Japan-America Society of the State of Washington

Small Business Resiliency Network Coordinator

Effective Date of Job Description: April 22nd, 2024
Work Location: Mercer Island

The Japan-America Society of the State of Washington is a member of the Small Business Resiliency Network (SBRN) of the Washington State Department of Commerce. We provide business training and coaching on state and federal requirements to small/micro businesses owned by Japanese immigrants in Washington state to empower and position them for success. We are presently adding staff to expand our program offerings.

Our small business technical assistance includes:

• Business 101 webinars in Japanese on accounting, marketing, banking, insurance, etc.
• One-on-one QuickBooks, accounting and tax help.
• Consulting on state and federal business requirements.
• Food-business incubation including access to a commissary kitchen.
• One-on-one food-business consulting.

Primary Duties

• Manage day-to-day Society SBRN communications including website content, electronic newsletters, and social media, coordinating with other staff members.
• Day-to-day coordination and communication with small businesses receiving our technical assistance.
• Attend regular update meetings on state and federal technical assistance training.
• Create and post relevant social media content about our small business aid program to the Japan-related community.
• Recruit business consultants to participate in this program.
• Assist selected business consultants in developing media presentations for use at small business training seminars and on the website; oversee the consultants to ensure the timely completion of the presentations.
• Outreach to small and micro business owners and managers to increase awareness of the business training program and of relevant government programs.
• Track program results/achievements and report them to government agencies.
• Track monthly expenses and assist the Director with expense reporting to government agencies.
• Catalog and digitize historical media collections.

Required Skills

• Proficient in Japanese reading, writing, and speaking.
• Experience with proofreading and editing in Japanese.
• Deep understanding of Japanese business culture, as well as knowledge of the challenges faced by recent immigrants from Japan.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Highly proficient computer skills using PC operating systems; familiarity with Microsoft Office, Teams, and Zoom applications, and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Linked-In).
• Able to work efficiently and professionally with little supervision in professional settings.
• Exceptional accuracy, efficiency, and follow-through with all tasks and projects.
• Passion for U.S.-Japan relations.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a car.

Desirable Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Positive “can-do” attitude.
• Able to work well with a diverse range of people.
• Experience with scanners, digital video equipment, audio systems, and streaming services.
• Experience working with any or all of the following: Wild Apricot, WordPress, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite.
• Salary dependent on experience; $46k-$51k plus flex benefit to help cover medical insurance after 90 day probationary period.
• Orca card for transportation to and from work.
• Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) eligibility after 12 months of employment.

If interested, please send a cover letter and resume by April 30th to: Dale Watanabe, Director, Small Business Program at dwatanabe@jassw.org

Hyogo Business & Cultural Center

Assistant Manager

Effective Date of Job Description: April 17th, 2024

Salary: $21.11/hr

Work Hour: 30 hours a week (Monday through Friday, set between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm) Occasional work on weekends

Workplace: 1001 4th Ave. Suite 4310, Seattle, WA 98154

Benefits: Bus Pass + Medical & Dental Insurance + PTO (12 days / year) + Paid Sick Leave (according to WA law)

Term of contract: 2 plus years (Renewal is possible)

Start day: June 1st, 2024

Major responsibilities:

1.   Accounting and General Affairs

One of the main responsibilities is to work as an accountant and general affairs in the Office. To issue invoice, check and record the payment and revenue on the Quick Book and Files. Making materials for audit and the statement of accounts monthly and yearly etc.

2.   Event Management & Coordination

The successful candidate will be responsible for planning and executing events, Recruiting/managing volunteers, fundraising, generating event content, producing/distributing marketing materials, etc. 

• Cultural events with Hyogo’s performers
• Local Japanese community events such as Sakura Con, Cherry Blossom Festival, Japan Fair, Japan Week, and others.

3.   Sister City/Sister State Programs

• Support and strengthen sister city/state relationships by attending relevant events and acting as a liaison between city/prefectural representatives. Help to establish new sister city relationships.
• Interface with local organizations.

4.   Union of Kansai Government office program

• Support the companies/organizations/individuals not only from Hyogo but also from the Kansai region.

5.   Marketing Project Support

• Assist Business promotional activities and on site events. Event planning and creation of promotional materials. Help with organizing market research. Translate reports from Japanese to English. Assess result from marketing campaigns. Develop and publish press releases.

The HBCC assistant director will also have joint responsibilities in greeting visitors, answering phone calls and providing general assistance with other office projects as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications: A 4-year bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited institution; experience living and/or working in Japan; basic knowledge of Japanese business environment; Japanese language proficiency; and high-level English proficiency and excellent communication skills.

Eligible to work in the U.S.

Additional Requirements: The ideal candidate for the position will also have the following skills:

• Ability to work independently on multiple projects on deadlines in a fast, efficient manner.
• Well organized and able to multitask effectively.
• Experience in event coordination and a working knowledge of Hyogo prefecture/Kansai area.
• Experience in accounting of the company/organization.
• Above average technical proficiency in Office/DTP software; IT and telecommunications experience.
• Able to work in a disciplined way under minimal supervision.

How to apply:

Submit resume & cover letter via e-mail to office@hyogobcc.org.

Only candidates who are chosen for an interview will be contacted. 

NO PHONE INQUIRIES PLEASE!

Submit resume & cover letter by May 3, 2024.