Detroit, MI – Director of Housing and Revitalization

About the Office

Detroit’s Housing & Revitalization Department (HRD) leads the City’s work to expand affordable housing, strengthen neighborhood stability, and ensure longtime Detroiters can remain and thrive in their communities. HRD coordinates major housing programs, federal resources, home-repair investments, and community-development strategies across the city. Under the Sheffield Administration, the department advances a housing agenda rooted in dignity, equity, and opportunity—expanding homeownership, accelerating new housing production, protecting renters, and investing in historically under-resourced neighborhoods in partnership with city agencies, community organizations, and residents.

About the Role

The Director of Housing & Revitalization serves as Detroit’s senior housing executive, responsible for leading the City’s strategy to expand affordable housing, increase homeownership, accelerate infill development, and strengthen neighborhood stability. Reporting to the Mayor, the Director oversees major federal housing programs, advances affordable and workforce-housing initiatives, guides homelessness-response systems, and coordinates closely with DLBA, PDD, DEGC, and the Detroit Housing Commission to ensure reinvestment delivers clear and equitable benefits to Detroiters.

Core Responsibilities

The Director leads Detroit’s housing, affordability, and neighborhood-revitalization strategy with a strong focus on equity and community voice; oversees implementation of the Affordable Housing Action Plan; coordinates infill and single-family housing development, including delivery of 1,000 new homes; establishes and operates the Office of Homeownership & Housing Rights; expands homeownership and housing-retention programs; manages major federal housing resources and the Housing Trust Fund; guides property-tax reform and anti-displacement strategies; leads the City’s homelessness-response system; advances affordable-housing development, preservation, and rehabilitation; oversees home-repair programs; aligns housing initiatives with Neighborhood Opportunity & Empowerment Hubs; secures multi-level funding; collaborates with community partners; and represents the Mayor in housing and development negotiations.

Qualifications

• Commitment to housing as a human right, equitable development, anti-displacement strategies, and strengthening Detroit’s neighborhoods
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in public administration, urban planning, housing policy, real estate development, public policy, or a related field preferred
• Extensive leadership experience in affordable housing, community development, neighborhood revitalization, or housing-policy implementation
• Demonstrated success managing federal housing programs including CDBG, HOME, and ESG, with strong HUD and NEPA compliance
• Experience interpreting property-tax policy and tax abatements as tools for housing development
• Experience developing or overseeing affordable, workforce, mixed-income, and for-sale housing projects
• Strong understanding of housing and development finance, including LIHTC, layered funding, underwriting, and public–private partnerships
• Proven track record of partnering with community organizations, tenants, and resident-led initiatives
• Experience managing homelessness-response, supportive-housing, or housing-stability programs
• Ability to collaborate effectively with developers, service providers, philanthropic partners, advocacy groups, and government agencies
• Strong policy, regulatory, and analytical skills
• Excellent communication and public-engagement skills
• Experience managing teams, budgets, and complex departmental operations
• Working knowledge of Detroit and its communities, or the ability to quickly develop this knowledge

Salary and Benefits

This position offers an annual salary of $170,000–$200,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience, along with generous healthcare and other benefits provided to eligible City of Detroit employees.

How to Apply:

Apply online with a resume, cover letter and contact information for five professional references.

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.