Program Director, XPRIZE Wildfire

XPRIZE Overview

XPRIZE is a global future-positive movement of 1M people and rising. As a 501(c)3, XPRIZE delivers truly radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity and solves some of the world’s greatest challenges. Active competitions include the $100M XPRIZE Carbon Removal, the $15M XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion, the $10M ANA Avatar XPRIZE, the $10M XPRIZE Rainforest and the $5M XPRIZE Rapid Reskilling.  Join XPRIZE to help create a better future for everyone, everywhere.

Position Description

The XPRIZE Foundation is seeking a leader for our XPRIZE Wildfire competition. XPRIZE Wildfire is a five-year competition that will recruit interdisciplinary teams of innovators from around the world to develop and scale integrated systems that can autonomously detect, assess and suppress potentially catastrophic wildfires quickly on both the local and global scales. 

The Prize Director is responsible for overall operations and management of the Prize competition, including coordination of operations, team relations, marketing, contract negotiations, and budget. This person will be able to not only clearly explain the subject matter to non-technical team members, executives and clients, but importantly, is also able to represent the competition and its goals to internal and external constituencies.  

Responsibilities 

• Provide leadership and managerial direction to the Prize team
• Set and execute Prize vision, strategies and objectives
• Ensure timely response to changing needs, requirements, issues, and direction, keeping all constituents informed in a timely manner
• Oversee budget and authorization of expenditures within budgetary limits. Develop and implement cost control measures and processes
• Partner with recruiting to secure, retain and effectively and economically manage needed personnel, materials, and resources in order to manage the Prize
• Identify experts and other consultants and advisors to support the Prize on a temporary and/or contract basis

• Monitor and report on Prize competition to constituents including XPRIZE leadership, advisory boards, sponsors, donors, and partners, ensuring requirements are met
• Organize, host, and participate in large and small events across the country during the competition, for the awarding of the Prize, and post-competition
• Ensure the competition is conducted in line with XPRIZE foundation rules and processes and also in accordance with specific Prize goals
• Act as public face of the Prize through interviews, appearance at industry conferences, speaking engagements, blogging, and other public outreach activities.
• Collaborate and communicate across departments; facilitate intra-team communications and meetings
• Oversee knowledge management systems and processes for the Prize
• In partnership with Marketing, help with development and execution of the marketing and public affairs strategy for the Prize, including communications, media and govt relations, Prize messaging, branding and web presence 
• Develop high-quality project plans which lay a path to reliable success

Qualifications

• A background in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Forestry, Fire Ecology, Fire Management, Conservation, Conservation Technology or similar field is preferred 
• 7-10 years of experience designing, managing, monitoring, and executing large complex projects, demonstrating strong attention to detail and ability to multitask
• Advanced degree in direct field of study preferred
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including relationship building and collaboration within a diverse, cross-functional team and with supporting competing teams and external partners
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Record of delivering high-quality, and innovative technology-based projects
• Entrepreneurial approach with a track record in driving success in challenging outdoors environments
• Ability to thrive and think creatively and calmly in fluid situations under intense schedules and deadlines
• Experience in public speaking with ability to translate complex topics to diverse audiences 
• Comfort in foreign and remote locations with few amenities for long stretches of time
• Additional language proficiency preferred
• Belief that a small group of motivated individuals can truly change the world for the better.

The XPRIZE FOUNDATION is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate in employment. Equal access to employment, services, and programs is available to all persons. Those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application and/or interview process should notify a representative of the organization.

Please note: Though submitting a resume to the XPRIZE FOUNDATION implies that you are interested in a position(s), it does not imply that you are an applicant. You are not considered an applicant until you have been contacted directly by a Talent Acquisitions representative requesting that you begin the designated application process, which may involve phone and/or in-person interview(s), job-related testing, and background checks.