Marketing and Communications Strategist (Top Secret cleared)

ICF Olson; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 81,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF Next in Washington, DC seeks a Marketing & Communications Lead to manage high-visibility federal recruitment marketing and employer branding efforts in a secure government environment. This onsite role requires close collaboration with client stakeholders to plan, execute, and measure integrated campaigns across channels.

The position emphasizes coordination, strong communication, and ability to drive results within a fast-paced, mission-driven setting.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret (TS) clearance required.
• Ability to work onsite full-time in Washington, DC.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or related field.
• 3+ years of professional experience in marketing, communications, employer branding, or integrated campaign coordination.
• Experience supporting federal government or public-sector communications programs.
• Experience across multiple marketing channels (digital, social, paid media, email, events).
• Familiarity with analytics, KPI reporting, and data-driven marketing environments.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute integrated marketing and communications initiatives aligned with recruitment and employer branding objectives.
• Coordinate marketing products across channels, ensuring messaging consistency and brand standards.
• Collaborate onsite with government stakeholders and cross-functional teams to align priorities.
• Develop campaign plans, messaging frameworks, content calendars, and creative briefs.
• Support multi-channel campaigns across digital, social, paid media, email, web, and events.
• Monitor campaign performance and contribute to KPI tracking and optimization.
• Engage stakeholders through meetings, briefings, and event coordination.
• Maintain collaboration tools and documentation to support program execution.
• Ensure accessibility standards and quality in all materials.
• Identify trends and audience insights to inform recruitment marketing strategies.
• Support quality control reviews for deliverables.

Skills

Org & coordination

Written communication

Prioritization

Attention to detail

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications/marketing/PR

Tools

Monday.com

Jira

Box

SharePoint

Job description

The Company

At ICF Next, we are driven by the opportunity to solve complex challenges that matter. Our teams combine expertise in science, technology, analytics, and program management to help government clients tackle critical national priorities. We are fearless in exploring new ideas, relentless in delivering results for our clients, and committed to making a meaningful impact. We bring together strategists, creatives, technologists, and communicators to deliver integrated marketing and recruitment solutions that strengthen mission-driven organizations.

Job Overview

ICF Next is seeking a Marketing & Communications Lead to support a high-visibility federal client within the national security space, focused on large-scale recruitment marketing and employer branding initiatives. This is a fully onsite role within a secure government environment requiring close, day-to-day collaboration with client stakeholders. The role supports the coordination and execution of integrated marketing and communications strategies across multiple channels, ensuring alignment with recruitment goals, audience targeting, and employer brand standards. The lead will work across digital, social, paid media, email, web, and event channels to support cohesive campaign execution and consistent messaging. This role requires strong coordination, communication, and execution skills to align cross-functional teams and deliver high-quality outputs in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Job Location

All work is performed on site in a secure federal environment in Washington, D.C. Limited telework may be authorized only as permitted by the client and contract requirements.

What You Will Do

• Support the planning and execution of integrated marketing and communications initiatives aligned with recruitment and employer branding objectives
• Coordinate development and delivery of marketing and communications products across channels, ensuring consistency in messaging, tone, and brand standards
• Collaborate onsite with government stakeholders and cross-functional teams (creative, analytics, paid media, program leadership) to align priorities and deliverables
• Contribute to development of campaign plans, messaging frameworks, content calendars, and creative briefs
• Support execution of multi-channel campaigns across digital, social, paid media, email/SMS, web, print, and event environments
• Monitor campaign performance and contribute to KPI tracking, reporting, and optimization efforts
• Support stakeholder engagement activities, including meetings, briefings, and event coordination
• Maintain collaboration tools, workflow tracking, and documentation to support program execution and transparency
• Ensure all communications materials meet Section 508 accessibility standards and quality expectations
• Identify trends, audience insights, and competitive factors to inform ongoing recruitment marketing strategies
• Support quality control reviews to ensure all deliverables are accurate, consistent, and aligned with client objectives

Basic Qualifications

• Active Top Secret (TS) clearance required
• Ability to work onsite full-time in Washington, DC
• U.S. citizenship required
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or related field
• 3+ years of professional experience in marketing, communications, employer branding, or integrated campaign coordination

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting federal government or public-sector communications programs
• Familiarity with recruitment marketing, employer branding, or talent acquisition campaigns
• Experience working across multiple marketing channels (digital, social, paid media, email, events)
• Experience supporting integrated campaigns and cross-functional team coordination
• Familiarity with analytics, KPI reporting, and data-driven marketing environments
• Experience using collaboration or project management tools (e.g., Monday.com, Jira, Box, SharePoint)

Professional Skills

• Strong organizational and coordination skills across multiple stakeholders and workstreams
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Ability to synthesize information and contribute to strategic decision-making
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work across interdisciplinary teams

Recruitment & Company Information

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 the 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

$81,147.00 - $137,949.00 DC Client Office (DC88)

Contact

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.