Value of Water Communications Intern

XPRIZE Foundation

3d • $18 - $22 • Remote

About The Position

XPRIZE offers a meaningful part-time summer internship program spanning from June 15, 2026 - August 21, 2026 to undergraduate or graduate students looking to gain work experience in an exciting non-profit organization. Interns will participate in virtual social activities with their cohort, be provided with learning and professional development opportunities, and present a final research project to their department.

The XPRIZE Water Scarcity Team is seeking a 2026 Summer Intern to support communications research and strategic planning for the Value of Water (VOW) Ideas Competition. Scheduled for launch in 2027 as part of the broader XPRIZE Water Scarcity initiative, this global competition aims to transform societal perceptions of water by shifting from wasteful consumption toward a recognition of water as a fundamental human right. The initiative will invite grassroots thinkers, innovators, and students to submit creative public perception campaigns ranging from art pieces to communication strategies paired with a one-minute pitch video. By crowdsourcing breakthrough ideas on a global scale, the 2027 launch intends to identify inclusive and engaging concepts that bridge the knowledge gap and drive progress toward a water-secure future.

The Value of Water Communications Intern will help shape this Ideas Competition by researching how to successfully bridge a communication gap between technical experts and the general public regarding a technically complex topic like water scarcity. The role will focus on identifying successful communication trends and stakeholder perspectives to help translate complex data or jargon-heavy findings into clear, compelling messaging for action. Working with the Prize Operations team, the intern will synthesize this research into a strategic report to guide program decisions. As the program matures toward its 2027 launch, the position will play a key role in refining messaging and framing proposal language to transform technical concepts into a compelling call to action for a global audience.

This position is ideal for someone passionate about addressing global water challenges and excited to contribute to impactful work during this pivotal stage of the competition. Candidates that are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in public policy, anthropology, sociology, environmental science, communications, education, or a related field are strongly encouraged to apply.

Requirements

• Proficient in Google Drive Suite (including Docs, Slides, and Sheets)
• Proficient in video production software
• Strong academic or professional writing skills (ability to synthesize research into clear narratives)
• Strong communication, organizational, and time management skills
• Excellent attention to detail and problem solving skills
• Passion for solving global issues
• Must be a rising Junior or Senior in an undergraduate program or higher in a related field
• Availability to work 25 hours per week for the duration of the 10-week program

Nice To Haves

• An interest in water initiatives and/or seawater desalination technology is a plus, as the role offers an opportunity to contribute to meaningful innovations addressing global water scarcity challenge

Responsibilities

• Support internal concept development for the Value of Water Ideas Competition by summarizing existing frameworks and proposing a draft structure for how the track may be positioned,
• Help fine tune the Ideas Competition by analyzing industry trends, gathering data and conducting interviews.
• Identify gaps and needs in how the value of water is currently communicated in communities.
• Identify key stakeholders that the operations team should be engaging to develop the Ideas Competition structure.
• Develop capstone video featuring interviews of multidisciplinary experts such as from industry, academia, students/youth, indigenous communities and artists.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern