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Senior Energy and Sustainability Program Specialist

Location: Hybrid - Reston, VA/Washington DC

Want to design, develop, and implement energy programs, and engage with industry leaders to save energy? You can at ICF. We solve the most challenging issues facing the energy industry today while informing them about the future of global energy use.

ICF is seeking a detail-oriented, initiative-taking, and experienced candidate to serve in a high-profile deputy project management role supporting federal government clients in implementing and evolving energy efficiency and resource management programs. This role will be a senior contributor across multiple fast-moving projects, including work that may support DOE Better Buildings, ENERGY STAR, and other voluntary partnership, benchmarking, recognition, and market engagement initiatives. Working closely with project leadership, this role will help manage client-facing activities, coordinate staff and contractor teams, drive task execution, and support relationship management with clients, industry partners, and key stakeholders.

Successful candidates will be comfortable operating in a dynamic environment with rapid turnaround needs, high client expectations, and competing priorities across commercial, multifamily, public, and industrial market initiatives. You will help translate client priorities into actionable workplans, keep workstreams aligned across tasks, timelines, and deliverables, and support project performance through initiative-taking coordination, communication, and follow-through. You will be part of a team that builds and maintains relationships with key market actors, supports partner engagement and recognition, reviews and analyzes energy, water, and waste data, develops client-ready outreach and communications materials, and collaborates with team members, contractors, clients, and industry stakeholders to develop national and regional strategies that increase participation in energy, water, and waste programs.

What will you be doing . . .

• Serve as a senior, client-facing deputy project manager across multiple high-profile energy and resource management projects, helping manage day-to-day execution, priorities, timelines, and deliverables in coordination with project leadership for federal initiatives.

• Lead and support outreach to build and maintain relationships with key market actors, including commercial and public sector building managers, industry associations, utilities, federal clients, contractors, program partners, and other stakeholders involved in voluntary energy, water, and waste programs.

• Translate client needs and evolving priorities into clear action plans, task assignments, agendas, briefing materials, and follow-up items that support timely, high-quality delivery.

• Coordinate staff, subcontractors, clients, and industry stakeholders to keep workstreams moving, resolve issues quickly, and ensure deliverables meet demanding client expectations and fast turnaround requirements.

• Contribute to the development and deployment of communications, outreach, training, benchmarking, and recognition resources, including case studies, webinars, in-person events, briefing materials, award or recognition materials, and other client-ready products.

• Collaborate directly with clients and team members to develop local, regional, and national strategies to influence the market, support partner recruitment and retention, advance benchmarking and energy management practices, and increase participation in voluntary energy programs.

• Support partner account management, data collection, technical assistance progress tracking, and quality control activities that help clients assess program impact, identify opportunities for improvement, and recognize leadership in energy, water, and waste performance.

• Track state, local, and national energy policies that impact commercial and public sector buildings, and support research and analysis related to energy efficiency, energy management, renewable energy programs, and related policies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related discipline (e.g., environmental studies, public policy, environmental science, sustainable business).

• 5+ years of relevant experience in commercial, public, industrial, or multifamily energy, water, or waste programs, including experience supporting or managing multi-stakeholder projects, workstreams, or task areas.

• Experience interacting directly with clients or external stakeholders in a professional setting, including preparing materials, managing follow-up, and supporting relationship management.

• Experience managing multiple competing priorities, respond to rapid turnaround requests, and adapt in a fast-paced, evolving client-service environment.

• Experience coordinating tasks, teams, subcontractors, or stakeholder groups and supporting project delivery beyond individual assignments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in related discipline (e.g., environmental studies, public policy, environmental science, sustainable business).

• Experience working with commercial or public sector buildings or for an energy efficiency vendor/service provider or association.

• Experience writing reports, articles, case studies, or other communications materials.

• Experience with energy benchmarking.

• Experience with ENERGY STAR, DOE Better Buildings, benchmarking tools such as Portfolio Manager, LEED, and/or other energy efficiency, recognition, or voluntary partnership program platforms.

• Familiarity with the development/delivery of public-private voluntary partnership programs.

• Experience working with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software systems including Salesforce and Sharepoint.

• Solid personal computer skills (Microsoft applications, including Word, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Excel).

• Ability to exercise sound judgment, communicate proactively, and represent the project team professionally in client-facing and senior-stakeholder settings.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Highly developed interpersonal skills and self-motivation.

• Excellent analytical skills.

• Ability to prioritize and multi-task, and work under strict deadlines.

Working at ICF

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: