Senior Research Specialist, Health Communications (Remote or Onsite)

Senior Research Specialist, Health Communications, Research and Evaluation ICF is a mission-driven company filled with people who care deeply about improving the lives of others and making the world a better place. Our core values include Embracing Difference; we seek candidates who are passionate about building a culture that encourages, embraces, and hires dimensions of Next, we are fearless in finding new ways to solve problems, relentless in making sure it pays off for our clients and committed to making a positive change in the world. Join our community of mission-driven creatives, communicators, strategists, and technologists to challenge the status quo. We're currently hiring for a Senior Research Specialist, Health Communications and Social Marketing Research and Evaluation. Working at ICF Next means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. Smart, compassionate, innovative, committed, ICF Next employees tackle unprecedented challenges to benefit people, businesses, and governments around the globe. We believe in collaboration, mutual respect, open communication, and opportunity for growth. ICF Next delivers all the strategic communications and marketing services of a top-flight public relations agency, plus the domain expertise and resources of a leading international research and consulting firm. Our strategic health communications and social marketing work tackles some of society's greatest challenges and drives audiences to make positive attitudinal and behavioral changes. ICF Next's Social Marketing research team needs an experienced senior research specialist to design, implement, and lead various research and evaluation projects. The team uses qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g., systematic reviews, environmental scans, in-depth interviews, focus groups, surveys, secondary data analyses, observations, content analyses) to conduct theory-based formative, process, and summative evaluation and strategic planning projects. The team's work ultimately guides the planning, implementation, and evaluation of national health communications and social marketing programs and activities. This position is ideal for a researcher well-versed in designing and conducting systematic reviews as well as other qualitative and quantitative methods. The role requires research project management skills, the ability to lead and mentor junior staff members on a variety of research tasks, and an interest in collaborating across multiple ICF teams such as design, user experience, analytics, and survey research. As a Senior Research Specialist, Health Communications and Social Marketing Research and Evaluation, you will: Manage the design and execution of multiple, concurrent systematic reviews for federal health agencies. Manage the design and execution of multiple, concurrent theory-based research and strategic planning projects, ensuring that work meets a high standard of quality within budgets and timelines. Review and provide feedback to team members on research and evaluation deliverables (e.g., research tools, reports, strategic plans, presentations, infographics). Spearhead the development of creative solutions to research and strategic planning problems. Lead reporting and dissemination of research efforts (e.g., via manuscripts, presentations, and posters). Lead submissions of research packages to an ICF's Institutional Review Board (IRB) a data protection team, as well as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Support collaborations with other research and evaluation teams at ICF (e.g., related to digital analytics, user experience research). Support ICF's thought leadership (e.g., via ICF webinars, ICF media relations, professional association events). As a Senior Research Specialist, Health Communications and Social Marketing Research and Evaluation , you will have: Doctoral degree in communications, psychology, sociology, public health, or related field. At least 5 years of experience conducting systematic reviews, including: Developing methodology, technical approach, and abstraction forms for systematic reviews (i.e., developing research questions, eligibility criteria, quality control procedures, dual abstraction protocols, triage and abstraction procedures). Conducting systematic search of literature in scientific databases (i.e., developing search strategies using Boolean logic) and triage of literature sources. Abstracting quantitative and qualitative data from scientific sources with varying study design. Using Endnote (and/or other reference management software) and tools to assess the quality of literature sources. Applying meta-analyses methods. Analyzing, interpreting, and summarizing abstracted data in evidence portfolios or summary reports. A minimum of 5 years of experience with using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods for formative, process, and summative evaluations that support health communication and social marketing programs. At least 5 years of experience with managing research projects, including developing and maintaining study research plans, timelines, staffing plans, and budgets. Experience with managing expectations from multiple stakeholders (e.g., program managers, clients). Experience with designing research and writing research sections of government proposals and/or grants. Experience with translating complex research results into recommendations or strategic plans to inform the development and refinement of programs. Experience with IRB, OMB, and data protection reviews. Advanced written and verbal communication skills. Intermediate proficiency with qualitative (e.g., NVivo) and quantitative software (e.g., SAS, Stata, SPSS). Familiarity with health behavior theories and persuasion principles. Education or experience with physical activity and public health or exercise science a plus. Travel Requirements Minimal travel will be required for this position (up to 10%) Job Location(s): Within the current landscape, this role will be supported remotely. Ideally, this role will ultimately sit Rockville, MD, when remote working guidelines are lifted, but long-term remote candidates will be considered. #LI-CC1 #IndeedWorking at ICF Working at ICF means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. Smart, compassionate, innovative, committed, ICF employees tackle unprecedented challenges to benefit people, businesses, and governments around the globe. We believe in collaboration, mutual respect, open communication, and opportunity for growth. If you're seeking to make a difference in the world, visit to find your next career. ICF-together for tomorrow.We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to hiring regardless of any protected characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status, or military/veteran status. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read our EEO & AA policy .Reasonable Accommodations are available for disabled veterans and applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please email and we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. Read more about non-discrimination: EEO is the law and Pay Transparency Statement . Rockville, MD (MD18)