Art Director (Future Opportunity)

ICF Next; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 74,090 - 125,954; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Competitive benefits

Ongoing training and development opportunities

Collaborative environment

Opportunities for social impact

Job summary

ICF Next is seeking an Art Director in Reston, Virginia, to lead conceptual development and create compelling visual campaigns. The role requires over 5 years of experience, a strong portfolio, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite. The ideal candidate will thrive in a collaborative environment and manage multiple projects effectively. The position offers flexible working arrangements, competitive healthcare, retirement plans, and opportunities for ongoing training and social impact contributions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of art direction experience.
• Strong ideas and polished execution across platforms.
• Ability to turn strategy into compelling visual stories.

Responsibilities

• Lead concept development in partnership with writers and strategists.
• Create compelling visual systems, campaigns, and brand worlds.
• Manage multiple projects without sacrificing craft.

Skills

Art direction experience

Collaboration skills

Communication skills

Adobe Creative Suite proficiency

Curiosity around AI tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in art, design, or equivalent

Job description

Role Overview

This role is contingent upon contract award. While not an immediate opening, we are actively interviewing and may extend offers in anticipation of the award, with start dates dependent upon contract finalization.

You start with the idea. You can look at a brief and quickly see the best angle, the way in to tell the story and have it hold up across channels.

You partner closely with writers and strategists from the start, building and refining the work together. You push the thinking and help turn strategy and audience insights into compelling concepts worth making.

As an art director, you’re in the thick of the work. You love the craft, but you know it’s in service of the idea. You design, build, and refine, bringing ideas to life across campaigns, digital experiences and content.

We work on complex challenges where the stakes are real. The expectations are high. The opportunity to create meaningful work is real.

Responsibilities

• Lead concept development in partnership with writers and strategists
• Create compelling visual systems, campaigns, and brand worlds
• Lead projects from planning to execution
• Present with clarity and confidence
• Manage multiple projects without sacrificing craft
• Stay tapped into trends, new tools and technologies
• Work closely with production partners throughout execution
• Collaborate across internal and external teams

Qualifications

• 5+ years of art direction experience
• A portfolio that shows strong ideas and polished execution across platforms
• Photo and video direction fundamentals (light, composition, pacing)
• Ability to turn strategy into compelling visual stories
• Strong collaboration and communication skills
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and curiosity around AI tools
• A bachelor’s degree in art, design, or equivalent experience in a related field

Additional Professional Attributes

• Strong eye for typography, layout, color, and composition
• Experience working across integrated campaigns
• Ability to contribute to concept development and push the work forward
• Confidence presenting work and engaging in creative discussions
• Attention to detail and consistency
• Ability to give and receive feedback in a collaborative environment

What We Offer

• Flexible working arrangements, including remote and hybrid options
• Competitive benefits, including healthcare and retirement plans
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• A collaborative environment with opportunities to connect across teams
• Opportunities to contribute to social impact and community initiatives

EEO & Accessibility

We are an equal opportunity employer and provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. For more information, refer to our EEO policy.

Pay Range

$74,090.00 - $125,954.00 (Nationwide Remote Office, US99)