Join the 2024 – 2025 National AJET Council
Make a lasting impact during your JET Career
Are you interested in making your time on the JET Programme meaningful to yourself and others? Are you looking for professional development opportunities, or do you want to utilize the leadership and project management skills you already possess? Read on to find out more about opportunities with National AJET!
Why Join National AJET?
Give back to the community, hone professional skills, and gain new experience!
Collecting data from the JET community on a range of topics
Working to offer the community discounts
Providing professional development opportunities for JETs and JET Alumni
Gathering and updating educational resources to support JETs in their work
Developing a new online presence to better support the JET community
Plus, whatever project you want to work on for JETs throughout Japan!
Qualifications
We believe that it is important for all National AJET council members, regardless of position, to possess or be able to acquire these traits in addition to the position-specific duties and skills.
Passion to improve and strengthen AJET for the benefit of all JET participants
Communication and teamwork skills
Willingness to respond to and work on AJET projects in a timely manner
Ability to stick to deadlines
Ability to set one’s own goals, work towards achieving them, and request help when needed
Must be a current JET member and remain one during their time in office
2024-2025
National AJET Election Cycle
The 2024 – 2025 National AJET Election Cycle will run from February 17th – March 23rd. The new National AJET Team will begin in April. Non-Executive positions and Block Leaders can apply after the election cycle if they’re open positions available.
February 22nd
2024 – 2025 election cycle opens
March 20th
Candidate application deadline
March 25th
Start of voting period for 2024-2025 election cycle
April 4th
End of voting period for 2024-2025 election cycle
April 7th
Announcement of the result of the 2024 – 2025 election
April 10th
New term begins
Our Positions
Contribute to AJET in a variety of roles
Executive Positions
Description
The executive positions are elected by JET Programme participants during the National AJET Executive Elections and serve a one-year term. These positions have the power to vote on matters pertaining to the structure and official stances of National AJET. They also serve as the official face of National AJET and the JET Program.
The executive positions are AJET Chair, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer.
Application guide
To apply for one of these positions, please submit a photo and a short statement (maximum 400 words) about why you are running and what you hope to accomplish. These will be shared on AJET social media once elections are open. You will also need to submit the name, city, and prefecture of your contracting organization. We will not contact or share any information with your CO; this is only used to confirm that you are a JET Programme participant. These should be submitted to ajetelections2024@ajet.net with the subject Candidacy: [position name] and you will receive a confirmation of your submission and next steps.
Please note that while campaigning is encouraged, any negative campaigning (such as derogatory comments, attacking other candidates, people, organizations, etc.) by yourself or third parties may result in your disqualification.
Chair
Description
The National AJET Chair is the public face of AJET and acts as the organization’s chief representative to JET Program participants, CLAIR, and other organizations. The Chair works to set AJET’s yearly agenda and to support members toward achieving those goals.
Duties
- Sets goals for AJET and each role for the coming year
- Works with the Vice-Chair and project managers to delegate tasks
- Handle administrative affairs for AJET
- Represents AJET at events in Tokyo and throughout Japan
- Represents JET Program participants at the annual Opinion Exchanges with CLAIR and the three Ministries (MOFA, MIC, MEXT)
- Evaluates yearly operations of AJET and find areas for improvement
- Facilitates transition between AJET Council administrations into the following term
skills
- Interpersonal and networking skills
- Japanese proficiency is preferred, but not required
- Must have excellent time management skills
- Professional speaking and writing skills
- Experience with delegating tasks, setting agendas, and supporting various roles
- Excellent communication skills
Vice Chair
Description
The Vice-Chair shares in day-to-day duties of the Chair and liaises with members to support their goals. Duties include working with the project managers on the AJET national surveys and assisting the Chair in correspondence with partners and other organizations.
Duties
- Represents AJET at events in Tokyo and throughout Japan
- Assists the project managers, and writing surveys and reports for the annual Opinion Exchange with CLAIR and the three ministries
- Sets team goals for the year, and provides resources and support for team projects
- Communicate with representatives from CLAIR, partners, and external organizations to promote business collaboration
skills
- Interpersonal and networking skills
- Japanese proficiency is preferred, but not required
- Must have excellent time management skills
- Professional speaking and writing skills
- Experience with delegating tasks, setting agendas, and supporting various roles
- Excellent communication skills
Treasurer
Description
The National AJET Treasurer works with the Chair and Vice-Chair to administer and supervise the AJET treasury.
Duties
- Interprets and enforces the AJET constitution and bylaws when necessary, as well as the other rules and regulations of AJET
- Organizing and monitoring the AJET elections. The treasurer will be responsible for selecting an election committee and ensuring the proper running of the annual elections
- Manages finances, including tasks such as tracking income and expenses, preparing budgets, and making payments
- Oversees financial reporting, including preparing financial statements, providing financial reports, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations
- Secures and inventories assets, such as financial records, cash on-hand, digital service subscriptions, merchandise, and more
- Provides financial advice to AJET Council, including giving insight on the organization’s financial health and identifying and risks
skills
- Previous experience with accounting and bookkeeping
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
- Experience with Japan Postal Savings banking
- Detail-oriented and able to multi-task
- Japanese ability is highly beneficial (for visiting the bank, etc.)
Non-Executive Positions
Description
The non-executive roles are elected by the outgoing National AJET members, with the executive council breaking any ties. These roles work on specific areas to improve the JET Programme. They may not vote in normal National AJET decisions.
The non-executive positions are Project Manager, Director of Social Media, Webmaster, Director of Translation and Interpretation, Director of Alumni Partnership, Director of Community Relations, Director of Branding and Content, Director of Advertising and Partner Relations, Director of Professional and Educational Development.
Application guide
To apply for one of these positions, please write a short statement about why you are applying for the position and what you hope to accomplish (maximum 1 page, A4 size). You may submit supporting documents if you wish. You will also need to submit the name, city, and prefecture of your contracting organization. We will not contact or share any information with your CO; this is only used to confirm that you are a JET Programme participant. These should be submitted to elections@ajet.net with the subject Candidacy: [position name] and you will receive a confirmation of your submission and next steps.
Please note that if there are vacant non-executive positions after the election cycle, we will accept applications for those positions at any time.
Project Manager
Goals
To help National AJET successfully complete its survey and report for the year. The Project Manager ensures that opinion exchanges with CLAIR and the three ministries are as beneficial and relevant as possible to both sides.
Duties
- Records and shares the minutes of National AJET meetings
- Coordinates and oversees the creation and writing of annual surveys and reports
- Presents results at the annual Opinion Exchange
- Manages council projects to ensure they progress smoothly and meet deadlines
skills
- Superior time management and organizational skills
- Ability to delegate tasks, communicate well with others, and find resources to support projects as needed
- Experience with project management or creating project timelines
- Strong data analysis skills beneficial
Social Media Manager
Goals
To maintain and update National AJET’s social media presence. The Director of Social Media ensures that JETs are kept up-to-date on JET and AJET activities within their communities and throughout Japan through prompt social media updates.
Duties
- Makes posts on National AJET’s social media accounts with AJET-related news, opportunities, and information
- Collaborates with the Director of Alumni Partnership and Director of Community Relations
- Responds to inquiries or private messages from the public made via National AJET’s social accounts
- Strategize ways to improve the reach and image of National AJET
skills
- Strong familiarity with a range of social media platforms
- Excellent writing skills and an eye for catchy social media content
- Attention to detail and strong proofreading skills
- Time management and organizational skills
Webmaster
Goals
To develop and maintain the website and other digital tools for National AJET, such as Google Apps email service and Discord. To deliver robust and accessible online experience to users. Webmasters have the opportunity to shape AJET’s online presence and image.
Duties
- Maintains WordPress installation and content on AJET’s website
- Ensures operation of hosting and accounts for our services
- Administers AJET’s Google Apps account and Discord
- Improves online experience of web visitors coming from a variety of devices and user accessibilities
skills
- Experience with WordPress strongly preferred
- Knowledge of HTML strongly preferred
- Knowledge of CSS strongly preferred
- Knowledge of JavaScript is helpful
- Knowledge of website hosting and SEO preferred
- Ability to occasionally work with PHP for WordPress
- Experience with Google Apps email administration preferred
- Experience maintaining a web presence and improving accessibility preferred
Director of Translation and Interpretation
Goals
To make AJET materials and reports available in Japanese and facilitate communication between AJET, CLAIR, and the three ministries, especially during the Opinion Exchange.
Duties
- Translates AJET surveys, reports, and other materials into Japanese as necessary
- Oversees the translation work of other AJET members and proofreads their translations, liaising with native speakers as needed
- Interprets during the Opinion Exchange meetings with CLAIR and the three ministries
- Assists the council in other tasks that require knowledge of Japanese
skills
- Proficiency in business-level or higher (written and spoken) Japanese
- Ability to produce translations on a set deadline
- Translation and interpreting experience strongly preferred
Director of Alumni Partnership
Goals
The Director of Alumni Partnership works to strengthen the relationship between the JET Alumni Association (JETAA) and National AJET by providing current JETs and alumni opportunities to interact. They are also responsible for promoting AJET to the JET alumni community, which in return shares information and job opportunities for JETs.
Duties
- Act as the liaison between JETAA, AJET, current JETs, and alumni (as well as other supporting organizations like the consulates, CLAIR, etc.)
- Aid in JETAA-alumni projects and events and the creation of new JETAA-AJET opportunities
- Meet with various chapters of JETAA to increase JET collaboration and networking
- Create pre-JET and post-JET media for webinars, fliers, or videos with JETAA
- Maintain and expand a database of current JETAA chapters, contacts, executive members and goals
- Work with the director of social media to manage the AJET Job Listings Facebook group and LinkedIn groups
- Work with the director of professional and educational development to identify job advertisements
skills
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
- Strong organizational and administrative skills
- Flexibility and commitment as many online and in-person meetings may occur in the evenings or on weekends
- Ability to work across time zones
Director of Community Relations
Goals
To support the JET community through community programs and relationships. The director of community relations serves as a liaison for the Special Interest Groups (SIGs), PAs, CIRs, and other facets of the JET community, as well as the JET couchsurfing service, Tatami Timeshare.
Duties
- Oversees creation of SIGs, and supports current SIGs in continuing to grow
- Work with the director of social media to moderate JET SIGs
- Coordinates with the Tatami Timeshare service
- Works closely with block leaders to promote intra-prefectural events and community building
- Ensures that National AJET’s agenda, events, and information include the interests of CIRs, PAs, and various SIGs
- Creates and directs AJET promotional campaigns
skills
- Experience with Google Apps like Sheets, Forms, and Maps
- Knowledge of social media management and outreach
- Interest in fostering community and the growth of SIGs
- Organizational skills and long-term planning capability
- Passion for ensuring access to representation for a wide range of JET perspectives
Director of Branding and Content
Goals
To ensure that all National AJET content is consistent and clear in print and web. The Director of Branding and Content designs, updates, and maintains the branding of National AJET through its publications, the AJET Gazette newsletter, and online.
Duties
- Coordinates with the Director of Social Media and the Webmaster to maintain clear guidelines for our online presence
- Makes sure that existing content is up-to-date and adheres to style guidelines
- Finds appropriate community or professional content contributors and oversees their work
- Creates new written content for the website, social media, and our newsletter (the Gazette) as needed
- Works on enhancing the appearance of National AJET reports and presentations
- Determines branding guidelines and maintains consistency and uniformity across National AJET content
skills
- Experience with creating style guides
- Experience with content management and creation
- Experience working with WordPress preferred
- Experience with graphic design beneficial
- Ability to create/translate materials between English and Japanese beneficial
Director of Advertising and Partner Relations
Goals
The Director of Advertising liaises with external businesses in order to negotiate discounts, giveaways, and special deals for JET Program participants, secures new partners for AJET, and communicates their advertising needs to the relative team members. This position also works to promote events and opportunities to JETs.
Duties
- Creates connections with third-party affiliates
- Maintains and grows relationships with existing partners
- Creates plans of action for current partners who have an association with AJET and assist with the strategy on existing campaigns
skills
- Experience in written communication and outreach
- Exceptional time management and organizational skills
- Maintain an up-to-date record of current partnerships
- Proactivity and tenacity toward contacting businesses
- Ability to demonstrate fairness to all of AJETs partner businesses
Director of Professional and Educational Development
Goals
The Director of Professional and Educational Development gathers educational and professional articles, materials, courses, and resources that JETs can use to improve their professional skills during the JET Program and to prepare themselves for careers after their tenure on the JET Program has ended. They also maintain an up-to-date collection of resources for Japanese language study.
Duties
- Publishes resources for Assistant Language Teachers to use in their classrooms
- Provides resources for JET participants’ professional development
- Maintains partnerships with other individuals and organizations focused on professional and educational development
- Advises on programming for educational events, including prefectural Skills Development Conferences
skills
- Passion for improving the overall quality of JETs’ skills and lives
- Can meet deadlines, initiate and complete projects
- Experience with building professional networks
- Experience in career building and/or education necessary, both preferable
Block Representatives
Description
Japan is divided into 11 blocks. Each block has at least one representative who works to promote AJET within their prefectures, build relationships with the local AJET chapters and JETs, and plans/promotes events. Block representatives are voting positions within National AJET.
Skills
- Build community in the assigned area and throughout the JET community
- Plan and promote events in concert with the local AJET chapters and JETs
- Communicate needs of local JET communities with National AJET
- Manage social media for blocks, such as block FaceBook groups or Discord
- Distribute National AJET publications, annual surveys, and reports
- Passion for improving the overall quality of JETs’ skills and lives
- Event and community building
- Promoting communication within respective blocks and National AJET
Application guide
To apply for one of these positions, please write a short statement about why you are applying for the position and what you hope to accomplish (maximum 1 page, A4 size). You may submit supporting documents if you wish. You will also need to submit the name, city, and prefecture of your contracting organization. We will not contact or share any information with your CO; this is only used to confirm that you are a JET Programme participant. These should be submitted to elections@ajet.net with the subject Candidacy: [position name] and you will receive a confirmation of your submission.
Please note that if there are vacant non-executive positions after the election cycle, we will accept applications for those positions at any time.
National AJET Blocks
Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Akita
Miyagi, Yamagata, Fukushi, Niigata
Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Nagano
Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Shizuoka
Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Gifu, Aichi
Shiga, Kyoto, Hyogo
Mie, Osaka, Nara, Wakayama
Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi
Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi
Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita
Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa
