Director of Communications

Detroit Housing Commission•Detroit, MI

21h

About The Position

The Director of Communications leads internal and external communications strategy for the Detroit Housing Commission (DHC), ensuring clear, consistent, and effective messaging across audiences. The role oversees media relations, public information, executive communications, digital and social media, brand management, community engagement, and crisis communications. The Director works with executive leadership and internal departments to develop communication plans, coordinate communications personnel and vendors as needed, serve as a primary agency spokesperson, and evaluate communication outcomes to strengthen public trust and advance organizational priorities. The position designs and executes multi-channel communications and marketing strategies aligned with the agency’s mission, strategic goals, and public-service mandate. It leads public-awareness campaigns, manages the agency’s public image and communication channels, supports executive leaders and board members with briefing materials, and builds relationships with residents, media, community groups, government officials, and other stakeholders. The Director also develops crisis communications protocols, coordinates messaging during incidents, and ensures communications are accessible, equitable, and compliant with applicable requirements, including HUD guidance and public-records laws. The position reports to the Executive Director and indirectly to the Deputy Executive Director/COO. There are currently no direct supervisory responsibilities, although the role may assume supervisory oversight as organizational needs evolve. The position serves on the Emergency Response Team. Work may take place indoors and outdoors, with continual multiple distractions. Physical activities include sitting, visual acuity, standing, walking, and ascending or descending stairs. Equipment includes phones, computers or laptops, monitors, communication systems, copiers/printers, scanners, and projectors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, English, public administration, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education, professional training, and experience may be considered.
At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, public affairs, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing organization-wide communication strategies, executive messaging, media relations, digital communications, community engagement, and crisis communications.
Experience serving as an organizational spokesperson and managing relationships with news media, government officials, community partners, residents, and other stakeholders.
Must have or be able to acquire a valid state driver’s license.
Must pass federal, state, and local criminal investigation clearances and a drug-screening test administered by the Commission or its designated provider.
Must be bondable and insurable under the agency’s insurance policy.
Ability to develop and implement integrated strategic communication plans and produce clear, accurate, audience-appropriate written content across print and digital channels.
Ability to communicate effectively as a spokesperson in media interviews, public meetings, presentations, and crisis situations.
Ability to translate complex housing policies, programs, regulations, and organizational information into clear, accessible language.
Ability to manage digital content, social media channels, content calendars, email campaigns, and website updates.
Ability to ensure communications comply with public-records, accessibility, copyright, privacy, records-retention, and ethical requirements.
Ability to manage projects, priorities, deadlines, budgets, vendors, and approval processes; use communication and office software effectively.
Ability to maintain brand standards and consistent messaging, tone, visual identity, and editorial quality.
Ability to analyze situations, identify problems, exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, negotiate effectively, manage time, and respond to sensitive inquiries or complaints.
Knowledge of strategic communications, public relations, media relations, marketing, branding, community engagement, and crisis communications.
Knowledge of internal and external communication methods, journalistic standards, message development, audience analysis, storytelling, editing, proofreading, and professional writing.
Knowledge of digital communication platforms, content management systems, social media management tools, email systems, and communications analytics.
Knowledge of applicable legal and ethical requirements, including public-records, accessibility, copyright, privacy, and records-retention requirements.
Knowledge of public-sector communications, affordable housing, community development, HUD and DHC programs, policies, requirements, and terminology.
Knowledge of project management, budget administration, vendor management, performance measurement, supervisory principles, staff development, workflow management, and cross-functional collaboration.
Ability to act independently, analyze situations, empathize, identify problems, initiate, motivate, multitask, problem-solve, think creatively, attend to details, communicate verbally and in writing, concentrate, manage pressure, and organize.
Ability to use communication, content-management, social-media, email-marketing, analytics, presentation, and Microsoft Office applications; operate a computer and learn position-specific software.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in communications, public relations, public administration, business administration, or a related field.
At least three years of supervisory or management experience leading communications staff, consultants, vendors, or cross-functional teams.
Experience in a public agency, housing organization, nonprofit organization, government entity, or other highly regulated environment.
Equivalent combinations of relevant education, training, and professional experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

Design and execute comprehensive, multi-channel communications and marketing strategies aligned with the agency’s mission, strategic goals, and public-service mandate.
Protect and elevate the agency’s public image through consistent messaging, branding, and tone across public-facing platforms, campaigns, and publications.
Lead public-awareness campaigns for agency programs, including affordable housing developments, Section 8/voucher updates, revitalization projects, and resident services.
Serve as the agency’s chief media liaison and spokesperson; respond to media inquiries, prepare press statements, and organize press conferences.
Build relationships with local, regional, and national journalists and pitch stories about community impact, policy updates, and resident successes.
Prepare executive leadership, board members, and key staff for media interviews, public hearings, and community town halls with tailored talking points and briefing materials.
Build and maintain relationships with residents, neighborhood associations, local businesses, nonprofits, elected officials, and other stakeholders.
Plan, promote, and facilitate public hearings, community workshops, and town hall meetings to gather input on housing projects and policy changes.
Ensure public communications are equitable, accessible, compliant with ADA standards, and translated into primary community languages.
Develop and maintain crisis communications protocols for emergencies and coordinate timely, transparent, and accurate messaging during critical incidents.
Oversee the agency website, newsletters, and official social media channels, keeping digital content current and user-friendly while driving engagement.
Facilitate clear communication between agency leadership and staff to support morale, policy rollouts, and cross-departmental alignment.
Oversee creation of annual reports, brochures, infographics, video content, and press kits.
Lead, coach, and coordinate communications staff, consultants, vendors, and cross-functional teams as required.
Ensure public messaging aligns with applicable local, state, and federal regulations, including HUD guidelines, state open-records laws, and FOIA/public-information requirements.
Collaborate with the Board of Commissioners and executive leadership to communicate policy decisions transparently to the public and oversight bodies.
Serve as a member of the Emergency Response Team identified in the Safety & Emergency Response Manual.
Monitor media coverage, public sentiment, digital engagement, and communications performance; analyze results and recommend improvements.
Plan and manage communications projects, priorities, deadlines, budgets, vendors, and approval processes.
Maintain confidentiality and exercise judgment and diplomacy when addressing sensitive inquiries, complaints, or controversial issues.