Japan Desk Assistant Director @ CIC

INACTIVE

Full-Time

Japan Desk Assistant Director

CIC

51-200 employees

The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of 765

Senior

Cambridge, MA, USA

Required Skills

Communications

Management

Marketing

Requirements

At least 5 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years of corporate experience working with Japanese companies and at least 2 years of management experience
Strong preference of a bachelor's degree or significant relevant experience; advanced degrees welcome
Willingness to travel as needed
Native-level Japanese and English fluency. Must be able to produce professional, high-quality business communications in both languages
Because this role is based in Cambridge, MA, this role will require regularly (i.e. 3-5 days per week) working outside of normal working hours (e.g. early morning and late evening) to accommodate Japanese partners
Starting compensation is commensurate with experience
100% company-paid premium healthcare and dental benefits
100% company-paid long- and short-term disability, and life insurance
401k (must be 21+)
Three weeks of vacation accrued annually (more with seniority), plus thirteen holidays
Fun people in a dynamic space. We pride ourselves on finding driven and bright collaborators who are eager to lend their own unique skills to the team, as well as to our inspiring clientele. The number one reason CICers say they like working here is because of their colleagues!
Personal growth. This is a great opportunity to learn and develop skills within the epicenter of the innovation community at a growing company
Free monthly massages, access to a nursing room, secure bicycle parking, a maker space, a gym, shower rooms with towels, and discounted services and memberships on resources to make your life happier/healthier such as gym memberships, tech and design support, hotel stays, and other fantastic options
Central location. CIC Cambridge is a stone's throw from the Kendall Square MBTA Red Line stop. CIC Boston is centrally located in downtown Boston and is within walking distance to the Blue, Green, Orange, and Red line

Responsibilities

Managing and developing direct reports, including training and general team management, as well as Japan Desk program management for multiple projects simultaneously. Dotted line management support of other Japan Desk team members is also expected
Developing and implementing systems to improve team communication and increase workflow efficiency across multiple projects
Representing CIC at onsite and offsite programs, events, tours and speaking opportunities, often in place of the head of the Japan Desk
Representing Japan Desk needs (and therefore the voice of our clients and partners) internally to other CIC departments and across CIC locations. Specifically, you may be working with Marketing and Finance at CIC HQ, as well as relevant teams at CIC Tokyo, to ensure a healthy relationship between all departments, overall function of the site, and cross-site functionality
Be fluent in CIC's office space product offering and able to partner with the CIC Relationship Management team on office space tours as needed
Prioritizing needs and assigning projects amongst Japan Desk team members. Supporting project tracking and delivery and reprioritizing as demands necessitate
Overseeing client/partner issues escalated from Japan Desk Manager/Coordinator-level team members
Overseeing ongoing management and delivery of previous projects, smaller-scale projects with the head of the Japan Desk originating partnerships and/or overseeing larger projects / new projects
Reporting to the Director of the Japan Desk, owning responsibility for system management deliverables for up to three partnership contracts per year
Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with stakeholders ranging from solo entrepreneurs to government authorities to large corporations
Passion for startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship and excellent instincts as a connector/networker
Strong ability to maintain partner relationships
Clear and professional communication, with the ability to adjust communication style depending on the audience and cultural context
Able to to prioritize, delegate, and manage many tasks and projects simultaneously, ensuring that work is executed with a high level of detail
Able to support, encourage, and motivate your team
Team-player attitude; you are personable, happy to help others, and naturally drawn to a very busy, continually-evolving environment
A leader who can inspire confidence, make decisions confidently with the best information available to you, and carry yourself with gravitas before senior leadership and stakeholders
Flexible, adaptable, and willing to learn

CIC is seeking a Japan Desk Assistant Director to support the growing Japan Desk initiative based in Cambridge, MA. This person will supervise team members and report to Jessy LeClair, Director, CIC Japan Desk, overseeing operations for Japan Desk initiatives.

ABOUT CIC

CIC is an award-winning, global leader in building and operating innovation communities. Founded in 1999 in Cambridge, MA. CIC is one of the first companies to offer flexible office space and coworking options, providing a platform for the world’s most impactful entrepreneurs to innovate better and faster.

We have locations in Boston, Cambridge, Philadelphia, Providence, Rotterdam, St. Louis, Warsaw, and Tokyo and are growing into other cities, within the US and abroad. CIC has supported over 8,000 startups, growth companies, and branches of larger organizations, representing for-profit, mission-driven, and non-profit sectors across a wide array of industries. CIC co-founded a number of mission-aligned organizations including Venture Café, CIC’s primary non-profit programming partner, and CIC Health, offering COVID-19 testing services to companies and the public.

We invite you to explore all our openings and learn more about our teams here.

ABOUT CIC’S JAPAN DESK

CIC’s mission is to make the world better by helping create powerful innovation ecosystems, and we believe a way to do this is by building connections between innovation ecosystems of different nations. CIC has chosen to focus on the particularly high-potential opportunity of deepening relations between Japanese and American innovators, given the size of both countries’ economies as well as the significant cultural and language barriers that exist between them.

Accordingly, in 2016, CIC inaugurated the Japan Desk. The Japan Desk is CIC’s Boston-based touchpoint for Japanese and Japan-adjacent companies. In partnership with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Consulate General of Japan to Boston, among others, we support the work of Japanese CIC clients in the Greater Boston Area. This support includes making introductions to key players in the Boston innovation ecosystem, giving Japanese-language tours, providing briefing services for companies seeking to establish a presence in Massachusetts, and encouraging Boston-based startups to explore the Japan market.

YOUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK

As the Japan Desk Assistant Director, you will provide senior-level oversight for a portfolio of Japan Desk projects, including acceleration programs sponsored by various Japanese government agencies, innovation events, delegation tours, and more. Reporting to the Director of the Japan Desk, you will directly manage team members and oversee the operations for existing Japan Desk initiatives.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing and developing direct reports, including training and general team management, as well as Japan Desk program management for multiple projects simultaneously. Dotted line management support of other Japan Desk team members is also expected.

• Developing and implementing systems to improve team communication and increase workflow efficiency across multiple projects.

• Representing CIC at onsite and offsite programs, events, tours and speaking opportunities, often in place of the head of the Japan Desk.

• Representing Japan Desk needs (and therefore the voice of our clients and partners) internally to other CIC departments and across CIC locations. Specifically, you may be working with Marketing and Finance at CIC HQ, as well as relevant teams at CIC Tokyo, to ensure a healthy relationship between all departments, overall function of the site, and cross-site functionality.

• Be fluent in CIC’s office space product offering and able to partner with the CIC Relationship Management team on office space tours as needed.

• Prioritizing needs and assigning projects amongst Japan Desk team members. Supporting project tracking and delivery and reprioritizing as demands necessitate.

• Overseeing client/partner issues escalated from Japan Desk Manager/Coordinator-level team members.

• Overseeing ongoing management and delivery of previous projects, smaller-scale projects with the head of the Japan Desk originating partnerships and/or overseeing larger projects / new projects.

• Reporting to the Director of the Japan Desk, owning responsibility for system management deliverables for up to three partnership contracts per year.

ABOUT YOU

The ideal candidate will possess the following characteristics:

• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with stakeholders ranging from solo entrepreneurs to government authorities to large corporations.

• Passion for startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship and excellent instincts as a connector/networker.

• Strong ability to maintain partner relationships.

• Clear and professional communication, with the ability to adjust communication style depending on the audience and cultural context.

• Able to to prioritize, delegate, and manage many tasks and projects simultaneously, ensuring that work is executed with a high level of detail.

• Able to support, encourage, and motivate your team.

• Team-player attitude; you are personable, happy to help others, and naturally drawn to a very busy, continually-evolving environment.

• A leader who can inspire confidence, make decisions confidently with the best information available to you, and carry yourself with gravitas before senior leadership and stakeholders.

• Flexible, adaptable, and willing to learn.

YOU HAVE

• At least 5 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years of corporate experience working with Japanese companies and at least 2 years of management experience.

• Strong preference of a bachelor’s degree or significant relevant experience; advanced degrees welcome.

• Willingness to travel as needed.

• Native-level Japanese and English fluency. Must be able to produce professional, high-quality business communications in both languages.

• Because this role is based in Cambridge, MA, this role will require regularly (i.e. 3-5 days per week) working outside of normal working hours (e.g. early morning and late evening) to accommodate Japanese partners.

If you don’t meet all the requirements or qualifications but bring some other unique skills and experience that would be valuable in this role, please apply and highlight those attributes for us in your cover letter.

OUR OFFER

• Starting compensation is commensurate with experience.

• 100% company-paid premium healthcare and dental benefits.

• 100% company-paid long- and short-term disability, and life insurance.

• 401k (must be 21+).

• Three weeks of vacation accrued annually (more with seniority), plus thirteen holidays.

ATTRACTIONS OF THE JOB

In addition to helping our clients achieve great things, we work to ensure that our employees are healthy and supported.

Some of the benefits of being here include:

• Fun people in a dynamic space. We pride ourselves on finding driven and bright collaborators who are eager to lend their own unique skills to the team, as well as to our inspiring clientele. The number one reason CICers say they like working here is because of their colleagues!

• Personal growth. This is a great opportunity to learn and develop skills within the epicenter of the innovation community at a growing company.

• Free monthly massages, access to a nursing room, secure bicycle parking, a maker space, a gym, shower rooms with towels, and discounted services and memberships on resources to make your life happier/healthier such as gym memberships, tech and design support, hotel stays, and other fantastic options.

• Central location. CIC Cambridge is a stone’s throw from the Kendall Square MBTA Red Line stop. CIC Boston is centrally located in downtown Boston and is within walking distance to the Blue, Green, Orange, and Red line.

CIC is committed to building teams that reflect the fabric of the cities we support. We encourage and welcome all candidates regardless of race, color, ancestry, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, Veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Any other human expressions and experiences not mentioned here are equally welcome. If you require an accommodation please let us know. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

CIC

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The Council of Independent Colleges is an organization that supports leadership and institutional excellence among 765 nonprofit independent colleges and universities through conferences, seminars, and other resources aimed at improving educational quality, administrative and financial performance, and student outcomes.

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Washington, District of Columbia

Founded

1956

Growth & Insights

Headcount

6 month growth

↓ -1%

1 year growth

↑ 21%

2 year growth

↑ 36%

INACTIVE