Infrastructure Program Lead - Disaster Recovery (Cicero, Illinois)

ICF Infrastructure Program Lead

Chicago Metropolitan Area, U.S.

(Cicero, Illinois)

ICF seeks an Infrastructure Program Lead to support city and county governments in the Chicago metropolitan area with federally funded disaster recovery and mitigation programs focused on addressing housing needs after past and future disasters. The Disaster Management division works with government agencies and communities to design and implement policies and programs to promote increased resilience to disasters and long-term housing, economic, and infrastructure recovery after disaster strikes. Our functional expertise is in program management and operations, planning and preparedness, technical assistance and training, strategic communications and outreach, compliance and monitoring, and performance measurement and evaluation. We often work in close collaboration with ICF experts across the firm on related issues such as energy efficiency and green building, infrastructure, financial literacy, and workforce development. All our work is done in a professional, collegial, and intellectual environment that allows individuals to pursue their passions and generate results.

You will be responsible for managing, reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating grant program activities to ensure compliance with grant program requirements, local and federal regulations governing federally funded grant programs associated with Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) infrastructure programs in Illinois, with a focus on the Chicago metropolitan region.

This is an onsite position with preference given to candidates based in or near the Chicago metropolitan area.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage/oversee teams and processes that implement CDBG-DR infrastructure programs, including project scoping, environmental and engineering review, procurement, construction oversight, and closeout for stormwater management, flood mitigation, and other infrastructure recovery projects.
• Provide project management and operational support for state and local governments through the grant and project implementation life cycle, including application, scoring, site visits, and the award period.
• Review/modify CDBG-DR programmatic materials and project files, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), to ensure they reflect the process of the current program(s) and comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and CDBG-DR regulations and guidelines.
• Develop and modify written products and tools for grantee policies and procedures, program design, and implementation to ensure consistent and compliant processes, including but not limited to checklists, procedures, process flows, and training materials.
• Review subrecipient requests for funding documentation, including but not limited to applications, capacity plans, implementation plans, scope of work, budgets, schedules, plan reviews, and SOPs to ensure compliance with state and local governments' program guidelines.
• Provide onsite technical assistance and training to the local governments and subrecipients on programmatic and procedural requirements and relevant federal regulations including but not limited to: CDBG-DR/MIT national objectives, procurement, overall LMI benefit, FEMA match or other leveraged fund coordination, labor standards, program design, and guidance on best practices for program implementation to assist with programmatic and project compliance.
• Provide reporting and data management support, including coordination of data gathering and entry into federal, state, and local government systems of record.
• Perform various project management duties to include completing daily updates of the task tracking tool used to monitor task progress, due dates, and task responsibilities, coordinating ICF staff and resources to ensure tasks are completed on time, and coordinating assignments and deliverables with the prime contractor.
• Work in close collaboration with on-site Leads and project management to support best practices and client policies and participate in recurring management, strategy, and problem-solving meetings to ensure client needs are met.
• Travel throughout the greater Chicago region and attendance at client offices several days a week, potentially full-time, may be required.

Basic Qualifications: (Qualifications required to be considered)

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, public policy, government, business administration, or a related discipline or 8+ years CDBG and/or CDBG-DR/MIT experience.
• 5+ years of CDBG-DR/MIT/NDR experience
• 3+ years of experience with infrastructure and/or stormwater management or flood mitigation programs, including providing technical assistance to grantees or subrecipients and managing multiple projects and stakeholder interests.
• Ability to provide expert-level CDBG-DR technical assistance to grantees and subrecipients.
• 1+ year of experience writing technical guidance or procedures.

Preferred Skills/Experience: (Modify as needed to include specific experience, certifications, skills and abilities, etc.)

• Experience working in a consulting firm, development organization, or public agency preferred.
• Experience delivering training and technical assistance to and/or implementing projects on behalf of state and local government agencies.
• Experience working in or with Illinois state or Chicago-area governments or non-profit organizations.
• Experience with creation of disaster recovery, housing and community development subject-related materials, such as training and technical assistance tools, presentations, handouts, etc.
• Project and operational management skills.
• Excellent analytical and qualitative strategic thinking capabilities and collaboration skills.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Skill in managing multiple projects, competing deadlines and stakeholder interests with timeliness, accuracy, and quality.

Professional Skills: (Modify as needed to include specific professional skills)

• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines.
• Team player with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in MS Office Applications (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel).

Working at ICF
ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we're not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future.

We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building a workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer. 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 policy.

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, 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 workplace discrimination rights or our benefit offerings which are included in the Transparency in (Benefits) Coverage Act.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process.

However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodation that involves the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance at We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.

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:
$89,203.00 - $151,646.00

Illinois Client Office (IL88)