Challenge Works - Home of the Longitude Prize
Researcher
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Researcher (Innovation Prize Design) – Challenge Works
About the Role
Challenge Works exists to design and run challenge prizes that help solve pressing societal problems lacking solutions. Their mission is to:
- Shine a spotlight on critical issues
- Incentivise bold, diverse solutions
- Advance long-term societal change
- Transform innovations—whether Frontier Tech or social impact—into real-world impact
Challenge Works is hiring a Researcher to carry out targeted research and engage with experts on innovation prize opportunities.
The Research and Design Team’s Work
The team fulfils four key functions:
- Conducting research to inform and validate new prize designs
- Horizon scanning, futures thinking, and expert engagement to identify new projects
- Evaluating impact and effectiveness of prize programmes
- Providing thought leadership to shape innovation policies
Additionally, the team conducts consultancy for governments, NGOs, and philanthropic organisations worldwide.
Recent and Ongoing Projects
- Aqualunar Challenge: Partnered with Canada and UK Space Agencies to purify water for lunar habitation
- Wellcome Snakebite Envenoming Prize: Strengthens patient care in snakebite-affected regions
- Smart Data Challenge: Identified 11 transformative use cases for cross-sector data collaboration
- Consultancy: Advisory work for Bloomberg I-Teams, ARIA, and UNIDO’s mission-driven innovation in emerging markets
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The Researcher will report to the Senior Design Lead and collaborate with a team of two Researchers, a Senior Researcher, an Evidence Lead, and the Director of Development.
What We’re Looking For
We seek a design researcher with curiosity, rapid learning ability, and a passion for innovation—whether technological, social, or systemic. Experience can come from diverse fields, including:
- Entrepreneur in startup ecosystems
- Service designer, design researcher (with speculative design experience)
- Policy researcher with economic/business innovation backgrounds
- Civil servant in innovation or research funding roles
- PhD in science/tech with entrepreneurial interests
- Management consultant focusing on tech-driven disruption
The Researcher Will Contribute To:
- Rapid desk research, landscape analysis, and gap identification
- Summarising findings into clearly articulated innovation briefings
- Co-designing challenge prize concepts and partnering strategies
- Conducting 1-2-1 interviews & workshops for stakeholder engagement
- Developing programme designs and full implementation plans
- Testing new research methodologies with the team
- Communicating externally via blogs, assessments, and conferences
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Key Skills and Experience
Essential:
✔ Strong analytical and synthesising skills ✔ Excellent written communication ✔ Ability to research unfamiliar topics with curiosity and adaptability ✔ Alignment with a social purpose ✔ Background in technological or social innovation
Desirable:
✔ Experience with research methods (design thinking, user journey mapping, impact evaluation) ✔ Data literacy and ability to analyse quantitative datasets ✔ Experience winning grants for new projects ✔ Knowledge of innovation/policy frameworks ✔ Proven flexibility in dynamic environments (consultancy, fast-paced research)
What We Offer
- Salary: Circa £38,600 + benefits (Private/busy medical, vision care vouchers, flexible leave purchases)
- Location: Blackfriars, London (onsite)
- Contract: Permanent
- Flexibility: Full-time but with options like hybrid/varied working
Making an Application
Deadline: 8 AM, 20th July 2026 Interviews: Monday 27th July 2026
We commit to diversity, flexibility, and inclusion—adjustments welcomed throughout the process.
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