What are the responsibilities and job description for the Creative Director position at ICF?
ICF is a mission-driven company filled with people who care deeply about improving the lives of others and making the world a better place. Our core values include Embracing Difference; we seek candidates who are passionate about building a culture that encourages, embraces, and hires dimensions of difference .
Hi. This is ICF Next, and you haven’t heard of us. But quietly, steadily, we’ve been crushing it – winning armfuls of industry awards and making the world a better place at the same time. And we’re growing – that’s where you come in.
We need a creative leader. We’re not talking about just in-the-trenches design work, we need your vision. You are an ambassador for the good work, good ideas, and leading a great team. You deliver the insight, concept, and creative vision for big clients, big campaigns. You are an ambassador for a new way of thinking, with strategic and creative ideas, across teams, across media and for a variety of clients.
You’ll partner up with our Executive Creative Director and together you’ll divide and conquer – think Batman and Robin, Bert and Ernie, Finn and Jake – you get the idea.
And you’ll join a team of like-minded zealots in the ICF Next Creative Studio. 130 members strong, we are the animators, copywriters, producers, designers, editors and illustrators that will have your back and help bring your ideas to life.
What gets you in the door is your concept, design and people skills – how do you think, work with clients and teams, - and of course a solid portfolio.
Expect a high-energy agency environment – of course tight deadlines and also the demand that you switch gears and focus in your busy day. You’ll need to multitask and make the best of what you have at the time so the work can keep moving. You’ll handle the pressure with grace and a smile, because we are a team that looks out for each other. And when we win, we win as a family.
If that all makes sense then contact us and we’ll follow up right away.
The Creative Director plays an active, key role in projects across ICF Next’s flagship accounts. You will supervise the daily activities of a creative team assigned to multiple projects and develop an environment of inspired creativity and professional growth.
The Creative Director will partner with the Executive Creative Director on creative and art direction, creative strategy, concept, client and account management, team building and client relationships.
The Creative Director is a constant student of the creative and marketing industry, sparking creative opportunities to drive growth and revenue.
As a Creative Director, you will:
Understand and leverage audience research, developing insights that lead to a cohesive creative strategy.
Work with account team and strategy team partners to develop Marcom strategy that will inform creative concepts.
Develop creative concepts that are built on audience insights and strategy, and be able to demonstrate how that strategic thread is pulled through the work.
Excellent writing and presentation skills – you need to be able to paint your vision in the minds of our internal partners and clients.
Provide daily management of work in-house, maintaining a quality baseline of design
Guide the creative team in the direction, style, and creative strategy and concept.
Build the business of the Creative Studio and ICF Next by packaging and presenting our work, participating in team training and new business.
Provide senior client counsel and leadership on key accounts by providing creative insights and project leadership
Provide creative direction for production teams in the development of websites, social assets, short and long form videos and other digital assets.
As a Creative Director, you will have:
- 10 years of experience working in an agency or comparable environment
Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Excellent understanding of digital/social marketing, content marketing, creative development
Experience leading integrated creative marketing programs
Advanced leadership of creative, interactive design project workflows
Proven leadership in fast-paced creative environments
Ability to plan ahead, be proactive and prioritize team workloads
Excellent design and copywriting skills
Excellent strategy and concept skills
Video experience a plus
Working at ICF
Working at ICF means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. Smart, compassionate, innovative, committed, ICF employees tackle unprecedented challenges to benefit people, businesses, and governments around the globe. We believe in collaboration, mutual respect, open communication, and opportunity for growth.We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to hiring regardless of any protected characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status, or military/veteran status. 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 & AA policy .
COVID-19 Policy : New or prospective U.S. employees must provide proof of complete vaccination on the date of their commencement of employment. If selected for employment, you will provide proof of your full vaccination status, defined as vaccinated two weeks after receiving the requisite number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved or authorized for emergency use by the FDA.
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 icfcareercenter@icf.com 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 non-discrimination: EEO is the law and Pay Transparency Statement .
