Research Assistant - Environment, Transportation & Regulation

It's not hard to come to work each day when you're preventing pollution, conserving energy, and saving neighborhoods.  ICF International is a leading management, technology, social science and policy consulting firm.  We develop solutions to complex problems relating to energy, environment, transportation, homeland security, community development and human services.  Since 1969 we have been serving major corporations, government at all levels, and multinational corporations.  More than 2,500 employees on four continents combine passion for our work with industry and technical expertise to protect and improve the quality of life. 

To support our growth, we seek Research Assistants to work in our Environment, Transportation and Regulation Practice (ETR).  Research Assistants will contribute to the development of innovative, accurate, timely, and high quality products and services, typically working on multiple projects with all levels of staff.  The Research Assistants at ICF International have an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge, gain exposure to major projects, interact with experts and clients in the field, while building content knowledge and consulting skills.  Research Assistants advance in our consulting practice or go on to outstanding graduate programs around the country.

Research Assistants are not assigned to a particular line of business in ETR, but rather have the opportunity to participate in projects across the following ETR lines of business.

Environmental Impact Analysis
Description:  This line of business prepares Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Impact Assessments for complex and often controversial projects nationwide and abroad, including energy, transportation, and other infrastructure projects and regulatory programs.  We manage environmental review processes that include consultation with regulatory agencies; public involvement; analysis of environmental, cultural, safety, socio-economic, and other impacts, and specification of measures to mitigate adverse impacts. Our clients numerous federal, state, and international agencies and private companies. We typically requires candidates with a degree in natural or physical science, environmental policy or management, natural resource economics, social science, or other related fields.

Environmental Policy and Economics
Description: This line of business conducts environmental policy, regulatory, economic, and technical analyses; addresses environmental health and safety concerns; develops environmental management systems; and performs outreach, technology transfer and conference support. Our key clients include program offices across the entire U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), DOT, state environmental agencies, and the private sector. Our staff includes economists, policy analysts, scientists, and engineers.

Environmental Risk and Engineering
Description:  This diverse line of business assesses human health and ecological risks of chemical releases to the environment; reviews the human toxicity of proposed food additives, pesticides, and other chemical products; conducts site sampling, remedial investigations, and feasibility studies to support contaminated site cleanup decisions; and develops and applies complex air quality models for ozone, particulates, NOx, SOx, mercury, and other pollutants. We support federal agencies such as EPA, FDA, DOD, CDC, and Interior, state and local agencies, trade associations, private companies, and international organizations. We typically require candidates with a degree in biology, chemistry, public health, toxicology, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, or related fields.

Regulatory Development & Analysis
Description:  This line of business supports federal and state agencies in the full-range of rulemaking activities.  We help clients prepare plain language text for rulemaking preambles and rules; estimate costs, benefits, impacts, and cost effectiveness of regulations; summarize and helping develop responses to public comments; and prepare implementation strategies, providing outreach and training support, and evaluating implementation progress. One of the tools at our disposal is ICF’s CommentWorksSM system.  CommentWorksSM is a web-based solution designed to streamline and organize public comment analysis and response.  This line of business works with a wide variety of federal clients, including NRC, DHS, EPA, DOT, FTC, HHS, DOJ, DOL, DOI, USDA, as well as state agencies. Our multidisciplinary staff includes lawyers, policy analysts, economists, and financial analysts. 

Transportation
Description:  This line of business specializes in addressing issues at the nexus of transportation and energy, economic development, and the environment.  We assist clients with the design and implementation of solutions using our skills in transportation planning, urban and land use planning, environmental science, economics, financial analysis, policy analysis, and communications. Our work often applies complex transportation, economic analysis, and environmental assessment methodologies to evaluate the impacts of infrastructure projects, service programs, and government policies. Our clients include U.S. DOT agencies such as FHWA, FTA, FMCSA, and the Transportation Research Board; National Academy of Science; EPA; White House; regional, state, and local transportation agencies; and various companies. The Transportation line of business typically requires candidates with a degree in economics, public policy, engineering, planning and urban development, or other related fields.

Dedicated Accounts
Description:  This line of business typically supports clients by working either at the client site or in an ICF project office.  Current projects include environmental remediation claims support for the Pennsylvania Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund, on-site environmental review and permitting for the Missile Defense Agency, analytical laboratory support for the Environmental Protection Agency, and on-site environmental review support for the Federal Aviation Administration. This line of business typically requires candidates with a degree in natural or physical science, engineering, environmental management, or other related fields.

Responsibilities:  Collecting and analyzing data, reviewing literature, conducting interviews and surveys, solving quantitative and qualitative problems, drafting reports, developing recommendations, and interacting and corresponding with clients. 

Requires:  Bachelor’s Degree in natural or physical science, public policy, economics, or related subjects; strong analytic and communication skills; and self-motivation. Strong quantitative and/or modeling skills, as well as previous experience in Excel and Access are a plus.  Candidates with a minimum GPA of 3.0 with excellent written and oral communications skills, computer proficiency, organized, detail oriented, ability to prioritize and multi-task, and the ability to work under strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment are encouraged to apply.

ICF International offers an excellent benefits package, an award winning talent development program, and fosters a highly skilled, energized and empowered workforce.  To apply, please submit your resume, a 3-5 page writing sample and transcript.

ICF International is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer