Technical Lead, 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

XPRIZE is seeking an established and experienced Technical Lead to lead and drive subject matter expertise on XPRIZE Wildfire, within the Biodiversity & Conservation Domain. 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 Technical Lead for XPRIZE Wildfire will play a key role in shaping and executing XPRIZE Wildfire. The position is full-time, and projected to last for the prize's five year duration. This individual is responsible for ensuring the technical rigor and safety of the competition, and is a technical expert. The Technical Lead is responsible for leading technical and engineering elements of prize operations including field testing and judging process, technical partnerships, technical team communications, managing contractors related to technical prize operations, and serving as a technical expert on the prize externally. This person will develop and lead partnerships related to testing and evaluation, and manage the panel of independent judges. They will also manage the competition guidelines and supporting documents (e.g. Rules, or technical updates), and issue updates as needed throughout the course of the prize. This person will also contribute to team recruitment; execute team outreach and recruitment webinars.

Responsibilities

* Lead technical and operational elements of XPRIZE Wildfire, including but not limited to:

* Writing of the competition's rules and regulations
* Designing and executing the technical submission process for competing teams to advance through each prize milestone
* Management of the judging process

* Contribute to the overall program vision with Program Director and Domain Lead
* Lead development of field testing, measurement & verification, and judging strategy on XPRIZE Wildfire
* Lead development and stewardship of technical partnerships related to field testing, evaluation, life cycle analysis, cost modeling, and judging.
* Manage external technical vendors and support management of the prize advisory board
* Support Program Director in budget planning associated with testing and evaluation throughout the prize
* Supervise and mentor junior technical staff as needed on the Program or others within the Domain
* Provide technical review and expert input on external facing prize marketing and communications
* Answer technical questions about the competition from prospective and registered teams
* Serve as an external spokesperson for the prize at relevant conferences and external events
* Lend subject matter expertise in support of XPRIZE's Biodiversity & Conservation work and vision as needed

Qualifications

* Subject Matter Expert with proven expertise in one of the following areas: fire ecology, wildland urban interface (WUI), forestry or natural resource management, fire management, wildfire suppression, or related
* Master's or PhD preferred
* In a field relevant to XPRIZE Wildfire, including but not limited to: fire ecology, natural resource management, environmental science or conservation, or other relevant field
* Ten years of experience in fire program management, including reviewing and evaluating wildland fire management plans, conducting prescribed fires and field inspections, and/or implementing and managing wildland urban interface projects
* Experience with a wide array of fire suppression techniques and methodologies and a comprehensive understanding of fire ecology
* Significant experience in at least two of the following areas:
* Wildland Firefighting
* Fire Prevention
* Forest Management
* Fire Planning and/or Analysis
* Satellite Monitoring of Wildfires
* Conservation Technologies and/or Engineering
* Demonstrated effectiveness leading and managing teams that are able to adapt to dynamic operating conditions to achieve project results
* Ability to safely and effectively navigate technical obstacles that one can expect to face in deploying novel technologies in challenging environments
* Familiarity with relevant policies and protocols at various levels (state, national international) and different wildland areas across public and private lands
* Experience conducting technical research and analysis
* Experience managing vendors and contractors
* Experience building and working with a vast network of partner organizations and/or agencies
* Experience managing a P&L
* Project management and leadership experience
* Skilled in interacting with professionals across sectors and levels of authority, including academia, NGOs, governments, research institutions, and corporations
* Strong technical writing and professional verbal communication skills
* Ability to thrive and think creatively and calmly in highly fluid situations and under intense schedules and deadlines
* Highly diplomatic, with proven crisis management experience
* Team player across the Prize, Domain, and Foundation, committed to the future positive vision and culture of XPRIZE

Personal Abilities and Characteristics

* Preferred location: California or remote with a time-zone preference of the Americas.
* Fluent in English, and additional language(s) proficiency are a plus.
* Candidates who are BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+, as well as those who are local to wildfire prone areas, are encouraged to apply.
* Collaborates internally and externally
* Communicates effectively and professionally
* Trusted and respected member of the relevant field
* Global Perspective
* Nimble Learning
* Passionate problem solver
* Develops innovative and creative ideas
* Situational Adaptability
* Builds Effective Teams
* Drives Vision and Purpose

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.

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