Group Creative Director (Future Opportunity)

ICF • Reston, VA

6d • $131,256 - $269,993 • Remote

About The Position

This is a strategic job posting to network for future anticipated opportunities as ICF Next continues to grow. ICF Next brings together strategy, creativity, data, and technology to solve complex challenges and move people when it matters most. They work with organizations tackling important issues such as public health, energy, climate, resilience, and economic opportunity. Their work focuses on helping people understand, make informed decisions, build confidence, and take meaningful action through integrated campaigns and experiences that connect with people across channels. The best creative work combines insight, strategy, and exceptional craft to create measurable impact.

Requirements

• 15+ years of agency or equivalent creative experience, including deep experience leading integrated campaigns and multidisciplinary creative teams.
• An exceptional portfolio demonstrating original conceptual thinking, creative leadership, and a consistent ability to produce strategically smart, beautifully crafted work that delivers measurable results.
• A proven track record of building, mentoring, and leading high-performing creative teams while establishing a clear creative vision across a significant portfolio of work.
• Extensive experience developing integrated campaigns across video, digital, social, experiential, print, out-of-home, web, emerging platforms, and connected customer experiences.
• Exceptional creative judgment and the ability to recognize, shape, challenge, and protect powerful ideas from concept through execution.
• Deep understanding of how strategy, audience insight, behavioral science, storytelling, design, technology, and craft come together to create work that moves people.
• Experience translating complex, technical, scientific, regulated, or sensitive subject matter into compelling creative communications that people genuinely engage with.
• Confidence presenting ambitious creative thinking to senior executives, clients, and diverse stakeholder groups while building trust and creative momentum.
• Experience developing campaigns addressing public health, public safety, education, energy, environmental sustainability, climate, or other complex mission-driven challenges is highly valued.

Nice To Haves

• Public-sector experience is welcome but not required.
• Industry recognition and award-winning work are valued, but what matters most is evidence of ideas that were distinctive, beautifully made, strategically sound, and effective.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative direction, quality, and vision of a significant portfolio of clients, integrated campaigns, and multidisciplinary creative teams.
• Develop breakthrough integrated campaigns that translate strategy, audience insight, behavioral understanding, and cultural context into ideas that connect with people and create measurable impact.
• Lead creative development from brief through production, ensuring every execution reflects the strength of the original idea and the highest standards of craft.
• Build, mentor, and inspire Creative Directors, Associate Creative Directors, writers, art directors, designers, and other creative specialists, creating an environment where ambitious ideas and exceptional people can thrive.
• Partner closely with strategy, research, behavioral science, media, production, communications, experience design, and technology teams to deliver seamless integrated campaigns across every channel.
• Build trusted relationships with senior clients and stakeholders, confidently presenting ambitious creative thinking and guiding complex decision-making while protecting the integrity of the work.
• Lead major productions across film, photography, digital, social, experiential, and emerging platforms, ensuring creative excellence from concept to final delivery.
• Play a significant leadership role in new business, pitches, and agency growth by helping shape winning strategies, creative platforms, and client relationships.
• Champion creative excellence while ensuring work meets the highest standards of accessibility, inclusivity, clarity, effectiveness, and measurable performance.
• Help shape the creative culture, standards, capabilities, and long-term reputation of ICF Next.

Benefits

• ICF offers a competitive compensation package, which may include a salary range of $131,256.00 - $269,993.00 for full-time employment.
• The company provides a workplace that allows everyone to thrive.
• ICF is an equal opportunity employer.
• Reasonable Accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs in all phases of the application and employment process.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed