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Housing and community development work at
ICF International is challenging, rewarding, engaging, and fun.
Our professional yet relaxed atmosphere greatly enhances the
work environment for our staff.
Creating a Relaxed Environment with
Business Casual
Our dress code is generally informal and lies somewhere between
jeans and a suit, depending on scheduled client meetings.
Staff may also be able to set flexible work schedules so long
as project commitments are met. A business casual environment
offers our staff many benefits while maintaining a professional
and cooperative atmosphere for staff and clients alike.
"After I graduated from college, I worried that I
would have to make big lifestyle adjustments to fit my new
work environment. Luckily for me, ICF International has a 'casual
business setting,' so I can wear jeans to work, keep flexible
hours, and enjoy a fun work environment!" Liz,
Research Assistant
Adding Variety and Freedom with
Matrix Management
Matrix management allows staff to work on several projects,
often with different supervisors. It provides a lot of variety,
while teaching staff how to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines.
With an emphasis on teamwork, staff can take on different
levels of responsibilities without strict regard to a hierarchical
structure. For example, an Associate may concurrently author
a chapter independently for a training manual, coordinate
with a Project Manager to develop a project budget, and manage
the work of staff who are conducting telephone interviews.
"Working on multiple projects and tasks at one time
increases my opportunity to learn and develop a variety of
skills. For one project I might be asked to do research, for
another I may be writing training materials and articles,
and for another I may be coordinating a conference."
Jessica, Analyst
Building Community Inside and
Out
Beyond our work responsibilities, we take time to build friendships
and give back to those in the community. Staff can volunteer
for a local charity, celebrate colleagues' birthdays, donate
blood, play soccer on the weekends for the ICF International
"Blue Streak," and participate in a variety of other activities.
"The work environment is supportive and congenial,
and community involvement and other 'good works' are encouraged
and lauded. With a silent auction at our recent holiday party,
we raised close to $1,000 for the National Low Income Housing
Coalition. We also help the homeless by supplying hundreds
of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the So Others May
Eat (SOME) organization each month. It is very gratifying
to work with a group of people who genuinely care about their
community." Toni, Project Manager
Helping Staff Excel with Professional
Development
Our managers make sure that staff has work that builds skills,
provides for professional growth, and results in new experiences.
Staff can pursue individual career objectives while meeting
company goals in a team-oriented environment. Staff also has
the opportunity to receive training on professional development
and computer program topics, attend conferences and events,
and create professional development plans with managers.
"When I arrived as a new employee, I was provided
with the opportunity to work closely with senior staff in
a mentoring relationship to help me learn about housing and
community development issues and grow professionally. The
mentoring relationship has helped to structure my professional
growth and allowed me to set and accomplish realistic goals
for my career."Ayana, Senior Associate
Strengthening our Reputation
with Quality Products
As a knowledge-based company, the quality of our products
is the foundation of our reputation. Whether it is delivering
training, organizing a national conference, collecting and
analyzing a large quantity of housing statistics, or writing
a guidebook for local communities, we go the extra mile to
ensure quality. Our reputation depends on it.
"When I first began working for ICF International, I
was very impressed with the attention to detail that was paid
to each product, even to first drafts. It is not enough to
say a product is good, rather people are always asking 'How
can we make it better?' I find that my interest in the details
has increased significantly as I try to ensure that my work
will stand up to our reputation for quality." Tom,
Senior Associate
Maintaining a Strong Work Ethic
There is no way around it; we work hard. Whether it is a
long day putting the finishing touches on a training manual,
crunching to submit a proposal, or just trying to keep on
top of five projects at once, our staff stays busy.
"When necessary, I usually don't mind putting in a
few extra hours because I enjoy my projects and doing high
quality work is important to me. I also appreciate manager
attention to the workload of individual staff. To ensure that
staff is not overburdened with upcoming work, managers are
great about consulting with 'overly requested' staff to help
them shift responsibilities before they become overwhelmed.
While I still can have some busy weeks, this manager support
and guidance of staff workload is great."Anne,
Senior Associate
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