Director - Office of Senior Citizen Affairs
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 Department of Neighborhoods (DON) is the City of Detroit’s frontline connection to residents, delivering responsive service, helping residents navigate city systems, and ensuring neighborhood needs inform city decision-making. Within this mission, supporting Detroit’s seniors has become a key priority. Many older residents live in large senior buildings, rely on fixed incomes, and face challenges related to safety, building conditions, city services, health access, and social isolation. The office works across all neighborhoods and collaborates with community partners, service providers, and city departments to ensure seniors receive the support, respect, and care they deserve.
Under the Sheffield Administration, the office emphasizes dignity, equity, and inclusion for seniors, with a commitment to improving living conditions, reducing displacement risk, strengthening community ties, and safeguarding the welfare of older Detroiters.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Director of the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs reports directly to the Mayor’s Office (or Chief of Staff) and serves as the citywide senior-services coordinator and advocate. The Director sets strategy, policies, and operational oversight for senior housing, senior-building support, outreach to older residents, coordination of services (housing repair, health, social support), and partnerships with nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations serving seniors.
The role demands a leader with deep commitment to seniors’ rights and dignity, strong management and coordination abilities, experience in housing or social services administration, and a track record of collaborating with public agencies and community stakeholders. The Director ensures that senior buildings receive attention, that seniors’ concerns are addressed, that supportive services are delivered equitably, and that aging Detroiters are represented in policy, housing, and neighborhood planning decisions.
This role will drive the administration’s priorities, including:
Ensure that Detroit’s seniors have safe, stable, and affordable housing, including maintenance, repair, and access to services.
Advance senior-building rehabilitation and home-repair programs to preserve quality housing stock for older residents.
Coordinate supportive services — health, social work, mobility, utilities assistance — to address the holistic needs of seniors across neighborhoods.
Advocate for senior-centered policies at the city level, ensuring seniors’ voices are heard in housing, public works, land bank, and community development processes.
Partner with nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, and community stakeholders to deliver senior services and build supportive networks.
Promote equity, inclusion, and dignity for all senior Detroiters, with attention to affordability, accessibility, healthcare, and social connection.
Support inter-departmental collaboration to align senior affairs with housing, public health, planning, community development, and public safety.
Monitor and respond to emerging challenges affecting seniors — housing instability, displacement, health crises, aging in place — with responsive strategies and programs.
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:
Develop and implement a comprehensive citywide senior-services strategy that integrates housing, social services, health, community engagement, and aging support.
Oversee programs for senior housing repair, building maintenance support, rehabilitation, and code enforcement coordination for senior-occupied buildings.
Manage outreach efforts to connect seniors with services, benefits, and resources including healthcare, mobility assistance, utilities relief, and social programs.
Coordinate with the city’s housing, land-bank, public-works, public-health, and community-development departments to ensure senior needs are embedded in city planning and service delivery.
Build and maintain partnerships with nonprofits, faith-based organizations, community groups, and senior-serving agencies to expand the scope and reach of senior services.
Advocate on behalf of seniors in city policies, development plans, land-use decisions, housing strategies, and funding priorities.
Monitor senior-building conditions, respond to complaints or issues, coordinate inspections, and facilitate repairs or interventions for senior-occupied housing.
Ensure transparent communication with seniors, senior organizations, and community partners regarding available services, programs, and city support.
Develop data-tracking, reporting, and performance metrics to assess impact of senior programs and guide continuous improvement.
Prepare policy recommendations, strategic plans, funding proposals, and budget requests to support senior affairs initiatives.
Represent the City at community meetings, senior-center events, interagency collaborations, and public forums to promote senior welfare and inclusion.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in public administration, social work, urban planning, public policy, gerontology, or a related field.
At least five years of experience in housing, community development, social services administration, or programs focused on seniors, elderly populations, or vulnerable residents.
Proven ability to lead and manage programs involving housing rehabilitation, social service coordination, or community outreach.
Strong knowledge of housing issues, senior housing challenges, aging-in-place policies, accessibility standards, and social service systems.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and empathy skills, with ability to engage seniors, community organizations, service providers, and city departments.
Demonstrated experience coordinating across multiple agencies, developing partnerships, managing complex operations, and advocating for vulnerable populations.
Commitment to equity, dignity, and inclusion for seniors and vulnerable residents.
Familiarity with Detroit’s neighborhoods, demographics, senior communities, and urban housing landscape preferred.
Ability to work flexible hours to address senior needs, community events, inspections, or emergency interventions.
Rate of Pay: $80,000 - $120,000 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.