents with disabilities, and multilingual communities.
Ability to collaborate with departments such as Housing & Revitalization, Public Health, Human Services, DPW, GSD, BSEED, and Public Safety.
Strong organizational, operational, and budget-management skills, including experience with performance tracking and service-delivery systems.
Experience in municipal government, community development, or neighborhood-based leadership roles strongly preferred.
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.