The U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) www.usjapancouncil.org is an educational 501(c)3 non-profit organization that promotes U.S.-Japan relations and is currently accepting a Spring 2015/Summer 2015 intern who is interested in non-profit sector fundraising, corporate partnership building, policy research, legislative programming, and event planning. The organization is focused on building people-to-people relations, through the leadership of Japanese Americans nationally and internationally, who connect American and Japanese leaders and industry experts to strengthen U.S.-Japan relations. Interns would support this mission through communications and program development support.

The Council administers the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership forged after the Great East Japan Earthquake in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo with the support of the Government of Japan. TOMODACHI invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges as well as leadership programs. We seek to foster a “TOMODACHI generation” of young American and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, appreciate each other’s countries and cultures, and possess the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world.

We look for applicants who are interested in communications, program and event management, developing strategic marketing research skills, portfolio development, and have an interest in learning about professional relationship building with corporate and major donor partners. Additionally, we look for applicants with an interest in U.S.-Asia policy and legislative programs. The internship provides an opportunity to make impact in a fast-growing small, non-profit and to network with prominent leaders at the forefront of U.S.-Japan relations.

Communications (Washington, DC Office)

Responsibilities

Update the website with news, events and other information
Write or edit press releases, articles or other items
Assist with the USJC e-newsletter
Assist with periodic publications (e.g. Annual Report, Annual Conference program) and presentations
Edit photos and upload them to web or USJC Flickr page
Support events, especially in the communications aspect (taking photos or videos, reporting for the newsletter)
Support communications and marketing efforts related to the TOMODACHI Initiative
Post and monitor activity on USJC social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
Support Communications staff with other needs as requested

Qualifications

Solid writing and editing skills in English
Interest in U.S.-Japan relations
Interest in media and communications (major/concentration in English Literature, Journalism, Communications, Media Studies and related fields a strong plus)
Microsoft Office and Google application skills (Word, Excel, Publisher, Google documents, analytics, etc.)
Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines with attention to detail
Ability to think strategically about how best to reach various audiences
Must be U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
Experience using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media platforms for professional purposes (preferred)
Some knowledge of HTML; experience writing for the web using Content Management Systems (preferred)
Some internship or work experience in communications capacity (preferred)
Experience with graphic design software such as Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop (preferred)
Some ability to read and write Japanese (preferred)
Ability to create digital content, including webpages and videos (preferred)
Affinity for photography (preferred)

Program Department (Washington, DC Office)

Deliverables of this internship include:

Support the March 2014 TOMODACHI Initiative Programs, program development from budget to implementation.
Portfolio research for USJC’s corporate donors through online research and informational interviews.
Research and support the USJC’s legislative networking initiatives between government officials in the US and Japan
Review existing Customer Resource Management tool and provide improvements.
Review current U.S.-Japan policy events and research around DC through online research and event attendance.
Present policy-related program recommendations to the Program Manager and USJC leadership.
Support USJC events, including preparation for the Annual Conference in November 2015, legislative exchange programs, and regional networking activities, as needed.

Benefits:

Opportunity to learn about leading U.S.-Japan relation issues that concern business, political and non-profit sector leaders today.
Development of strategic marketing and research skills.
Opportunity to be involved in development and relationship building events and activities in the Washington, DC area.

Qualifications:

Able to commit at least 22 hours a week for the Spring Semester, with potential to extend. Preference given to those who can work 3-5 days a week.
Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint proficiency (required)
Database management skill (preferred) – Salesforce
Japanese language skills – intermediate/advanced/proficient (not required but viewed favorably)
Professional and positive attitude and ability to take initiative.

How to Apply

Please send resume, cover letter, and writing sample (no more than two pages; a link to a blog post or other online writing is also acceptable) to: hr@usjapancouncil.org.