Sasakawa USA is hiring for the role of Associate Research Fellow and Director for JUMP

We’re hiring: Sasakawa USA is seeking a dynamic individual to take a leading role in our mission of strengthening US-Japan relations. We’re looking for someone with an interest and background in the military, Japan, and with tabletop military exercises. Our next Associate Research Fellow/ Director for Japan-US Military Program will provide substantive programmatic and administrative support for Sasakawa USA’s tabletop military exercises and, through JUMP, build relationships and provide opportunities for service members and their families who have served in Japan to engage with each one another. The position is located in Washington D.C.  The application deadline is May 1, 2018. Please see below for position details.

Position Title: Associate Research Fellow and Director, Japan-US Military Program (JUMP)
Position Location: Washington D.C.
Reports To: Director for Programs
Professional Level: Experienced
Start Date: Date to be mutually agreed upon

Position Summary:
Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA is a 501c3 non-profit located in Washington D.C. involved in US-Japan relations, providing conferences and seminars, think tank analysis, people-to-people exchanged and coordination of high-level dialogue between the two countries through our in-house and collaborative programs.

Sasakawa USA seeks an experienced Associate Research Fellow/ Director, Japan-US Military Program (JUMP) to lead its Japan-US Military Program and provide substantive, programmatic and administrative support for its tabletop military exercises and other research programs in US-Japan relations.

As Associate Fellow, the candidate will assist in developing, coordinating and executing tabletop exercises on such topics as contingencies on the Korean peninsula requiring U.S.-Japan alliance coordination, and will assist as needed on other key Sasakawa USA programs and projects focused on US-Japan relations in a bilateral, regional and global context. 

As Director of JUMP, through social networks and events, the candidate will build relationships and provide opportunities for service members and their families who have served in Japan to engage with each one another. JUMP provides a powerful foundation for sustaining the solid alliance and relationship that exists between the United States and Japan. JUMP is a collaborative effort between Sasakawa USA, the Embassy of Japan in the United States, and the National Association of Japan-America Societies. The program was launched in April 2015.

The Associate Fellow/JUMP Director is a member of the Sasakawa USA research team headed by the Director for Programs.

Requirements:

• Military veteran (with 5+ years of service) preferred
• Strong, proven project and program management skills.
• Experience living and working in Japan (this includes PCS assignments, UDP deployments or TAD/TDY of at least 90 days).
• Experience working on a higher-level staff such as III MEF, Seventh Fleet, Fifth Air Force, USARJ, USFJ, PACOM, Service Headquarters, or similar
• Bachelor’s degree in security, foreign policy or other relevant field with a focus on Japan and/or Asia
• Strong written and oral communications skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Social Media skills
• Attention to detail and ability to multi-task
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team
• Travel: domestic and foreign travel (plus current passport) are required (approximately 15% of time on the job)
• US Citizen

Preferred Skills:
• Demonstrated expertise in US-Japan security matters
• Proficiency in written and oral Japanese
• Experience in preparing project proposals and budget plans
• Experience in organizing events
• Experience working in a think tank, academia, foundations, or other organization with research and programming focus

Responsibilities:
JUMP:
• Successfully expand the JUMP military outreach program, in cooperation with partner organizations such as the National Association of Japan-America Societies and the Embassy of Japan, to include increased traffic and reach online (via the website, Facebook page, LinkedIn group and Twitter) and events in new locations and types of venues.
• Coordinate at least seven JUMP events annually – five outside of Washington, DC, two in Washington, D.C.
• Continually improving the quality of JUMP programs and increasing the reach of the JUMP website and social media platforms
• Supervising the JUMP assistants and overseeing the planning and execution of JUMP activities
• Drafting and overseeing JUMP’s budget plan, and ensuring timely submission of disbursement forms for all expenditures related to JUMP
•Working with the Director for Finance to coordinate and manage grant agreements
Associate Fellow:
• Develop tabletop exercises on key security issues that challenge the US-Japan Alliance
• Assist in developing TTX topics and drafting scenarios
• Develop TTX teams, roles and responsibilities for players and suggest and invite individuals qualified to play those roles
• Manage TTX development and coordination with other organizations.
• Assist in drafting and managing the production of TTX game books, post-TTX reports and events and briefings related to TTX results
• Manage logistics for large-scale TTX’s with 50 or more participants and assist in budgeting and reporting requirements
• Assist with other research programs as needed including developing projects and project proposals, meeting reporting requirements, and assisting in managing budgets
• Assist in developing, planning and implementing conferences, roundtables and other events in and outside of Washington, D.C. and assist in outreach activities
• Communicate and coordinate regularly with other staff as well as partner and support individuals and organizations in executing projects and events
• Provide information and website material to the Communications team on projects and related issues as part of Sasakawa USA’s overall media and outreach efforts
• Work with Congressional relations manager in providing opportunities for Congressional briefings and event
• Provide administrative and programmatic direction to Program Assistants and interns.

If you’re interested in this position, please send your resume, a writing sample and three references to Brian Graf at Bgraf@spfusa.org by May 1, 2017.