Communications Manager (Future Opportunity)

ICF Olson; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF is seeking a Communications Manager to support a multidisciplinary team delivering cybersecurity priorities for a cyber-focused organization. The role blends communications with project management, stakeholder coordination, and senior advising.

The ideal candidate is a strong communicator, highly organized, and able to solve complex problems while managing day-to-day operations, tracking deliverables, and improving workflows to ensure mission continuity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• U.S. citizenship required by federal contract.
• Minimum seven (7) years of professional experience including advising senior government staff and executing strategies.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, innovative communications counsel to enhance program operations, messaging, and recognition.
• Manage a team of editors, web publishers, graphic designers, and communications staff monitoring workload distribution, performance, and quality.
• Serve as a senior advisor to a high-profile leader on communication strategy and priorities.
• Evaluate program performance and optimize collaboration, streamline processes, and enhance mission outcomes.
• Support strategic planning and execution across functional areas ensuring alignment with priorities and deadlines.
• Identify risks and barriers and recommend mitigation strategies to promote continuity and effectiveness.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development to staff across functions.

Skills

Strategic communications

Team leadership

Stakeholder coordination

Project management

Editing & publishing workflows

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

We’re currently hiring a Communications Manager We are seeking a Communications Manger to support the management and operations of a team of editors, graphic designers, web publishers, and CX designers responsible for the delivery of high-impact cybersecurity products. This role blends the discipline of communications and publishing with project management, stakeholder coordination, and senior advising. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator and organized individual that can solve complex problems while managing the day-to-day operations of a team responsible for communicating the cybersecurity priorities of a cyber focused organization. Tracking deliverables, monitoring statues, improving workflows and leading discussions to solve cybersecurity communications related issues is desired. This position plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth operations of the team.

ICF is a global consulting and technology services provider dedicated to helping clients navigate complex challenges and build a more resilient, secure, and sustainable future. We partner closely with clients to deliver high impact solutions across cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, and national security. At ICF, you’ll join a team that values expertise, integrity, and collaboration—and supports its employees with opportunities to grow, lead, and contribute to work that matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, innovative communications counsel to enhance program operations, messaging, and recognition.
• Manage a team of editors, web publishers, graphic designers, and communications staff monitoring workload distribution, performance, and quality of deliverables.
• Serve as a senior advisor to a high-profile leader within the agency on communication strategy, section-level priorities, and overall effectiveness.
• Evaluate program performance and organizational effectiveness, recommending improvements that strengthen collaboration between teams, across sections, and throughout the organization; streamline processes; and enhance mission outcomes.
• Support strategic planning and execution efforts across functional areas ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, leadership objectives, and evolving mission requirements.
• Identify operational risks, resource constraints, and potential barriers to success, and recommend mitigation strategies to promote mission continuity and program effectiveness.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development to staff across varying functions, fostering growth, accountability, and professional development activities for a multidisciplinary communications team.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• U.S. citizenship required by federal contract.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of demonstrated professional experience to including supporting/advising senior level government staff (GS-15 and above), writing a variety of communication products, and creating and executing strategies and plans.

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Bachelors Degree in communications, PR, Marketing, Business, or related field preferred.
• Strong understanding of communications principles, best practices, and strategies.
• Ability to analyze complex information, operations, and organizational priorities to identify connections, inform decision-making, and recommend effective solutions.
• Understanding of cross-functional and matrixed organizations, including how diverse teams, responsibilities, and objectives intersect to support organizational goals.
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• Willingness to provide support across project management, external communications, editing, and web publishing areas as needed.
• Experience leading, supervising, or mentoring multidisciplinary teams in a dynamic, client-focused environment.

Job Location

Hybrid position. Must be in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and able to visit the client site in Northern Virginia as needed.

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. To request an accommodation, please [e-mail] we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. 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: $89,649.00 - $152,404.00 Virginia Client Office (VA88) Need help? We're here: [e-mail]

About ICF

ICF is a global consulting and technology services company with approximately 9,000 employees, but we are not your typical consultants. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work together with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve their most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape the future. Learn more at icf.com.