Deputy Director, Partnerships

Please note: This role is contingent upon a contract award. While it is not an immediate opening, we are actively conducting interviews and extending offers in anticipation of the award.

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.

ICF Next is seeking a Deputy Director, Partnerships to support a major federal public health communications program. This role supports the development and implementation of partnership strategies that expand the reach and impact of national public health communication campaigns. The successful candidate will manage one or more assigned partnership portfolios, cultivate strategic stakeholder relationships, coordinate engagement activities, and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to help achieve campaign objectives.

Working closely with campaign leadership, communications specialists, digital and social media teams, and client stakeholders, this individual will help ensure partnership strategies are integrated throughout campaign planning, implementation, and evaluation while supporting effective coordination with external partners and stakeholder organizations.

Location

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

Responsibilities:

• Support the development and implementation of partnership strategies that extend the reach and impact of national public health communication campaigns.
• Manage assigned partnership portfolios by cultivating relationships, coordinating outreach, facilitating partner activities, and supporting campaign objectives.
• Build and maintain relationships with federal agencies, national organizations, professional associations, healthcare organizations, advocacy groups, state, territorial, tribal, and local public health agencies, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and other strategic stakeholders.
• Coordinate implementation of annual partnership plans, engagement activities, and outreach efforts aligned with campaign objectives.
• Develop partner engagement materials, presentations, briefing materials, toolkits, webinars, and other communications resources.
• Coordinate partner briefings, webinars, meetings, and technical assistance activities to strengthen collaboration and campaign participation.
• Maintain partnership contact information, engagement records, activity tracking, and stakeholder communications.
• Track partnership activities, engagement metrics, and stakeholder feedback; contribute to partnership reporting and recommend opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with communications, creative, media, digital, social media, and outreach teams to maximize partner engagement and campaign reach.
• Represent ICF Next during meetings, conferences, webinars, and stakeholder engagements as a liaison between the client and partner organizations.

Basic Qualifications:

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• U.S. Citizenship required (required by the federal government for this position).
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Health, Public Policy, Marketing, Business, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
• Eight (8) or more years of professional experience managing strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, external affairs, communications, or public health outreach programs.
• Three (3) or more years of experience leading partner engagement activities or managing stakeholder portfolios.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Public Health, Communications, Public Administration, Business, or a related discipline.
• Five (5) or more years supporting federal clients, including HHS, CDC, FDA, NIH, or other public health agencies.
• Experience supporting national public health, health promotion, or behavior change communication campaigns.
• Experience coordinating partner briefings, webinars, workshops, technical assistance activities, or stakeholder engagement events.
• Experience developing partnership metrics, maintaining stakeholder databases, and preparing partnership performance reports.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams supporting communications, media, digital, social media, creative, or public affairs initiatives.
• Experience supporting one or more of the following stakeholder portfolios:
• National nonprofit organizations or professional associations.
• State, territorial, tribal, or local public health organizations.
• Healthcare organizations or health systems.
• Community-based organizations serving priority populations.

Professional Skills:

• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to coordinate activities across multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build consensus and foster collaborative working relationships.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, client-facing environment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple stakeholder relationships while meeting project deadlines.

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 Candidateaccommodation@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 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 candidateaccommodation@icf.com. 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:

$98,187.00 - $166,919.00

DC Client Office (DC88)