Hybrid Director of Design bei Bodwé

Position Summary

The Director of Design is the architectural design leader for the Buildings Services Branch. This role guides project visioning, concept development, and early-phase client and community engagement to establish bold, meaningful, achievable design direction. Working in concert with the Director of Architecture—who leads technical development and delivery—and the Director of Interior Design, the Director of Design ensures the integration of architectural vision across disciplines and phases of work.

This position focuses on the front end of the design process: uncovering client needs, building consensus, and shaping design narratives that reflect community values, cultural identity, and sustainability goals. The Director leads with curiosity and creativity, advancing a culture of exploration, discovery, mentorship, and design excellence. Through facilitation, research, and visual storytelling, the Director of Design elevates the quality and relevance of the firm’s work, ensuring that every project begins with a compelling idea and a clear sense of purpose.

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

Design Leadership

• Lead architectural design direction from project visioning through schematic design.
• Establish design vision, goals, and vocabulary that reflect project intent and Bodwé values.
• Collaborate with the Director of Interior Design to ensure spatial and experiential cohesion.
• Promote design excellence through regular design reviews, critiques, and recognition.

 Client + Community Engagement 

• Facilitate design workshops, visioning sessions, and early client conversations.
• Represent design direction in interviews, presentations, and public meetings.
• Translate qualitative input into clear, compelling design concepts.
• Foster open, constructive dialogue with clients and communities—bringing optimism, discernment, and the willingness to challenge ideas when needed to advance the project’s purpose and impact.

 Research + Innovation 

• Oversee and support the Manager of Design Research and Sustainability.
• Guide precedent research, concept framing, and material and systems innovation.
• Advocate for sustainable, culturally grounded, and forward-thinking design strategies.

 Design Process + Integration

• Coordinate closely with the Director of Architecture to transition designs through technical development and documentation.
• Ensure quality and consistency in early design deliverables, including diagrams, renderings, narratives, and visualizations.
• Advance digital and visual standards for conceptual presentations.

 Studio Culture + Mentorship

• Mentor architectural designers and interns, focusing on conceptual thinking and design communication.
• Promote a studio culture of critique, inquiry, exploration, and respect.
• Support staff in licensure and professional development.

 Marketing + Thought Leadership

• Participate in pursuit strategy, concept framing, and presentation preparation for key opportunities.
• Represent the firm’s design voice through articles, conference presentations, and exhibits.
• Contribute to firm-wide conversations on mission, brand, and community impact.

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

• Required: Licensed Architect.
• 15+ years of experience leading architectural design in multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) settings.
• 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

• Outstanding design portfolio demonstrating innovation, clarity, and integrated thinking.
• Skilled in public presentation, group facilitation, and visual storytelling.
• Expertise in Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, and diagramming software.
• Knowledge of sustainable and regenerative design frameworks (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), WELL, Social Economic Environmental Design (SEED)).
• Culturally aware, collaborative, and adaptable leader.

Work Environment

This is a hybrid position with periodic travel (≤ 10%) to project sites, client locations, or industry events.

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.