CDBG Housing Program Lead - Disaster Recovery (Cicero, Illinois)

ICF Housing Program Lead

Chicago Metropolitan Area, U.S. 

(Cicero, Illinois)

ICF seeks a Housing 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 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 funding grant programs associated with Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) housing 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 teams and processes that implement CDBG-DR/MIT housing programs, including application intake, eligibility review, income verification, damage assessments, construction management, and closeout. 
• Oversee the development and maintenance of housing program documentation, including policies and procedures, program guidelines, and standard operating procedures (SOPs), ensuring alignment with federal, state, and local requirements. 
• Lead the creation and refinement of program tools and materials such as applicant forms, income verification guides, relocation protocols, environmental review checklists, and construction oversight templates. 
• Supervise staff responsible for evaluating housing applications, determining applicant eligibility, preparing scopes of work, reviewing construction bids, and managing project budgets and schedules. 
• Ensure compliance with CDBG-DR housing program requirements, including national objectives, duplication of benefits, income qualification, environmental review, lead-based paint, labor standards, and fair housing. 
• Deliver training to internal teams on program requirements, workflow processes, and federal regulations to maintain consistent, high-quality service delivery. 
• Coordinate data collection, reporting, and system updates to track progress and performance, ensure data integrity, and support client reporting requirements. 
• Conduct quality assurance reviews of program files and construction work to ensure compliance, timeliness, and client satisfaction. 
• Lead and participate in regular internal and client-facing meetings to review performance, address challenges, and adapt strategies to evolving program needs. 
• Travel throughout the greater Chicago region and work from 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 experience   
• 3+ years of experience with disaster housing recovery programs. 
• 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

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: