Director, Health Communications

At 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. Join our community of mission-driven creatives, communicators, strategists, and technologists to challenge the status quo.

We are hiring a seasoned Director, Health Communications to work with our federal health clients on critical public health projects. The role involves working closely with senior management and a multidisciplinary team. The Project Manager must have at least twelve years of experience managing large communications and campaign contracts, focusing on schedule, budget, quality, outcomes, and deadlines.

This hybrid position requires coordination in Atlanta, GA and Washington, DC with team members in various locations nationally. Responsibilities include overseeing project phases, budget management, developing workflows, leading teams, mitigating risks, and providing technical assistance. Experience with Federal government processes, industry stakeholders and guiding teams to high standards is essential.

Location: Hybrid in the Washington, DC area with commute as needed to client and ICF offices. Required travel to Atlanta, GA area for meetings and presentations when needed.

As a Director, Health Communications, you will:

• Lead and manage the day-to-day execution of the campaign, ensuring all tasks and milestones are completed on time.

• Coordinate cross-functional teams (e.g., creative, marketing, sales, and external agencies) to ensure alignment with campaign goals.

• Oversee campaign planning in a system like Smartsheet, and ensure all activities and timelines are updated in real time.

• Work with clients, stakeholders, and senior leadership to develop campaign objectives and strategies.

• Develop comprehensive project plans, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.

• Work in close coordination as part of the team leadership (strategy, senior project director, campaign director) to develop, align, and activate a large, integrated team of specialists and partners.

• Conduct meetings with staff and contractors, deliver meeting notes within 24 hours, develop document templates, initiate workflows, and assist with production.

• Launch and monitor campaigns across multiple channels, including digital marketing, social media, paid media, and public relations.

• Provide regular updates to stakeholders, including team members, clients, or management, on campaign progress and key performance indicators.

• Prepare post-campaign reports, including detailed analysis of results, lessons learned, and recommendations for future campaigns.

Basic Qualifications:

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a public trust clearance

• U.S. Citizenship required (required by federal government for the position)

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public health, health communication, health education, marketing, public relations, social sciences, or equivalent.

• 12+ years of experience in consulting project management

• 3+ years of experience managing large (> $10-50MM Annually) programs

Preferred Qualifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) or related certifications

• Master’s degree in communications, public health, social sciences, business, or associated disciplines a plus

• Experience with HHS and/or CDC programs

• Experience with private and public marketing programs highly preferred.

• Experience managing large-scale health promotion campaigns

• Demonstrated leadership role in the delivery of communication programs.

• Experience with media buying and paid social strategies.

• Experience working in a federal government environment and working directly with marketing agencies.

• Knowledge and experience with public health behavior change campaigns preferred.

• Experience with chronic disease marketing and communications preferred.

• Prior award-winning campaign experience a plus

• Ability to grow and foster new business

Professional Skills:

• Strong project management skills, including planning, organization, and multitasking.

• Excellent interpersonal (verbal, written), active listening, and organizational skills

• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Smartsheets, Asana, Trello, Monday.com) and MS Office Suite.

• Strong leadership, organizational skills, and attention to detail

• Excellent time management skills, with the ability to prioritize and multi-task in a fast-paced environment

• Ability to work collaboratively and establish strong working relationships with colleagues and clients