Administrative Special Services Staff II (OCFO - Administration Division)

City of Detroit; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Detroit is seeking a Project Coordinator in the OCFO Department to manage the participatory budgeting initiative, coordinating timelines, workflows, and stakeholders. This role oversees the PB Design Committee and Delegate Committee, requiring strong project management and comfort with public-facing coordination.

The position emphasizes inclusive, transparent civic participation, with evening/weekend availability during delegate convenings and public events.

Qualifications

• Strong project management skills and ability to manage timelines and deliverables.
• Experience coordinating volunteers, committees, or resident groups.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and community-centered decision-making.
• Ability to work evenings/weekends during peak activity periods.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain PB project plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
• Coordinate across city departments to ensure alignment with requirements.
• Recruit diverse PB delegates representing neighborhoods and communities.
• Lead orientations for resident leadership committee sessions.
• Schedule, organize, and facilitate delegate meetings and working groups.
• Coordinate community engagement meetings to gain resident insight.
• Support committees as they refine project ideas and proposals for voting.
• Maintain records of participation, project status, notes, and decisions.
• Collaborate with departments to review feasibility of proposals.
• Produce guides, toolkits, timelines, and digital resources for delegates.
• Address conflicts and logistical challenges within delegate groups.
• Track program metrics and prepare reports and recommendations.
• Perform special projects as assigned.

Skills

Project management

Coordination

Facilitation

Communication

Equity & inclusion

Time management

Public-facing engagement

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

OCFO DEPARTMENT - OCFO ADMINISTRATION DIVISION

PROJECT COORDINATOR

ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIAL SERVICES STAFF II

The Project Coordinator supports the operational management of the City of Detroit’s participatory budgeting initiative, ensuring that project timelines, workflows, and stakeholder coordination run smoothly. A central responsibility includes managing the PB Design Committee and Delegate Committee. This role requires strong project management skills, comfort with public-facing coordination, and a commitment to inclusive, transparent civic participation.

~ This is an Administrative Special Services (TASS) position ~

• Project Management — Develop and maintain PB project plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables. Coordinate across city departments to ensure alignment with legal requirements and operational constraints.

• Committee Recruitment — Design and implement outreach strategies to recruit a diverse cohort of PB delegates representing neighborhoods, demographics, and community interests.

• Committee Orientations — Design and lead orientations for resident leadership committee sessions covering PB goals, roles, responsibilities, equity principles, project development guidelines, and decision‑making processes.

• Committee Meeting — Schedule, organize, and facilitate delegate meetings, working groups, and project development sessions. Ensure meetings are accessible, inclusive, and productive.

• Community Engagement - Schedule, organize, and co‑facilitate Community engagement meetings to regularly gain resident insight.

• Workflow Coordination — Support committees as they refine project ideas, conduct research, collaborate with city staff, and prepare proposals for public voting.

• Documentation & Tracking — Maintain clear records of delegate participation, project development status, meeting notes, and decision points.

• Cross‑Department Collaboration & Feasibility Review — Coordinate with department representatives to ensure timely completion of proposal feasible review.

• Communications & Materials Support — Produce guides, toolkits, timelines, and digital resources to support delegates and inform the public.

• Issue Resolution — Address conflicts, misunderstandings, or logistical challenges within delegate groups; maintain constructive, respectful engagement.

• Evaluation & Reporting — Track key program metrics including, participation patterns, and project development outcomes. Prepare reports and recommendations.

• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED

• 3–5 years of project management experience, preferably in public service, nonprofit programs, or community-based initiatives.

• Experience coordinating volunteers, committees, or resident groups.

• Strong facilitation and meeting‑management skills.

• Excellent communication—written, verbal, and interpersonal.

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and community‑centered decision‑making.

• Ability to manage multiple timelines and stakeholders simultaneously.

• Comfort working evenings/weekends during peak PB activity periods.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with participatory budgeting, civic engagement, or municipal government.

• Familiarity with project scoping, feasibility analysis, or public infrastructure processes.

• Multilingual ability relevant to Detroit communities is a plus.

• Training in conflict resolution or group facilitation.

Core Competencies

• Leadership & Coordination — Guides diverse groups toward shared goals.

• Strategic Organization — Designs workflows that keep complex processes on track.

• Inclusive Facilitation — Ensures all delegates feel empowered and heard.

• Relationship Building — Builds trust with residents, staff, and partners.

• Adaptability — Responds to evolving community needs and political contexts.

Work Environment

• Hybrid mix of office work, community meetings, and field engagement.

• Evening/weekend availability during delegate convenings and public events.

This is an Administrative Special Services Staff (TASS) position.

This Appointment Term is based on availability of funds.

The continuation of this role depends on the availability of ongoing funding.

Employment beyond the current period is not guaranteed and will be based on the renewal of funding.

Candidates considered for placement in this classification may be subject to a Criminal Background Investigation based on the requirements of the position.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to the class. Incumbents may be required to perform job‑related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Specific job duties may vary from position to position. The City of Detroit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No applicant for employment shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other criteria prohibited by City, State, or Federal law.