Executive Director

Position open for Executive Director to manage programs and communications for a professional organization of Japanese language educators

The American Association of Teachers of Japanese, a national professional organization for language educators, invites applications and nominations for the position of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. AATJ represents and serves more than 1,000 members who teach language at all levels of instruction and who conduct research in Japanese language pedagogy, linguistics, literature, cultural studies, and others. The Executive Director is a spokesperson for the organization and the manager of its programs and communications. The national office of AATJ is located on the campus of the University of Colorado, Boulder, in the Center for Asian Studies. The planned starting date for the position is December 2024.
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Responsibilities of the position:

Governance-Related Items
● Serving as Executive Director for a national professional organization with more than 1,000 individual and institutional members.
● As appropriate, engaging legal and financial consultants to manage and review governing policies and practices.
● Responsible for organizing documents, keeping and archiving the organization’s records over its 60-year history.
● Hiring and supervising a staff of 2 (FTE) and outside contractors to manage the programs listed below.
● Oversee the organization’s IT infrastructure and ensure that it is up-to-date, secure, and effectively supporting the organization’s operations and programs.

Financial Management:
● Responsible for budgeting and managing the organization’s budget (an annual budget of between $300,000 and $400,000), ensuring that financial resources are allocated appropriately and that the organization is fiscally sound.
● Responsible for governance and tax compliance of the organization, which is incorporated as a 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization under IRS regulations.
● Serving as a key public spokesperson for the organization and the signer of contracts, tax returns, and other official documents.
● Working with funders in government agencies and private foundations in both Japan and the United States to raise funds for projects that benefit teachers and learners of the Japanese language in the United States.

Communication
● Responsible for communicating effectively with the elected Officers and Board of Directors, as well as for outreach and communication with members, including corresponding emails sent to the AATJ Office.
● Responsible for making, managing, and supervising announcements through email, AATJ bulletins, and the AATJ website.

Supervision of Programs and Publications
● Working with and assisting the Officers and Directors of the Association in organizing and leading activities and programs for members and students.
● Supervising activities, programs, and publications for the organization, including:
a. A biannual peer-reviewed research journal and a quarterly newsletter;
b. AATJ websites and social media;
c. Two annual national conferences for Japanese language educators;
d. Webinars and other online events;
e. A Japanese online exam for high school and college students of Japanese;
f. An annual Japanese Language Proficiency Test administered in person at 18 locations around the United States to more than 7,000 test takers;
g. Programs that benefit teachers and students of Japanese at all levels of instruction.

Experience and Qualifications:
1. Strong organizational skills, including project planning and management, budgeting, staff management, and delegation of work.
2. Financial management skills: Experience in budget development and management, financial analysis, and reporting.
3. Professional or near-professional competence in both English and Japanese. Strong writing and communication skills.
4. Demonstrated experience managing a professional or academic organization, department, or work unit.
5. A commitment to, knowledge about, and passion for the work of the Association and for the traditions of Japanese language education in the United States.
6. Experience in grant writing and managing grant-funded projects.
7. Familiarity with office procedures and equipment and ability to use various software programs such as Excel, QuickBooks, and others.
8. Commitment to the organization’s goals and efforts in increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession.
9. A master’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is desirable.

This is a full-time position, based administratively in the Center for Asian Studies on the campus of the University of Colorado, Boulder.