2027 Summer Intern, Media Coordinator (DC/MD/VA; NY)

ICF; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 38,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF is offering a paid Summer Internship in its Paid Media team. The 10-week program runs from early June to early August, with full-time hours and potential remote work.

The role involves hands-on learning across media strategy, buying, activation, trafficking, reporting, and operations for regulated client portfolios nationwide. You will collaborate with media strategists, digital and traditional buyers, data analysts, and creatives to drive energy efficiency campaigns.

Qualifications

• By start date, at least 30 credit hours in advertising, marketing (media), analytics, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Participate in a rotational internship program across media strategy, digital media buying, campaign execution, trafficking, reporting, and operations.
• Support development of paid media strategies, audience recommendations, and cross-channel plans.
• Contribute to deliverables using research, audience insights, and campaign results to inform recommendations.
• Gain hands-on experience with digital campaign activation across Google Ads, The Trade Desk, Basis, Meta, and other ad tech.
• Assist with campaign setup, monitoring, optimization, and performance reporting.
• Help traffic creative assets and campaigns across digital platforms and vendors while learning QA practices.
• Maintain operational docs including insertion orders, flowcharts, specs, trackers, and budgets.
• Collaborate with analysts, strategists, buyers, and ops to understand campaign flow from strategy to measurement.
• Research media partners and trends, sharing insights with the team.
• Participate in meetings, trainings, and knowledge-shares to build foundational paid media knowledge.

Skills

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

30 credit hours in advertising/marketing/analytics

Tools

Google Ads

The Trade Desk

Basis

Meta

Job description

Ready to make a difference? As an intern on the paid media team, you will support a dynamic group of subject matter experts servicing highly regulated client portfolios throughout the United States. Working closely with integrated marketing partners, you will collaborate to bring energy efficiency and utility bill savings to residential and commercial customers, including under-served and disadvantaged communities in key locales within unique service territories.

Description As an intern on the paid media team, you will support a dynamic group of subject matter experts servicing highly regulated client portfolios throughout the United States. Working closely with integrated marketing partners, you will collaborate to bring energy efficiency and utility bill savings to residential and commercial customers, including under-served and disadvantaged communities in key locales within unique service territories. The paid media intern will gain exposure to various types of paid media platforms and offerings, collaborating closely with media strategists, digital and traditional media buyers, data analysts, creative traffic managers, and billing and operations specialists. In this role, you would be responsible for leveraging paid media to drive results, contributing to overall energy efficiency program performance. If you're passionate about gaining exposure to various media strategies, paid initiatives, and an integrated marketing powerhouse, we are eager to deliver successful and innovative solutions for our clients.

Our summer internship is full-time for 10-weeks beginning in early June and ending in early August. Work may be performed remote, with the opportunity for occasional in person meetings for those in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area, or near New York City. At this time, we are unable to provide relocation nor housing assistance.

What You Will Be Doing (Key Responsibilities)

• Participate in a rotational internship program that provides hands‑on experience across media strategy, digital media buying, campaign execution, trafficking, reporting, and operations within the paid media team.
• Support integrated planning teams in the development of paid media strategies, audience recommendations, and cross‑channel media plans.
• Contribute to key deliverables by leveraging research, audience insights, media performance data, and campaign results to help inform recommendations and optimizations.
• Gain hands‑on experience with digital campaign activation and management across platforms including Google Ads, The Trade Desk, Basis, Meta, and other advertising technologies.
• Work alongside media buyers and campaign managers to assist with campaign setup, monitoring, optimization, and performance reporting.
• Assist with trafficking creative assets and campaign materials across digital platforms and third‑party vendors while learning quality assurance and implementation best practices.
• Support the maintenance of key operational documents, including insertion orders, flowcharts, creative specification sheets, campaign trackers, and budget summaries.
• Collaborate with analysts, media strategists, buyers, and operations specialists to gain an understanding of how campaigns move from strategy through execution and measurement.
• Research media partners, emerging technologies, and industry trends, sharing key learnings and insights with the broader team.
• Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and knowledge‑sharing opportunities to build a foundational understanding of the paid media industry and integrated marketing programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• By start date at least 30 credit hours in advertising, marketing (media), analytics, or related field

Preferred Qualifications

• A completed bachelor’s degree, with enrollment verification in a graduate program
• An operational understanding of marketing tactics, more specifically, the principles of strategic media planning and cross‑channel execution
• Exceptional analytical, process‑oriented, problem‑solving and decision‑making capabilities
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team in a flexible, fast‑paced environment while maintaining a positive attitude
• A focus on service; candidates must showcase a willingness to jump in to help team members at all levels, on all types of marketing projects, to get the job done
• A genuine passion for paid media and the desire to grow in the field while working for a dynamic team of subject matter experts
• The ability to think beyond paid media and participate as a strategic and creative collaborator within an integrated environment
• Fluency in the Microsoft suite including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and Teams; a strong technical aptitude and comfort with online applications
• Strong interpersonal and both written and oral presentation skills to foster relationships and provide client‑facing deliverables
• Highly detail oriented with strong organization, critical thinking, and problem‑solving abilities to meet tight deadlines while providing superior client service
• A collaborative spirit is a must; candidates must be reliable, accountable, and bring energy and enthusiasm to learn and engage

Working at ICF ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting‑edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future. We can only solve the world’s toughest challenges by building a workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read ourEEO policy. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. Read more aboutworkplacediscriminationrights or our benefit offerings which are included in theTransparency in (Benefits) Coverage Act.

Candidate AI Usage Policy At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in‑person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process. However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodation that involves the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance [e-mail]. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position. The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is: $37,855.00 - $77,869.00 Reston, VA (VA30)