Prize Designer

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 launched $519 million in prize competitions that are driving more than $31 billion in social and economic impact — a 60x return on philanthropic investment. These competitions not only de-risk early-stage breakthrough ideas but also mobilize capital, talent, and momentum to accelerate solutions from concept to real-world scale.

We operate across 5 areas of impact,including:

• Deep Tech + Exploration
• Energy + Climate + Nature
• Food + Water + Waste
• Health
• Learning + Society

Join XPRIZE to help create meaningful impact as we strive to empower humanity to achieve breakthroughs and architect a more equitable and abundant future for all.

Position Description

XPRIZE is seeking a Prize Designer (PD)to lead the development of designs for bold, high-impact global incentive competitions that accelerate innovation for the benefit of humanity. This role functions as a product manager for the execution of Prize Design projects, blending deep research, analytical reasoning, design thinking, and communication skills to develop competition designs that target critical breakthroughs that will usher in an equitable and abundant future.

The Prize Designer leads end-to-end design efforts—from initial ideation through delivery of the final design report—ensuring each concept is well-researched, feasible, fundable, and positioned for success. They steward every phase of research and prize development: defining the problem, identifying the most effective prize direction, outlining competition criteria, establishing phases and milestones, and developing budgets that span the full lifecycle of the prize. Reporting directly to the Prize Design Director and operating within structured, accelerated design timelines, the Prize Designer works in close collaboration with a Project Manager, Domain Leads, Advancement, and cross-functional teams across finance, marketing, and operations, the Prize Designer ensures every design is both visionary and operationally sound. The role also involves regular engagement with external sponsors and subject matter experts to align technical rigor and strategic impact.

The Prize Designer also serves as a steward of XPRIZE’s design methodology—refining internal processes, capturing lessons learned, and representing the organization’s approach through thought leadership, workshops, and publications. In addition to managing prize design projects, Prize Designers contribute to broader organizational initiatives such as Global Visioneering and other ideation activities that identify future XPRIZE opportunities.

The successful candidate will possess a proven track record of leadership, versatility, and creative thinking. XPRIZE is seeking candidates who have a passion for making a positive and impactful difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design and development of XPRIZE competitions—from framing the problem and defining success metrics to conducting research, engaging stakeholders, shaping the prize model, and producing final design documentation, working within a structured design process guided by the Prize Design Director and seeking Director input at key decision points to ensure alignment with organizational priorities and quality standards
• Operate with a high degree of self-direction between check-ins with the Prize Design Director; proactively surface blockers, risks, and decisions that require Director input rather than waiting for scheduled touchpoints
• Adapt quickly when the Prize Design Director reprioritizes projects or shifts design direction mid-cycle, maintaining momentum and timelines.
• Develop project plans, budgets, and timelines, coordinating with the Project Manager to ensure deliverables meet deadlines and quality standards.
• Work closely with internal teams and collaborators, ensuring connectivity and alignment with Domain Leads, leadership, and Advancement on strategy, content, and positioning. Work with cross-functional teams (e.g., Finance, Marketing, Operations) to incorporate operational, financial, and communications inputs into the prize model and documentation.
• Identify & Engage external experts and stakeholders, including designing and facilitating workshops, interviews, and other participatory research to inform design choices.
• Facilitate productive relationships with sponsors, providing clear communication, updates, and deliverables that align with sponsor goals and XPRIZE’s standards
• Contribute to organization-wide ideation and concept development initiatives, such as Global Visioneering and prize idea workshops
• Maintain and continuously improve XPRIZE’s prize design methodology by staying fluent in current processes and documentation, capturing lessons learned from past and active designs, and updating tools and practices to enhance future projects.
• Serve as a resource and source of information on XPRIZE prize design process within the organization, including helping to educate organization staff and keeping core documentation updated.
• Elevate XPRIZE’s prize design process externally through presentations, publications, website content, and thought leadership that showcase our methodology and impact.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field required; Master’s degree preferred. Candidates with exceptional analytical and research experience in related disciplines may also be considered.
• Experience applying research, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills in fields such as engineering, physical or life sciences, data science, economics, technology-driven research, or other domains that combine rigor with innovation; experience in business strategy or public policy is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality research, analysis, and design deliverables under compressed timelines without sacrificing rigor or accuracy
• 5-7 years of product management, product design, project management, consulting or other relevant experience.
• Mastery of critical product management skills; including budget management, contractual compliance, client relations, and project design, execution, evaluation, and delivery.
• Comfortable receiving direction from a senior design leader and executing independently within that structure; knows what to decide autonomously and what to escalate.
• Proven ability to manage competing deadlines across multiple active projects simultaneously, including reprioritizing quickly when organizational needs shift.
• Track record of maintaining clear and proactive communication with a direct supervisor in fast-moving project environments, particularly when timelines are at risk or scope is evolving.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrates excellent analytical and product design skills.
• Experience in design and design thinking, including problem definition, drilling down into specific sub-problems, identifying the right problem to solve, and combining creative and analytical techniques to identify possible design elements.
• Demonstrates competency and grasp of the subject matter when communicating with experts and external stakeholders, both orally and in writing.
• Ensures deliverables use the appropriate writing style and standards, and communication style based on understanding of the audiences.
• Fosters and demonstrates a work ethic inclusive of creating opportunity, serving others, building trust, innovation, and exceeding expectations.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment within diverse teams.
• Ability to effectively coordinate and manage multiple, concurrent projects.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Ability to work both 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 and Google Suite knowledge and expertise.
• Familiarity with research and data-gathering platforms (e.g., Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus) and experience conducting literature reviews and managing references using tools such as Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote.
• Comfort learning and adapting to new productivity, research, and collaboration tools to support evolving project needs.

Competencies required for this role:

• Action Oriented
• Manages Ambiguity
• Collaborates internally and externally
• Communicates effectively and professionally
• Manages Complexity
• Directs Work
• Global Perspective
• Nimble Learning
• Plans and Aligns
• Builds Networks
• Drives Results
• Situational Adaptability
• Fosters Collaboration
• Drives Vision and Purpose

Why Work at XPRIZE:

In addition to working for a mission-driven company that catalyzes industries, pushes innovation forward, and is creating an abundant and equitable future, we offer the following benefits:

• Remote-first environment (must live and work in the United States)
• Quarterly company-paid All-Hands meetings in Los Angeles for frequent in-person collaboration
• Employee and dependent medical, dental, and vision options
• A 401(K) program with employer match
• Ample paid time off, including vacation, floating holidays, sick days, and company-paid holidays
• An Employee Assistance Program for confidential, professional support with personal, family, or other challenges
• Employee stipends/reimbursements for cell phone, internet, health & wellbeing, and learning & development
• Generous Paid Parental Leave for all employees welcoming a new child to their family
• One meeting-free block per week and four focus weeks per year to ensure uninterrupted time for strategic projects

The anticipated base salary for this position is $120,000 to $140,000 and may also qualify for an annualincentive. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors including the qualifications of the individual applicant, years of relevant experience for therole, level of education attained, and certifications and/or other licenses held. XPRIZE is a remote-first environment. All employees must be authorized to work in the United States and work from within the United States full-time.

The XPRIZE Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination in all employment practices. Equal access to employment, services, and programs is available to all qualified individuals. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application 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.

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