Senior Director, Marketing, Creative and Digital Services (Hybrid)

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Senior Director, Marketing, Creative and Digital Services (Hybrid)

🔹 Company: ICF

🔹 Location: Reston, VA

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: April 10, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Leading and growing an integrated team of marketing professionals
• Overseeing the company's brand management strategy and activation
• Managing creative projects and digital assets across various channels
• Collaborating with stakeholders to ensure consistent brand experience
• Driving enterprise brand growth and supporting go-to-market campaigns and activities

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and experience in managing marketing teams and projects.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Manage and grow an integrated team of designers, content and UX specialists, writers, and brand managers

✅ Partner with communications, demand generation, campaign, and capture teams to ensure marketing programs are supported with high-quality assets and resources

✅ Manage the web and digital team to optimize ICF’s website and digital properties

✅ Oversee operations and delivery of creative assets, including branded content pieces, campaign assets, advertising workflows, and updates to web/digital properties

✅ Lead the company’s brand management strategy and governance, including vision, training, enablement, and activation

✅ Lead creative kick-offs and workshops and manage key projects across multiple dimensions

✅ Lead ICF’s product & solution naming and brand strategy, including governing the creation of new sub-brands and facilitating name-storming and brand development sessions and workshops

✅ Help lead efforts to develop and activate enterprise-level brand campaigns to build awareness of ICF across its markets

✅ Evolve program deliverables to increase emphasis on engaging and visually appealing content, including data visualizations, multimedia, interactive design, and more

✅ Ensure a consistent experience and voice for ICF’s brand across a variety of internal and external channels

✅ Lead and project manage key corporate marketing programs, special events, and projects as needed

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, team management, and hands-on project execution, requiring strong organizational skills and the ability to juggle multiple priorities.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

Experience: 15+ years of marketing experience, preferably in B2B or B2G environments

Required Skills:

• Proven leadership experience, including managing and growing a team of marketers
• Strong project management skills and the ability to juggle multiple priorities
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills
• Experience working directly with senior leaders and stakeholders to set expectations, manage programs, and provide ongoing strategic client counsel
• Experience managing the work of marketing professionals, such as marketers, communicators, agencies, copywriters, designers, video producers, web/digital producers, subject matter experts, clients, and stakeholders

Preferred Skills:

• Corporate, digital, or marketing agency experience
• Experience in and the ability to lead or contribute to messaging, communications, and positioning workflows
• Experience managing, supporting, or contributing to digital/web projects with an understanding of UX and site design/management
• Experience with product strategy, product marketing, and/or solution marketing

ASSUMPTION: Strong leadership, project management, and communication skills are essential for success in this role. Experience in brand management and digital marketing is highly desirable.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $170,721 - $290,225 per year (based on full-time employment)

Benefits: ICF offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information, please visit ICF's Equal Employment Opportunity policy.

Working Hours: Full-time position with a hybrid work arrangement (2-3 days per week in the office)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on ICF's public job posting. However, actual compensation may vary depending on factors such as relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and contract provisions.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: ICF operates in the marketing services industry, focusing on strategy and transformation, creative engagement, insights and analytics, technology, digital, user experience, customer experience, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Company Size: ICF is a mid-sized company with 1,001-5,000 employees, providing a structured yet agile work environment.

Founded: ICF was founded in 1969 and has since grown into a global consultancy with a strong presence in the marketing services sector.

Company Description:

• ICF Next is a strategic partner for engagement and transformation, helping clients make the change they need to succeed
• They work to improve the world in areas such as energy, health, transportation, and beyond
• ICF Next is part of global consultancy ICF and operates as a mission-driven creative, communicator, strategist, and technologist

Company Specialties:

• Strategy and transformation
• Creative engagement
• Insights and analytics
• Technology
• Digital
• User experience
• Customer experience
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Customer marketing

Company Website: ICF's LinkedIn page

ASSUMPTION: ICF's size and industry focus provide opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects, while its mission-driven approach fosters a collaborative and innovative work environment.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the senior director level, reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Officer or another senior marketing leader.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Director will oversee an integrated team of marketing professionals, including designers, content and UX specialists, writers, and brand managers.

Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, with employees working 2-3 days per week in the office and the remainder of the time remotely.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to grow and advance within ICF's marketing organization
• Opportunities to lead and manage larger teams or take on broader responsibilities
• Chance to work on diverse projects and gain exposure to various aspects of marketing and branding

ASSUMPTION: This role offers strong growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to expand their leadership and management skills and gain experience in various aspects of marketing and branding.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: ICF's global headquarters in Reston, VA, features a modern, collaborative workspace with on-site amenities and easy access to public transportation.

Office Location(s): 1902 Reston Metro Plaza, Reston, VA 20190

Geographic Context:

• Reston is a suburb of Washington, D.C., with a mix of urban and suburban neighborhoods
• The area offers a variety of housing options, cultural attractions, and outdoor recreation opportunities
• Reston is well-connected by major highways and has easy access to Washington Dulles International Airport

Work Schedule: Full-time position with a hybrid work arrangement (2-3 days per week in the office)

ASSUMPTION: ICF's Reston headquarters provides a convenient and comfortable work environment, with easy access to amenities and public transportation. The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility and a healthy work-life balance.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
• In-depth behavioral interview with the hiring manager and a team member
• Final interview with senior leadership
• Background check and offer

Key Assessment Areas:

• Leadership and management skills
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Communication and collaboration skills
• Brand management and digital marketing expertise
• Project management and organizational skills

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Be prepared to discuss your leadership and management style, as well as your approach to brand management and digital marketing
• Showcase your ability to juggle multiple priorities and manage projects effectively
• Demonstrate your understanding of ICF's brand and marketing strategy

ATS Keywords: Marketing, Brand Management, Digital Strategy, Creative Direction, Project Management, Team Leadership, Content Development, UX Design, SEO, Campaign Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication, Collaboration, Data Visualization, Event Management, Product Marketing

ASSUMPTION: ICF's interview process is designed to assess candidates' leadership, strategic, and technical skills, as well as their cultural fit with the organization. Tailoring your application and preparation to these assessment areas will increase your chances of success.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides)
• Content Management Systems (CMS) and web analytics tools
• Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with industry-standard marketing and project management tools is essential for success in this role. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Workspace is particularly valuable.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Act with integrity
• Deliver with excellence
• Embrace inclusivity
• Collaborate for impact
• Inspire curiosity

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Data-driven and strategic
• Innovative and forward-thinking
• Adaptable and responsive to change
• Committed to continuous learning and improvement

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you align with ICF's value of 'Act with integrity' in your approach to brand management and marketing strategy?
• How comfortable are you working in a hybrid work environment, and how do you ensure productivity and collaboration in this setting?
• How do you balance multiple priorities and manage projects effectively, particularly in a dynamic and fast-paced marketing environment?

ASSUMPTION: ICF values candidates who demonstrate strong alignment with their core values, as well as the ability to thrive in a collaborative, data-driven, and innovative work environment.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing a team with diverse skills and backgrounds, requiring strong leadership and communication skills
• Balancing multiple priorities and projects, often with tight deadlines
• Adapting to a dynamic and evolving marketing landscape, with new tools, technologies, and best practices emerging regularly
• Working in a hybrid environment, requiring strong self-motivation and time management skills

ASSUMPTION: Success in this role requires strong leadership, project management, and communication skills, as well as the ability to adapt to change and thrive in a dynamic work environment.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other senior marketing roles, this position places a stronger emphasis on brand management and digital strategy
• ICF's industry focus on marketing services provides opportunities to work on diverse projects and gain exposure to various aspects of marketing and branding
• Career progression in this role may involve expanding leadership and management responsibilities or taking on broader marketing and branding initiatives

ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities for growth and exposure to diverse projects within the marketing services industry, with potential for expanded leadership and management responsibilities or broader marketing and branding initiatives.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a comprehensive brand refresh for ICF, including visual identity, tone of voice, and messaging framework
• Managing the creation and launch of ICF's new website, including UX design, content development, and SEO optimization
• Leading a cross-functional team to develop and execute a global brand awareness campaign, including digital advertising, social media, and event marketing components

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, leadership, and project management skills required for success in this role, as well as the opportunity to work on high-impact, cross-functional initiatives.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does this role fit into ICF's overall marketing strategy, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
• What are the biggest challenges facing the marketing team currently, and how can this role help address them?
• How does ICF support the professional development and growth of its marketing team members?
• What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will success be measured?
• How does ICF foster a culture of collaboration and innovation within its marketing team?

ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and provides valuable insights into ICF's marketing strategy, team dynamics, and company culture.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare for your interview by researching ICF's brand, marketing strategy, and industry trends
• If selected for an in-depth interview, be prepared to present a portfolio of your work and discuss your approach to brand management and digital marketing
• Follow up with the hiring manager within 24 hours after your interview to express your interest in the role and address any remaining questions

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.