Remote Technical Writer at ICF

ICF is seeking an experienced Technical Writer to contribute to its Child Care and Development Technical Assistance (CDTA) projects.

The successful candidate will work alongside project teams supporting early childhood education initiatives across federal, state, and private-sector organizations.

This position focuses on creating, editing, and reviewing clear, audience-specific written materials that transform complex early childhood education and Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) subjects into practical, easy-to-understand resources.

The Technical Writer will collaborate with subject matter experts and project teams to maintain high content standards, consistent messaging, plain-language communication, and compliance with established editorial and quality assurance guidelines.

Bilingual candidates may also be required to translate project materials into other languages.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal applicant will have a background in child development, early childhood education, or child care, along with experience producing engaging written content and resources that explain complex subjects and help audiences apply the information effectively.

Candidates should have experience working in government-related environments and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across multiple projects to create resources that address specific audience needs.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent writing, editing, and proofreading abilities, with a strong understanding of maintaining consistent tone, formatting, and editorial standards.

Attention to detail, organization, adaptability, and the ability to manage several assignments in a fast-paced work environment are also essential.

Key Responsibilities – Project Support and Collaboration

• Support client objectives and project priorities by preparing routine and special reports, gathering relevant information, tracking project achievements, identifying emerging client needs, and informing service delivery.
• Participate actively in team meetings, internal working groups, and collaborative initiatives. Document discussions and decisions by preparing notes from staff meetings and federal workgroup sessions.
• Assist with Section 508 accessibility compliance and ensure written materials and other project deliverables are properly published online according to established procedures.
• Participate in or lead working groups as directed by clients or project leadership.
• Manage digital files, including organization, archiving, and migration activities.
• Help coordinate the review, approval, publication, and distribution of project resources and announcements.
• Keep informed about current research, technologies, tools, and resources that could support project goals and client requirements.
• Work with editorial team members to develop and maintain consistent editorial standards that align with client expectations and communication objectives.
• Contribute to revisions of editorial style guides and other writing guidelines, including citation requirements, references, and client-specific terminology.
• Assist with reviewing, approving, and finalizing written resources before publication.
• Help deliver training sessions for project employees, partners, and client representatives on effective plain-language writing techniques tailored to different audiences.

Key Responsibilities – Content Development and Technical Assistance

• Conduct research and gather information to provide timely and accurate responses to inquiries from clients, states, and territories.
• Follow client-approved templates, formatting standards, branding guidelines, and other specifications when producing digital and written materials.
• Support data collection, reporting, quality assurance, and project evaluation activities.
• Generate customized reports from project databases to assist leadership, guide technical assistance activities, and address client inquiries.
• Use approved technologies, including AI tools, Smartsheet, and Mural, where appropriate, to organize, monitor, and improve task completion.
• Develop written materials and project deliverables in collaboration with subject matter experts and other team members, ensuring that each product has a clearly defined audience, purpose, and scope.
• Create or work with colleagues to develop visual graphics and improved document layouts that enhance readability and understanding.
• Verify the accuracy of citations and ensure all written materials comply with copyright and content permission requirements.
• Provide professional editorial support, including copyediting, substantive editing, and proofreading, for reports, training materials, briefs, resource guides, tools, website content, announcements, and other project resources.
• Apply plain-language writing principles when developing or reviewing content to ensure that information is clear, accessible, and understandable to its intended audience.
• Maintain current knowledge of early childhood education and child care developments, client priorities, preferences, and relevant political considerations that may influence content development.
• Maintain high standards of quality across all written products by consistently following established quality assurance procedures.

Basic Qualifications

• At least 5 years of experience working as a Technical Writer or Editor, producing materials for public distribution across different formats.
• At least 3 years of experience supporting the development of effective training and technical assistance resources for successful implementation of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), using strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience simplifying complex information into clear, practical, and easy-to-understand content that addresses the needs of specific audiences.
• At least 2 years of experience developing website content and applying best practices for web publishing and digital resource formatting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience creating accessible, user-friendly website content.
• Ability to incorporate visual graphics into written materials to improve comprehension and engagement.
• Knowledge of CCDF regulations and relevant federal, state, and local laws and regulatory requirements.
• Experience working with subject matter experts to gather, evaluate, and organize information into tailored resources for specific audiences.
• Background in developing and implementing digital content strategies, including audience engagement and effective communication practices.
• Experience producing public-facing resources and communication materials for government agencies or government-affiliated organizations.
• Knowledge of citation styles, including APA and MLA, as well as copyright compliance and content attribution practices.

Professional Skills

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Strong writing and editing skills, particularly the ability to simplify complex subjects into clear and actionable information.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to handle multiple assignments, prioritize competing demands, and meet urgent deadlines.
• Strong relationship-building and communication abilities to support client engagement, teamwork, and business development activities.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively as part of a team.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work with professionals from different disciplines, backgrounds, and working styles.
• Excellent analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Willingness and ability to learn new technologies and digital platforms while identifying opportunities to improve productivity and efficiency.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with professionalism, sound judgment, discretion, and diplomacy.

About Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services company that helps organizations address complex challenges, navigate change, and prepare for the future.

By combining specialized industry knowledge with innovative technology, ICF delivers solutions that make a meaningful difference for its clients and the communities they serve.

The company is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees can develop professionally, contribute their expertise, and collaborate toward shared goals.

ICF is an equal opportunity employer, and additional details about its employment policies are available on its website.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable laws.

Work Authorization and Visa Sponsorship

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for new H-1B visa sponsorship through ICF.

However, candidates who already possess valid U.S. work authorization may be considered for an employer-change petition, subject to company policies and applicable immigration regulations.