Strategic Communications Lead — Federal Programs (Remote)

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

Job summary

ICF Next is seeking a Communications Manager to lead multi-channel communications for federal clients, including strategy, campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and executive communications. You will translate goals into practical plans, manage cross‑functional teams, and ensure quality, schedule, and budget alignment.

The role requires strong writing, strategic judgment, and ability to coach teams in a fast-paced environment.

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 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

Writing & editing

Audience translation

Lead through influence

Project management

Microsoft 365

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications or related field

Job description

ICF Next is seeking a Communications Manager to lead multi-channel communications for federal clients, including strategy, campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and executive communications. You will translate goals into practical plans, manage cross‑functional teams, and ensure quality, schedule, and budget alignment.

The role requires strong writing, strategic judgment, and ability to coach teams in a fast-paced environment.