Senior Architectural Designer

About Bodwé Group

Bodwé is the Professional Services Group of Mno-Bmadsen, the investment enterprise and a wholly owned instrumentality of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. We are architects, planners, consultants, designers, engineers, scientists, and federal contractors, committed to growing the economy and legacy of the Pokagon Band and supporting its more than 6,000 citizens. We provide value by integrating expertise across the natural and built environment lifecycle—from pre-development and planning to design, procurement, construction, and operations. By integrating expertise across architecture, engineering, construction, and facility management, we deliver holistic, end-to-end solutions that drive efficiency and deliver distinctive outcomes.

Position Summary

The Senior Architectural Designer is a design leader, technical expert, and relationship-builder who serves as a primary point of contact for clients and establishes the foundational relationship between the client and the Bodwé team. This role represents the Bodwé in the earliest stages of a project, listening intently, asking the right questions, and translating the client’s needs, culture, and vision into meaningful architectural solutions.

Reporting to the Studio Director and working in close partnership with the Director of Design, this position ensures that projects meet the highest standards of design excellence, technical execution, and client satisfaction. The Senior Architectural Designer leads design delivery across all phases, coordinates closely with other disciplines, and mentors design staff to grow talent and maintain a culture of collaboration and innovation.

Accommodation Requests

We are committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, contact our HR Director (April Hawkins) at 269-927-0144 or [email protected]

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Client Engagement + Relationship Development

• Serve as a client contact from project initiation through completion, establishing trust and credibility as the design lead. 
• Facilitate discovery sessions to deeply understand the client’s mission, values, and operational needs. 
• Translate client goals into creative, functional, and culturally responsive design solutions. 
• Lead and coordinate client presentations, ensuring concepts are communicated with clarity, purpose, and passion. 
• Proactively manage client expectations, address concerns, and ensure satisfaction throughout the project lifecycle. 
• Partner with the Director of Design to align design vision with client objectives and Bodwé’s cultural and business goals. 
• Foster long-term client relationships that lead to repeat business and referrals. 

 Design Leadership 

• Lead concept development, schematic design, and design detailing for multiple projects, ensuring alignment with client objectives, budgets, and schedules. 
• Integrate cultural, sustainable, and operational considerations into all design work. 
• Review and approve design deliverables, ensuring quality, accuracy, and design intent. 
• Collaborate with the Director of Design and other discipline leaders to set and maintain Bodwé’s design standards. 
• Stay current on design trends, materials, technologies, and industry best practices to continually elevate design quality. 

 Project Coordination + Technical Execution 

• Oversee and coordinate all design phases from concept through construction administration. 
• Direct the production of detailed design documentation in Revit and other platforms, ensuring thorough coordination with all disciplines. 
• Review drawing sets for compliance with applicable codes, specifications, and technical requirements. 
• Support construction administration, including site visits, RFIs, and submittal reviews.
• Anticipate and resolve design and coordination issues before they impact budget or schedule. 

 Team Leadership + Mentorship

• Manage, coach, and mentor design staff, fostering growth in both design thinking and technical proficiency. 
• Provide clear direction, set priorities, and ensure accountability for project deliverables. 
• Model collaborative leadership, working across studios and disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients and the firm. 
• Serve as a role model for Bodwé’s values and guiding principles in all interactions

Qualifications and Experience

Education + Degree

• Required: Bachelor of Architecture from a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited institution.
• Preferred: Master of Architecture.

 Experience, Certification, or Licensure

• Preferred: Licensed Architect.
• Preferred: CSI CDT Certification.
• 10+ years of architectural design experience, including leadership in client-facing roles.
• Experience with federal, tribal, and community-based projects preferred.
• Must have Real ID or Passport in order to undergo commercial airfare travel.
• Must have valid driver's license.  

 Technical + Professional Skills

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present design ideas effectively to clients and teams.
• Proficiency in Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Lumion, Enscape, and Microsoft Office Suite. 

Work Environment

This is a hybrid position with periodic travel (≤ 10%) to project sites and client locations.

This position primarily operates in a professional office setting with standard office equipment and a quiet, climate-controlled environment. While in the office, there is no regular exposure to loud noise, hazardous materials, or heavy machinery.

This role also requires periodic travel to project sites, including locations undergoing renovation or active construction. During site visits, the employee may be exposed to non-temperature-controlled environments, construction noise, dust, and other typical conditions found on job sites. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required during these visits, depending on site conditions. While on site visits, an individual in this role will be required to work atypical hours at the request of the client or role demands.

Physical Demands

Sitting/Standing: This is not a sedentary role. This role requires the ability to be on your feet moving around a construction site for most of the day interacting with contractors, contractor representatives, and inspecting the construction work that is being performed.

Walking: This role requires the ability to move about outside in various geographic and building terrains to access a construction site to provide quality assurance services.

Stooping/Kneeling/Crouching/Crawling: This role requires stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and ladder climbing to inspect all aspects of building construction to foundations, crawlspaces, and roofs.

Using Hands/Fingers: This role constantly operates technological office equipment such as laptop, mouse, keyboard, computer monitors, telephones, and scanners, copiers, and fax machines.

Talking/Hearing: This role requires constant communication with others in the organization to exchange information, review information, and make decisions about information.

Seeing: This role requires the ability to see, view, and distinguish all aspects of construction to ensure quality control.

Carrying/Lifting: This role requires lifting up to 30 lbs to transport technological office equipment, safety equipment, and other needed construction items to and from various workspaces. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Native American Hiring Preference

Our parent company, Mno-Bmadsen, prefers to hire Pokagon citizens who are qualified and suitable for available positions. For purposes of this section, “qualified” means that the applicant meets the technical and experiential needs for employment; and “suitable” means that the candidate appears to be the best fit considering present circumstances and conditions. Targeted preference is in the following order:

• First, to qualified Pokagon Band citizens; and
• Second, to qualified spouses and qualified custodial parents; and
• Third, to other qualified Native Americans; and
• Fourth, to all other qualified applicants

Any determinations as to the applicability of the Pokagon hiring preference are at the discretion of each Company President.

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