Director of Advance
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 oversees the executive leadership, policy direction, and day-to-day operations of City government, ensuring that Detroiters experience responsive, people-centered service wherever they live and work. Within this structure, the Advance Office plays a critical role in bringing the Mayor’s priorities directly to the community by ensuring that all events, engagements, neighborhood visits, press announcements, and special initiatives are executed with precision, dignity, and intentionality. The Advance function ensures that every public-facing moment—large or small—reflects Detroit’s values, centers resident experience, and helps the Mayor stay connected to the people driving the city’s progress.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Director of Advance serves as the Mayor’s chief architect of event strategy, logistics, and on-the-ground execution, overseeing the full lifecycle of the Mayor’s public engagements. This leader manages all advance planning for neighborhood events, policy rollouts, community celebrations, press opportunities, and major announcements, while coordinating closely with security, communications, scheduling, operations, and departmental partners. The Director ensures that every event is well-organized, mission-aligned, sensitive to community context, and strategically designed to amplify the Mayor’s agenda. This role requires exceptional project management, political acumen, and deep understanding of Detroit’s communities so the Mayor can show up prepared, safe, supported, and connected to residents. The Director of Advance manages a team of advance staff and event coordinators and serves as the central operational link between the Mayor’s priorities and the public-facing moments that bring those priorities to life.
This role will drive the administration’s priorities, including:
Ensuring the Mayor’s engagement strategy reflects resident-centered governance and strengthens visibility across all neighborhoods
Supporting the Mayor’s commitment to show up directly in communities—at block clubs, senior buildings, schools, small businesses, faith institutions, and neighborhood corridors
Coordinating events that highlight the Administration’s work in housing, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, public safety, youth programs, and senior services
Ensuring that engagements lift up community voices and demonstrate transparency, accountability, and responsiveness
Building relationships with community groups, local partners, neighborhood organizations, and resident leaders to support effective event planning and outreach
Elevating Detroiters’ stories and lived experiences through thoughtful event design that reflects the city’s diversity and vibrancy
Integrating the Mayor’s strategic communication, safety, and logistics plans into all events to maintain professionalism, impact, and seamless execution
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 planning, design, and execution of all events, engagements, announcements, neighborhood visits, and public appearances for the Mayor
Manage the full Advance team and oversee staff assignments, workflows, timelines, and event operations
Coordinate with the Executive Scheduler, Communications team, Public Safety/Security Detail, and key departments to ensure the Mayor’s schedule, safety, and preparation needs are fully supported
Conduct site visits, develop run-of-show documents, prepare logistical plans, and coordinate local stakeholders in advance of events
Ensure briefing materials, talking points, and event background documents are delivered accurately and on time in collaboration with Communications and Policy teams
Establish on-site procedures for crowd flow, staging, seating, technical support, accessibility needs, and press logistics
Serve as the primary liaison to community organizations, neighborhood groups, businesses, faith institutions, and partner agencies involved in event hosting
Develop standardized systems, checklists, and protocols to ensure consistency and excellence in Advance operations
Direct staff in managing event outreach, community invitations, and audience engagement plans
Partner with the Mayor’s security detail to ensure safety protocols are followed and risk assessments are integrated into planning
Support emergency adjustments, rapid-response events, or last-minute agenda shifts with calm, strategic decision-making
Oversee event debriefs, continuous improvement processes, and high-quality documentation
Represent the Mayor’s Office in cross-departmental coordination related to logistics, planning, and neighborhood-level engagement strategies
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in public administration, communications, political science, event management, or related field
At least five years of experience in political advance work, high-level event management, executive operations, campaign advance, or government scheduling
Experience working for an elected official or senior executive preferred
Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders, tight timelines, and high visibility
Strong understanding of Detroit’s neighborhoods, community organizations, civic landscape, and cultural networks
Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills
Ability to work collaboratively with Communications, Scheduling, Security, and Policy teams
Experience managing staff in fast-paced, high-pressure environments
Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive or confidential information
Willingness and ability to work evenings, weekends, and irregular hours based on the Mayor’s schedule
Commitment to equity, community voice, dignity, and resident-centered public service
Rate of Pay: $105,000 - $125,000 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.