Senior Technical Project Specialist

ICF•Reston, VA

6d•Remote

About The Position

ICF’s seeks an On-call Writer/Editor to support the child care and development (CDTA) projects. The On-call Editor/Writer is responsible for contributing to the development of innovative, high-quality products and services in support of multiple projects, including support for quality assurance tasks such as maintenance and enforcement of all requirements (e.g., client-approved templates, styles, branding) for writing, citation, copyright, and permissions issues. The position requires a candidate who is highly collaborative and detail‑oriented. They must work effectively with subject matter experts, project teams, and clients to develop accurate, engaging resources that support CCDF implementation and early childhood system improvement. The ideal candidate is a skilled writer and editor with strong experience translating complex early childhood and CCDF information into clear, user‑friendly resources. They excel at producing and quality‑checking training and TA materials, applying plain language and editorial standards, and shaping content for diverse audiences. With strengths in digital content strategy, audience engagement, and visual formatting, they collaborate effectively with subject matter experts and project teams to deliver accurate, accessible, high‑quality products that support client priorities.

Requirements

5+ years of experience developing or editing resources specifically in early education and care or child and family services.
5+ years of experience supporting the development of training, technical assistance resources, and products in various formats to meet specific audience informational needs, using high-quality writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
Experience translating complex technical language into content that is easy to read, understand, and apply to facilitate audience understanding.
Professional knowledge of adult learning styles and leveraging best practices and techniques to amplify effectiveness of training tools and resources.
Experienced in digital content strategy, audience engagement, and communications best practices.
Skilled in creating and formatting web and digital resources to industry standards.
Proficient with e-learning, webinar, virtual meeting platforms, and digital tools like Smartsheet and Mural.
Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills.
Strong writing skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into simple content that is easy to read, understand, and apply.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, managing multiple priorities at the same time while being able to meet urgent deadlines.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to support positive client relations, team building, and business development opportunities.
Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team to complete complex tasks within tight timelines.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decisionmaking capabilities.
Ability to adapt, learn and use new technology tools and platforms and identify ways to enhance and improve efficiency and productivity.

Nice To Haves

Experience with supplementing written content with visual graphics to strengthen user understanding,
Knowledge of Search Engine Optimization principles and techniques and applying those techniques to amplify website visibility.
Experience developing user-friendly web content.
Knowledge of CCDF regulations, applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
Experience working collaboratively with subject matter experts to extract relevant information to develop curated products for specific audiences.
Experience developing products and public-facing resources for government or quasi-government agencies.
Deep knowledge of citation formatting (such as APA or MLA) and copyright best practices.
Experience in responsive web design and applying user experience principles.

Responsibilities

Develop and deliver training for project staff, TA partners, and client staff on writing guidance and strategies that help support the specific information needs of different audiences, editorial standards, and client preferences.
Support editorial discussions with client and project staff for all products designed at the request of the client.
Support the development, maintenance, and refinement of editorial standards that support client priorities and project objectives.
Support updates to the editorial style guide and other editorial guidance documents, including guidance related to appropriate citations, references, and use of client specific terminology.
Support the development of training for team members on topics relevant to writing, editorial and product quality assurance.
Ensure quality control and apply established quality control protocols to all training and technical assistance deliverables.
Support updates and training on these protocols to maintain high standards for written materials and products.
Support the development of accurate, easy to understand resources and tools that meet the informational needs of target audiences, and support client priorities and project objectives.
Support the process for developing written products and deliverables, including collaborating with team members to clarify product audience, purpose, and scope, and obtaining subject matter expertise guidance, when needed.
Identify opportunities to enhance product quality by incorporating visual graphics and formatting that improve readability and comprehension.
Apply user experience best practices to develop, or collaborate with team members to develop, and apply visual graphics and enhanced formatting.
Provide editorial expertise (copy editing, substantive editing, plain language, and proofreading) for the full range of project resources and deliverables, including reports, training materials, briefs, resource guides, tools, website content, etc.