Japan Desk Coordinator - Cambridge, MA

Cambridge Innovation Center is seeking to hire a full-time, early career Japan Desk Coordinator to support the growing Japan Desk initiative in Cambridge, MA. This person will work closely with the Japan Desk's Program Managers, who serve as a touchpoint for Japanese companies seeking to tap into CIC and Boston's innovation ecosystem, as well as Boston-based companies looking to connect with Japanese partners. As part of CIC Catalyst, our consulting arm, this role may also support programming for international partners beyond Japan.
ABOUT CIC CATALYST
CIC Catalyst is the strategic advisory and programming arm of CIC. It designs, operates, and manages innovation hubs and ecosystem programs that drive competitive specialization, sustainable growth, and impact. Catalyst provides advisory and programming to governments, corporations, and universities, grounded in 25+ years of hands-on operational experience and deep global ecosystem connections. To date, Catalyst has delivered 100+ programs and cohorts globally across CIC campuses, supporting 700+ startups, facilitating 500+ corporate-startup meetings, running 50+ technology scouting programs, and supporting 10+ government agencies through market-entry programs.
ABOUT CIC’S JAPAN DESK
CIC’s mission is to help fix the world through innovation—and we believe one way to do that is by building connections between innovation ecosystems across borders. Given the scale of both economies and the cultural and language barriers that can exist, CIC sees a high-potential opportunity in strengthening ties between Japanese and American innovators.
To that end, CIC launched the Japan Desk in 2016. Based at our Boston innovation campus, the Japan Desk serves as a dedicated entry point for Japanese and Japan-adjacent companies. In partnership with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Consulate General of Japan in Boston, and others, we support Japanese CIC members in Greater Boston by offering Japanese-language tours, personalized briefings, and introductions to key players in the local innovation ecosystem. We also encourage Boston-based startups to explore opportunities in the Japan market.
Learn more about us here.
YOUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK
As a Japan Desk Coordinator you will be responsible for supporting programs and activities at the Japan Desk aimed at helping Japanese startups explore opportunities for Boston expansion, and helping Japanese corporations establish their local presence and connections in the Boston/Cambridge ecosystem, while working closely with our Japan Desk Team and reporting to the Senior Program Manager, Japan Desk. As part of CIC's consulting arm (Catalyst), you will also support programming for international partners beyond Japan, contributing to a growing portfolio of soft landing and market access programs.
Potential responsibilities will include:
Assisting with administrative details of acceleration programs in partnership with government offices and institutions such as JETRO, prefectural governments, and universities, including tracking attendance, tracking completion of homework and other assignments, and helping with logistics for in-person programming (e.g., ordering food, setting up event spaces, reserving transportation, etc.)
Drafting feedback surveys and generating reports documenting the outcomes of programs for our government and partner organizations
Bridging international companies' needs to CIC and affiliate organizations (i.e. Venture Café, Captains of Innovation) and serving as an ambassador for the CIC brand and product
Contributing to organizing events ranging from casual meetups to conferences in collaboration with the Japanese Consulate and other external partners, both in Cambridge/Boston and in Japan
Supporting the design and delivery of Catalyst market access programs for international partner organizations, contributing to program logistics, participant coordination, and reporting
Serving as a face for the Japan Desk team at programs and events organized by the team
ABOUT YOU
You're a natural connector and networker who isn't just looking for a job - you're looking for a mission. You have a passion for startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship, you're naturally drawn to a dynamic, continually-evolving environment, and you're a personable team player who's happy to help others. You're reliable and trustworthy with a growth mindset, and you genuinely want to support the expansion of Japanese and other international companies to the US market and beyond.
More specifically, as our ideal candidate, you are:
A strong relationship builder and communicator, with stakeholders ranging from solo entrepreneurs to government authorities to large corporations
Detail oriented and able to accurately and simultaneously track detailed reporting requirements from partners across multiple projects
Able to support multiple projects at the same time, self-direct, and anticipate problems and needs, while facilitating and maintaining smooth communication with outside stakeholders
YOU HAVE
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
At least 1 year of professional experience; experience working with Japanese companies or Japanese

Employment type
Full-time

Work arrangement
Hybrid