Project Manager, Prize Design

XPRIZE Foundation

Job Description

 

Full job description

XPRIZE Overview

XPRIZE is an established global leader in designing and executing large-scale competitions to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. As a 501(c)3, our unique model democratizes innovation by incentivizing crowd-sourced, scientifically viable solutions to create a more equitable and abundant future for all. Since our founding in 1994, we’ve awarded over $300M in prize purses, inspired thousands of global innovators, and collaborated with the most forward-thinking changemakers of our time. We operate across 7 areas of impact, including:

  • Climate & Energy
  • Biodiversity & Conservation
  • Food, Water & Waste
  • Quantum & Deep Tech
  • Space & Exploration
  • Learning, Innovation & Society
  • Health

Join XPRIZE to help empower humanity to achieve breakthroughs and architect a more equitable and abundant future for all.

Position Description

XPRIZE is seeking a highly skilled Project Manager to support the execution of designing global incentive competitions (“prize designs”). As a leading prize organization, XPRIZE is seeking an individual for this role who is passionate about using innovation to drive positive social change, and who is excited to iterate on and expand what is possible using prizes. The Project Manager will work across multiple prize design teams and projects, serving the role of project manager of the schedule, and design process for each. The project manager will also have responsibility for administrative duties, including tracking spend against budget; outreach and coordinating meetings with external experts; and helping the prize design team stay on task and on schedule with the key deliverables for each prize design project.

Responsibilities

  • Develop project plans and goals along with Prize Designer and Domain Lead, and build and manage a project plan to ensure the timely completion of project deliverables
  • Maintain digital project plans in JIRA or equivalent project management tool
  • Track project spend against project budgets
  • Report periodically on project-spend actuals versus budget to Prize Design team and to the Chief Technology Officer
  • Identify issues related to scope, budget, and resource allocation changes, and work to problem solve for them with the Prize Design Team, Domain Lead, and the Chief Technology Officer as needed
  • Support the process of reaching agreements with prize design sponsors by articulating project plans, and approximate budget allocation for each phase of the prize design process
  • Support the process of reaching agreements with additional consultants on short-term contracts to advise for the prize design, and manages its budget allocation
  • Developing and maintaining a simplified Prize Operations Budget template which can be used a starting point by Prize Design team to draft detailed estimates for prize operations budgets
  • Support the Prize Design team as needed on coordination of initial outreach to subject-matter experts and / or strategic partnerships with organizations relevant to the prize design
  • Support the Prize Design team as needed on development of key deliverables, such as periodic Sponsor Update meetings, presentations, or reports, and the final Prize Design Report product.
  • Support the transition of work products from Prize Design team to Advancement team, and / or to a Prize Operations team upon completion of the prize design
  • Develop and maintain fluency with XPRIZE prize design processes, practices, and patterns
  • Maintaining up-to-date documentation of XPRIZE prize design process documents, as well as prize design documents for past prizes, and current active prizes
  • Captures lessons learned to periodically update and improve on the XPRIZE prize design process
  • Serve as a resource and source of information on XPRIZE prize design process within the organization, including helping to educate new hires

Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
  • 3-5 years of product management, product design, project management, consulting or other relevant experience, including direct experience in prize design and/or project management
  • Experience and expertise in engineering, economics, science, business, journalism, research, game design, public policy, or similar pursuits that combine analytical skills and creative problem-solving are preferred
  • Mastery of critical project management skills, including budget design and management, interfacing with project teams, building task and accountability lists, and helping project leaders stay on track, on target, and on budget
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Fosters and demonstrates a workplace inclusive of creating opportunity, serving others, building trust, innovation, and exceeding expectations
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment within diverse team
  • Ability to effectively coordinate and manage multiple, concurrent projects
  • Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills with the ability to exercise mature judgment
  • Ability to prioritize tasks to ensure timely execution of project deliverables
  • Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and Atlassian (JIRA, Confluence) product knowledge and expertise.


The anticipated base salary for this position is $90,000 to $105,000 and may also qualify for an annual incentive. This role is eligible for our extensive benefits package and generous paid time off including vacation, sick, and holidays. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors including the qualifications of the individual applicant, years of relevant experience for the role, level of education attained, and certifications and/or other licenses held. XPRIZE is a remote-first environment.

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.

 

*Please mention you saw this ad on BlacksInAcademia.*

Apply Now

Be Seen By Recruiters at the Best Institutions

Create a FREE Profile to be Seen!

Want to stand

Hiring for Blacks In Academia Begins Here.