Industry: NPO/Government
Location: Manhattan, NY
Salary: 50-53K
Visa Sponsor: No
Language: English: Native Level, Japanese: Conversation Level
Detail: Supervisor: Executive Director
FLSA Status: Nonexempt
Location: NYC : hybrid position / 3 days in office and 2 days remote
Start Day: October 2025
Vision(Our Mission):
Our organization’s mission is to exist as part of an ambitious experiment undertaken by the prefecture and local governments of Japan to expand their world-view, promote Japan’s sub-national governments and exchange what’s best in public administration with their counterparts all over the world. Our office serves North America and the Caribbean, with Japanese officials from national, prefecture, and local governments who are dispatched to our office in New York. We focus on learning US, Canadian, and Caribbean Island governmental systems, as well as conducting research on various government administration topics or regional and community issues. At the same time, we are dedicated to connecting Japanese municipalities and prefectures with their counterparts in other countries, as well as promoting specific exchanges and activities for their mutual interests such as tourism, culture, education, urban planning, and many others.
In order to do so, we work to develop a strong relationship with individual governments and organizations that support them. Our activities also include research into best practices in public administration around the region, arranging exchanges and meetings between public officials at the subnational level, assisting local community and economic development efforts, fostering a multicultural society in Japan, and supporting the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) alumni.
Key Milestones (What You Help Us Achieve):
Area Milestone
Policy Research
Produce 2+ research reports annually on the administrative and financial systems and policies of federal, states (provinces) and local governments in North America.
Exchange Programs
Organize at least 2 study seminars per year for Japanese officials in Washington, D.C., Annapolis, or related locations.
Providing advice and guidance to the staff who arrange a program affording senior executives from state, provincial, and local governments in the US and Canada the opportunity to visit Japan and learn first-hand about Japanese public administration.
Government Relations
Maintain strong engagement with key organizations (e.g., Big Seven) and attend 4+ major events annually.
Delegation Support
Coordinate 10+ official meetings or site visits annually for visiting Japanese local government officials.
Public Relations
Support and help implement promotional or exchange-related outreach efforts by Japanese local government.
Staff Support
Provide ongoing operational and living assistance to Japanese staff.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Arranging appointments
・ In the case of a request from a Japanese local government, the researcher will work together with a Japanese staff member under the direction and supervision of the deputy director in charge. (If there is no request form in English, the Japanese staff member will explain the purpose of the request to the researcher and confirm and coordinate with the Japanese local government as necessary).
・ Although the agency or organization with which the appointment is to be made is often identified in advance, it is necessary to coordinate with the client, taking into consideration their circumstances, as to the specific interviewee and the time of the meeting.
・ Especially for visits to state and large local governments, it is necessary to select the appropriate department to contact, depending on the nature of the research (in some cases, the original contact may be able to provide advice on new departments to contact).
・ Appointments will be arranged mainly by telephone and e-mail.
・ Occasionally, you may be required to give some advice on the client’s selection of a site to visit or advise on an alternative site to visit if an appointment at the designated site cannot be made or based on your knowledge of the subject and the intended site to be visited.
・ Assist Japanese staff in obtaining appointments for their independent research.
2. Research
・ Research on local laws, regulations, systems, practices, etc. based on research requests from Japanese local governments:
- Under the direction and supervision of the deputy director in charge, the researcher will work together with a Japanese staff member. (If there is no request form in English, the Japanese staff member explains the purpose of the request to the researcher and confirms and coordinates with the Japanese local government as necessary.)
- Research is conducted mainly through internet searches and, in some cases, by consulting with the relevant authorities via telephone, e-mail, in-person meetings, etc. In rare cases, we may also conduct literature searches in libraries or visit related institutions.
- In many cases, the questions are relatively specific, but if the content is broad or unclear, or if the questions do not mesh well with the subject of research, taking into consideration the U.S. administrative and financial situation, etc., the researcher will advise the Japanese staff on how to coordinate with the client.
・ Advise on and provide assistance for independent research by the Japanese staff.
・ Organize and share materials and contact information obtained through research in a form that can be used by future personnel.
・ Attend Big Seven (a group of non-partisan, non-profit organizations whose members include United States state and local government officials) annual meetings, etc., gather information through newspapers, magazines, the internet, etc., and write articles for Japanese local government officials. (translation or editing of the researcher’s Japanese text will be done by Japanese staff).
・ Accompany clients on site visits, etc., and provide assistance with conversation at the site and taking notes in some cases
3. Liaison and coordination with related organizations, academic experts, etc.
・ Assist Japanese staff with communications such as registering to attend annual meetings, setting up receptions, arranging meetings with past program participants, arranging training visits, etc.
・ Networking
- Bring together Japanese staff and counterparts at receptions and other events.
- Attend receptions and other events to build a network of contacts that will be useful to the Center.
・ Serve as point of contact for other ad-hoc requests, inquiries, etc.
4. Assistance with general office duties
・ Respond to phone calls and visitors (deliveries, etc.) when Japanese staff is not available.
・ Provide advice and liaise with other parties on matters that cannot be handled by the Japanese staff alone, such as confirmation of the basis for rent renewal and double billing for services and purchases of goods.
5. Giving advice and support on living in the U.S. to Japanese staff members
Required Qualifications:
・ Bachelor’s degree
・ Fluent in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
・ Experience working in Japan or with Japanese companies
Technical Skills and Relevant Technologies:
・ Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Soft Skills and Cultural Fit:
・ Strong verbal and written communication skills in English
・ A collaborative mindset, with a passion for teamwork and knowledge sharing
・ Adaptability and resilience in working alongside with Japanese staffs
・ Understanding of Japanese culture and business etiquette and U.S. business professional standards
Benefits and Perks:
Annual salary range: $50,000 to $53,000
Additional benefits may include:
・ Flexible work arrangements with a hybrid model
・ Bonus based on performance
・ Financial support for the premiums for medical insurance that the individual enrolls in, in the amount specified in the outline at our sole discretion. (Proof of employee’s individual health insurance may be required.)
・ Annual physical examination fee (at the designated hospital and plan)
・ Expenses for influenza and other designated vaccinations
Working Hours:
As set forth in detail in our Employee Handbook, the daily working hours shall be from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm with an hour off for lunch, Monday through Friday.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
・Continuous Computer & Office Equipment Use: Regularly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery (e.g., calculator, copy machine, printer, phone). This includes frequent and repetitive use of wrists, hands, and fingers for tasks such as typing and using a mouse.
・Effective Communication: Routinely communicates with colleagues, clients, and external partners. Must be able to exchange accurate information in various communication formats (verbal, written, electronic).
・Stationary Position: Frequently required to remain in a stationary position, often sitting, for extended periods.
・Occasional Movement: Occasionally needs to move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, or to attend meetings.
・Light Lifting: Occasionally lifts and/or moves objects weighing up to 10 pounds (e.g., reams of paper, files, small office supplies).
・Visual Acuity: Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus for extended periods of reading documents and viewing a computer screen.
Work Environment:
This job operates in a professional office setting. The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate.
