POSITION TITLE:                  Prize Development Director – Project Manager
DEPARTMENT:                      Prize Development
REPORTS TO:                        Vice President, Prize Development
DURATION:                           Regular, Full Time
LOCATION:                           Playa Vista, CA

X PRIZE FOUNDATION

The mission of the X PRIZE Foundation is to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. We foster innovative, high-profile competitions that motivate individuals, companies and organizations across all boundaries to solve the grand challenges that are currently restricting humanity’s progress. The X PRIZE Foundation develops prizes in four “Prize Groups”: Exploration (space and oceans), Energy & Environment, Life Sciences, and Education & Global Development.

PRIZE DEVELOPMENT

Prize Development is the “tip of the spear” for bringing imaginative and powerful new X PRIZEs into the marketplace to drive breakthrough innovation. The role of Prize Development is to work with our internal and external constituencies to identify and develop viable X PRIZEs within our four Prize Groups. Prize Development occurs through a number of channels which the VP of Prize Development oversees and utilizes as development tools. These include, but are not limited to:

Internal Prize Concepts: X PRIZE concepts identified by management, Trustees, Vision Circle Members and Group Steering Committees to be explored utilizing IR&D funding.
External Prize Concepts: X PRIZE Concepts proposed by donors and other external parties, which are approved by management and the Group Steering Committee to be integrated into the prize development process.
X PRIZE University Labs: The X PRIZE Lab @ MIT has proven a successful model to conduct pre-cursor prize development in a cost-effective manner.  It is desired that the number of Labs be expanded to a sustainable, geographically distributed TBD number. The VPPD is responsible for the viable growth and oversight of the University X PRIZE Labs program.   Oversight of the X PRIZE Lab@MIT, and future  X PRIZE Labs to be developed that will generate X PRIZE concepts each semester.
Web-based Competitions: YouTube & web-based competitions to generate prize concepts.

Prize Development also has the charter to work effectively with funding partners (philanthropists, corporations, institutions and foundations). 

• In cases where funding comes to XPF in search of a prize concept, Prize Development must work to successfully integrate the benefactor’s interests into our formatted prize design process (with specified deliverables).
• In the case where a Prize development process seeks funding, Prize Development must work with the Alliances and Sales groups to acquire the appropriate resources.
  
  

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Prize Development Director plays a significant leadership role in the various activities required to identify, shape, design, and develop X PRIZE competitions.  The primary responsibilities are:

• Collaborate with internal and external constituencies to develop and refine shared objectives for breakthrough innovations and shape them into effective X PRIZE competitions.
• Manage the business development process, where needed, with external constituents to fund  Prize Development activities – including project planning, proposal development, and contract negotiations and closure.
• Develop Prize Development project plans which a) accurately reflect the breakthrough innovation objectives of internal and external constituents, and b) chart a reliable project course for the design and development of effective X PRIZE competitions.  Once contracted and funded, Prize Development projects typically contain the following major segments:
  
  
• Project initiation
• Concept analysis and down-selection to most prize viable prize ideas
• Prize design, and
• Development of business plans for the resulting active prizes.
  
  
• Provide a hands on, direct project management role on prize development projects delivering world class best practices disciplines to ensure on time, on budget projects which meet the design and project objectives of key stakeholders.
• Other critical aspects -- and unique opportunities -- of the prize development project management process include:
  
  
• Effective communication, liaising, and networking with various constituent groups including major donors, foundations, and leaders in education and public service.
• Coordination of the vital research and analysis process with national and international thought leaders in the fields of energy, exploration, life sciences, and global development.
• Collaboration with internal teams and managers to ensure optimal efficiency and design of prizes under development.
• Publication and presentation of outcome documents for the review and evaluation of key partners and the X PRIZE Foundation board of trustees.
  
  

KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES

• Successful execution of the primary responsibilities.
• Effective business development for prize development projects which
• Shape and manage expectations of internal and external constituents
  
  
  • Craft accurate and effective prize development project plans, and
  • Negotiate and close needed funding contracts.
  • Successful delivery of projects through effective project management to deliver needed results on time and on budget.
  • Successful leadership, communication, and relationship management with various internal and external parties:
  • Manage “client” satisfaction through the full project lifecycle, and
  • Attract and engage needed thought leaders and domain experts into the project process
    
    
• Effective communication of results to critical internal and external stakeholders.
• Effectively lead and model professional excellence in collaboration across the board.
• Both lead and participate in a variety of “continuous improvement” processes as a general approach to conducting ongoing activities:
• Suggest and support process improvements where needed
• Capture and reuse critical knowledge and intellectual property
• Continually improve and develop unique X PRIZE methods.
• Successfully attract, retain and develop needed personnel resources.
• Operate with great enthusiasm, velocity, and professionalism as a representative of the X PRIZE Foundation

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree (science or engineering preferred but not required).
• MBA preferred but not required.
• Four + years experience working inside a top tier professional services consulting firm.
• 5 – 7 years of solid project management experience in leadership roles.
• 3 – 5 years of successful business development experience in leadership roles.
• Executive level presentation and facilitation skills.
• Clear and precise written and verbal communication skills. (Writing samples will be requested.)
• Some industry background or credentials in Energy or Exploration is preferred but not required.
• Strong knowledge of MS Office applications. Expert proficiency in Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Project Management software required.
  
  

 PERSONAL ABILITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Self-starter who can work with little or no direct supervision.
• Ability to work successfully with a variety of constituencies and personalities in a collaborative environment.
• Exceptional organizational abilities; aggressive attention to detail and ability to multi-task with rigorous time management.
• Ability to perform and succeed in a dynamic matrix environment.
• ”Entrepreneurial” aptitude that can drive to success in resource constrained environments.
• Ability to quickly learn about and use new software, technology and processes (“early adopter”).
• Ability to thrive and think creatively and calmly in highly fluid situations and under intense schedules and deadlines.
• Belief that a small group of motivated individuals can truly change the world for the better
  
  

X PRIZE and YOU

This position is currently located in Playa Vista, next to Loyola-Marymount University.  We offer a full range of employment benefits including medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, LIFE, and an employee assistant program all paid in full by the organization for our regular full-time employees.

The X PRIZE Foundation was established in 1995, attracting leaders in the fields of Life Sciences (Genomics, Medicine, etc), Space, Energy, Environment, Social Welfare, Automotive Technology and more. This position is for someone who will be dedicated to making an impact here at the X PRIZE Foundation and ultimately in the world at large.  We are a small and rapidly growing organization, who will value your ideas and advice and are looking for people who will thrive in our fast paced, small group environment.

X PRIZE CULTURE

Our goals are as lofty as they come; where only through entrepreneurial persistence and visionary thinking are solutions to seemingly insurmountable social, technological and environmental issues made possible. 

While we externally strive to create a better world, we are internally working to build a culture that supports the kind of passionate, forward thinking people we need to help deliver radical breakthrough solutions to today's most critical and meaningful challenges. 

To this end, we are working together to create an environment that fosters learning and growth and encourages creativity, transparency, and diversity.

The X PRIZE FOUNDATION offers a comprehensive compensation package to our employee’s which includes the following benefits:

- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Short Term Disability
- Long Term Disability
- LIFE & AD&D
- Domestic Partner Benefit Coverage
- Year End Discretionary Bonus Program
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays

The X PRIZE 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 X PRIZE 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 Human Resources representative requesting that you begin the designated application process, which may involve phone and/or in-person interview(s), job-related testing, and background checking.