Administrative Special Services Staff II (OCFO Department)

City of Detroit; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Detroit’s OCFO Administration Division seeks a Community Engagement Coordinator to support participatory budgeting outreach and resident involvement. This role blends community organizing, public facilitation, data-driven outreach, and cross-department collaboration.

You will design campaigns, lead listening sessions, track participation, and ensure language access and childcare support to enable broad PB participation.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years in community engagement, public participation, grassroots organizing, or civic education.
• Strong public speaking, writing, facilitation, and interpersonal communication.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse communities and apply equity-centered practices.
• Project management—ability to manage timelines, coordinate partners, and deliver complex public-facing programs.
• Data literacy—experience with surveys, participation tracking, and basic analytics.
• Digital Engagement Tools—familiarity with online engagement platforms, mapping tools, and virtual facilitation.

Responsibilities

• Community Outreach — Design and execute outreach campaigns reaching diverse neighborhoods, civic groups, youth, seniors, and marginalized communities.
• Stakeholder Partnerships — Build relationships with nonprofits, schools, faith organizations, block clubs, tenant associations, and local businesses.
• Public Facilitation — Lead community meetings, listening sessions, and workshops; ensure inclusive, accessible facilitation.
• Communications Strategy — Create messaging, social media content, press materials, and educational resources explaining PB processes, timelines, and voting.
• Equity & Inclusion — Implement strategies to reduce barriers to participation (language access, childcare, digital inclusion).
• Program Coordination — Work with city departments to align outreach with project development, budgeting cycles, and legal requirements.
• Data & Evaluation — Track participation metrics, demographic reach, engagement quality, and feedback to improve future PB cycles.
• Volunteer Management — Train and coordinate with community partner ambassador organizations.
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned

Skills

Community organizing

Public speaking

Writing

Facilitation

Interpersonal communication

Project management

Data literacy

Digital engagement tools

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Online engagement platforms

Mapping tools

Virtual facilitation tools

Job description

OCFO DEPARTMENT - OCFO ADMINISTRATION DIVISION

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIAL SERVICES STAFF II

The PB Community Engagement Coordinator supports strategy, outreach, and relationship-building for the City of Detroit’s participatory budgeting initiative, ensuring residents—especially historically underrepresented groups—can meaningfully shape how public funds are allocated. This role blends community organizing, public facilitation, data-driven outreach, and cross-department collaboration.

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

• Community Outreach — Design and execute outreach campaigns that reach diverse neighborhoods, civic groups, youth, seniors, and marginalized communities. Use multilingual materials, culturally relevant channels, and targeted engagement.
• Stakeholder Partnerships — Build relationships with nonprofits, schools, faith organizations, block clubs and tenant associations, and local businesses to expand PB participation.
• Public Facilitation — Lead community meetings, listening sessions, and workshops; ensure inclusive, accessible facilitation.
• Communications Strategy — Create messaging, social media content, press materials, and educational resources explaining PB processes, timelines, and voting.
• Equity & Inclusion — Implement strategies to reduce barriers to participation (language access, childcare, digital inclusion).
• Program Coordination — Work with city departments to align outreach with project development, budgeting cycles, and legal requirements.
• Data & Evaluation — Track participation metrics, demographic reach, engagement quality, and feedback to improve future PB cycles.
• Volunteer Management — Train and coordinate with community partner ambassador organizations.
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED
• Community Organizing Experience — 3–5 years in community engagement, public participation, grassroots organizing, or civic education.
• Communication Skills — Strong public speaking, writing, facilitation, and interpersonal communication.
• Cultural Competency — Demonstrated ability to work with diverse communities and apply equity-centered practices.
• Project Management — Ability to manage timelines, coordinate partners, and deliver complex public-facing programs.
• Data Literacy — Experience with surveys, participation tracking, and basic analytics.
• Digital Engagement Tools — Familiarity with online engagement platforms, mapping tools, and virtual facilitation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in public policy, urban planning, social work, or municipal government.
• Multilingual ability relevant to Detroit communities is a plus (Spanish, Arabic, or Bengali).

Core Competencies

• Relationship Building — Ability to cultivate trust with residents and partners.
• Strategic Thinking — Designs outreach that aligns with PB goals and municipal priorities.
• Inclusive Facilitation — Ensures all voices are heard, especially those historically excluded.
• Adaptability — Responds to evolving community needs and political contexts.
• Public Service Orientation — Commitment to transparency, accountability, and resident empowerment.

Work Environment

• Mix of fieldwork in neighborhoods, community centers, and public spaces.
• Evening and weekend availability for community 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.