Indigenous Market Leader

Position Summary

The Indigenous Market Leader is responsible for advancing Bodwé’s architecture and engineering services with Tribal Nations across the United States. This role leads relationship development, pursuit strategy, and project engagement directly with tribal governments, enterprises, housing authorities, health organizations, and Native-led nonprofits. This role will partner with the Federal Market Leader(s) to work closely with federal agencies that support tribal communities (such as the Indian Health Service (IHS), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)).

Rooted in respect for tribal sovereignty and cultural identity, the Indigenous Market Leader guides early conversations, visioning efforts, and planning engagements that honor community-defined priorities. This leader helps shape projects in housing, healthcare, education, infrastructure, cultural preservation, and economic development, ensuring they are responsive to the values and long-term goals of the Nations we serve.

The Indigenous Market Leader works in close collaboration with discipline directors, Federal Market Leaders, and the Proposal Development Director to align tribal pursuits with Bodwé’s strategic capabilities. This role also supports the internal development of culturally informed practices, mentoring team members to engage with tribal clients in a way that reflects humility, commitment, and trust-building.

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 careers@bodwegroup.com

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Market Strategy + Growth 

• Tribal market strategy and development.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan to grow direct work with Tribal Nations. 
• Identify and prioritize partnerships with tribal governments, enterprises, and Native-led nonprofits. 
• Shape tailored pursuit strategies that honor tribal sovereignty, governance, and community values. 

 Relationship Building + Engagement 

• Build and nurture long-term relationships with tribal leadership, community organizations, and development authorities.
• Facilitate trust-based engagements through listening sessions, visioning, and participatory planning. 
• Champion client care and relationship continuity throughout the project lifecycle. 

 Project + Pursuit Leadership 

• Guide proposal strategy, teaming, and messaging in coordination with the Proposal Development Director. 
• Participate in early design, planning, and visioning to ensure community priorities are reflected. 
• Oversee project transition to delivery teams and remain involved in client relationship continuity.
• Ensure that projects are scoped, staffed, and managed to meet the financial performance expectations of the firm.

 Cultural Alignment + Advocacy 

• Promote culturally responsive planning and design across all project phases.
• Mentor staff to understand tribal governance, funding mechanisms, and protocol.
• Ensure internal practices are respectful and aligned with cultural values.

 Collaboration + Integration 

• Coordinate with Federal Market Leaders to align approaches across tribal and federal pathways. 
• Partner with discipline directors to match project needs with technical talent. 
• Participate in internal learning initiatives to grow organizational fluency in tribal engagement.

 Reputation + Visibility 

• Represent Bodwé at tribal conferences, summits, and community events. 
• Contribute to thought leadership through writing, speaking, and storytelling. 
• Expand Bodwé’s visibility and impact in Indian Country through values-based leadership. 
  
  

Qualifications and Experience

Education + Degree

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a relevant field. 
• Preferred: Master’s degree in a relevant discipline or field.

 Experience, Certification, or Licensure

• Minimum 10 years in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), planning, or community development work, with at least 5 years serving Tribal Nations directly.
• Demonstrated success in developing long-term relationships with Indigenous communities.
• Proven experience leading culturally grounded projects in housing, health, education, or infrastructure.
• Preferred: Licensed Architect (Registered Architect (RA)/American Institute of Architects (AIA)) or Licensed Professional Engineer (PE).
• Must have Real ID or Passport in order to undergo commercial airfare travel.
• Must have valid driver's license.   

 Technical + Professional Skills

• Cultural humility and deep respect for tribal sovereignty and values.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and public engagement skills.
• Understanding of tribal governance, procurement, and grant funding systems.
• Ability to travel frequently and work flexibly across tribal geographies.
• Native American identity strongly preferred but not required.

Work Environment

This is a hybrid or remote position with regular travel to tribal communities, project sites, and national gatherings. Travel may include remote settings that require adaptability, sensitivity, and cultural protocol.

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.