VP, Communications

Role Overview

• Own global media strategy and cultivate relationships with journalists, editors, and producers across science, technology, business, and philanthropy
• Position XPRIZE executives and domain leads as credible, authoritative voices through media, speaking, and editorial opportunities
• Build and maintain an always-on communications presence that keeps XPRIZE visible between prize milestones
• Manage the existing PR agency and establish the long-term agency partnership model
• Lead communications strategy across the full prize lifecycle — from pre-launch positioning through winner announcement and impact storytelling
• Ensure every major prize milestone has a coordinated earned media plan that integrates with owned content strategy
• Translate complex scientific and technical subject matter for two distinct audiences simultaneously: domain experts who already understand the science, and philanthropic donors and sponsors who need to feel the urgency and stakes
• Partner closely with Advancement leadership to align communications strategy with fundraising priorities and donor engagement goals
• Shape the narrative strategy that connects XPRIZE's scientific breakthroughs to philanthropic investment decisions
• Develop high-impact communications assets — impact reports, donor materials, executive messaging, and campaign narratives — that serve Advancement's outreach and deepen donor relationships
• Serve as communications advisor to the CMO on messaging strategy, stakeholder engagement, and reputation
• Oversee executive communications, including speeches, keynote content, op-eds, and thought leadership
• Lead crisis communications and reputation management, establishing protocols and leading response in coordination with executive and legal leadership
• Work in close partnership with the VP, Content, to ensure owned content strategy and earned media strategy are integrated rather than siloed
• Provide the narrative foundation — messaging frameworks, story angles, briefing materials — that enables the owned content function to produce work that earns media attention
• Ensure major prize milestones are supported by a unified content and communications approach
• Build the communications function from the ground up — establishing systems, standards, and agency relationships that scale with the organization
• Manage external agency partnerships with clear accountability for performance and outcomes
• Oversee the communications budget with discipline and transparency

Requirements

• 12+ years of communications leadership experience, including senior ownership of earned media strategy and executive communications
• Demonstrated success translating complex scientific, technical, or policy subject matter into compelling narratives for multiple distinct audiences simultaneously
• Established relationships with top-tier media across science, technology, business, and philanthropy
• Proven ability to build communications infrastructure from scratch — systems, processes, and partnerships — not just maintain inherited ones
• Experience developing donor-facing or philanthropic communications for sophisticated investor audiences
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive messaging and spokesperson experience
• Comfort operating in a lean, fast-moving environment where strategic and executional demands coexist.

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