Communications Manager (Future Opportunity)

ICF Olson; United States; Hybrid; USD 99,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF Next is seeking a Communications Manager to lead communications efforts for federal clients, including technology, health, and other key accounts. You’ll make a real impact working directly with clients to address and solve their key issues, drive change, and grow our business.

In this role you will manage communications workstreams for clients with complex missions and diverse audiences, overseeing strategy, campaigns, stakeholder engagement, internal and executive communications, change

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, English, or a related field or equivalent experience.
• Five or more years of communications experience, including at least two years managing complex projects, client relationships, or multidisciplinary workstreams.
• Experience developing and implementing communications strategies and producing or overseeing content for multiple channels and audiences.
• Experience managing client relationships and balancing priorities, deadlines, budgets, and dependencies across concurrent assignments.

Responsibilities

• Manage the planning and delivery of communications projects and workstreams from kickoff through completion.
• Serve as a primary day-to-day contact for clients, building trusted relationships and providing clear, practical counsel.
• Translate client goals, audience needs, and research into practical communications strategies, plans, messages, and activities.
• Support a broad mix of communications needs, including internal and external communications, executive communications, change communications, stakeholder engagement, public awareness, digital content, events, training, and outreach.
• Oversee the development of content and materials across channels, including web, email, social media, presentations, reports, toolkits, talking points, and event or training materials.
• Develop actionable workplans, schedules, staffing approaches, budgets, and quality-control processes; identify risks early and keep delivery on track.
• Direct and coordinate multidisciplinary teams that may include strategists, writers, designers, researchers, digital specialists, trainers, event staff, subject matter experts, and partners.
• Review deliverables for strategic alignment, accuracy, clarity, plain language, accessibility, and readiness for client review.
• Facilitate client and internal working sessions, synthesize complex input, clarify decisions, and turn discussion into next steps.
• Use performance data, stakeholder feedback, and lessons learned to recommend improvements and strengthen communications outcomes.
• Coach and mentor team members, delegate effectively, provide timely feedback, and support a collaborative, accountable team culture.
• Coordinate with ICF leadership on staffing, project performance, client satisfaction, and resolution of delivery issues.
• Support proposals, presentations, and follow-on work by contributing communications expertise and practical delivery insight.

Skills

Strategic judgment

Executive communication

Writing & editing

Client relationship mgmt

Cross-functional leadership

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Note: This is a strategic job posting to network for future anticipated opportunities as we continue to grow. While this may not be an immediate need, we would love the opportunity to connect with you.

@ ICF Next, we are fearless in finding new ways to solve problems, relentless in making sure it pays off for our clients and committed to making a positive change in the world. Here’s your chance to join our award-winning agency, ICF Next. We’re changemakers, a community of mission driven creatives, communicators, strategists, and technologists. We’re searching for our next Communications Manager who can take charge and spearhead our communications efforts with our federal clients, including technology, health, and other key accounts. You’ll make a real impact working directly with our clients to address and solve their key issues, drive change, and grow our business.

The Work In this role, you will manage communications workstreams for clients with complex missions and diverse audiences.

The work may include communications strategy, campaigns, stakeholder engagement, internal and executive communications, change communications, digital content, events, training, and public outreach. You will serve as a trusted day-to-day client partner, translate goals into practical plans, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and maintain accountability for quality, schedule, scope, and budget. You will also remain close to the work by shaping strategies, reviewing content, facilitating decisions, and helping teams solve problems.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the planning and delivery of communications projects and workstreams from kickoff through completion.
• Serve as a primary day-to-day contact for clients, building trusted relationships and providing clear, practical counsel.
• Translate client goals, audience needs, and research into practical communications strategies, plans, messages, and activities.
• Support a broad mix of communications needs, including internal and external communications, executive communications, change communications, stakeholder engagement, public awareness, digital content, events, training, and outreach.
• Oversee the development of content and materials across channels, including web, email, social media, presentations, reports, toolkits, talking points, and event or training materials.
• Develop actionable workplans, schedules, staffing approaches, budgets, and quality-control processes; identify risks early and keep delivery on track.
• Direct and coordinate multidisciplinary teams that may include strategists, writers, designers, researchers, digital specialists, trainers, event staff, subject matter experts, and partners.
• Review deliverables for strategic alignment, accuracy, clarity, plain language, accessibility, and readiness for client review.
• Facilitate client and internal working sessions, synthesize complex input, clarify decisions, and turn discussion into next steps.
• Use performance data, stakeholder feedback, and lessons learned to recommend improvements and strengthen communications outcomes.
• Coach and mentor team members, delegate effectively, provide timely feedback, and support a collaborative, accountable team culture.
• Coordinate with ICF leadership on staffing, project performance, client satisfaction, and resolution of delivery issues.
• Support proposals, presentations, and follow-on work by contributing communications expertise and practical delivery insight.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, English, or a related field or equivalent experience.
• Five or more years of communications experience, including at least two years managing complex projects, client relationships, or multidisciplinary workstreams.
• Experience developing and implementing communications strategies and producing or overseeing content for multiple channels and audiences.
• Experience managing client relationships and balancing priorities, deadlines, budgets, and dependencies across concurrent assignments.

Professional Skills

• Strong strategic judgment with the ability to connect communications recommendations to client goals, audience needs, and measurable outcomes.
• Excellent writing, editing, presentation, facilitation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex or technical information and make it clear, relevant, and actionable for different audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, set direction, make decisions, and maintain momentum in a fast-paced environment.
• Sound project and financial management skills, including scope, schedule, staffing, risk, quality, and budget oversight.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and comfort learning client-specific collaboration, workflow, and content-management platforms.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience supporting federal, state, or local government communications programs or other complex organizations.
• Experience applying audience research, communications measurement, and performance data to improve strategy and execution.
• Project Management Professional certification or comparable project-management training.

Job Location and Client Requirements

This is a U.S.-based role. The work arrangement may be remote, hybrid, or client-site based depending on program needs. Some assignments may require occasional travel or the ability to meet client-specific suitability, citizenship, or security requirements. Any such requirements will be identified for the applicable assignment.

Applicants needing an accommodation for disability or religious purposes in connection with the application process should contact [e-mail] for assistance.

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 our EEO 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 email [e-mail] and 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 about workplace discrimination rights or our benefit offerings which are included in the Transparency 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 at [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: $98,614.00 - $167,644.00 Nationwide Remote Office (US99).

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.