Junior Associate- Leadership and Exchange Unit

Job Description

Junior Associate- Leadership and Exchange Unit

San Francisco, CA

12-week internship (Mid-September- Mid-December)

In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, Asia plays a crucial global role. Would you be excited at the prospect of employing your knowledge and skills to improve lives, expand opportunities, and help societies flourish across this dynamic region? You could have this opportunity at The Asia Foundation.

Informed by six decades of experience and deep local expertise, we address critical issues affecting Asia in the 21st century: governance and law, economic development, women’s empowerment, environment, and regional cooperation. We work with innovative leaders and communities to build effective institutions and advance path-breaking reforms. Together with our partners, we are committed to Asia’s continued development as a peaceful, just, and thriving region of the world.

The Asia Foundation’s Leadership and Exchange Programs team (LeadEx) supports an extraordinary diversity of young and emerging Asian, Pacific Islander, and American professionals from across disciplines, working environments, cultures, and country contexts. LeadEx engages individuals with talent, character, and commitment, nurtures their professional development, and empowers their transformation into lasting agents of change, reform, and impact. We work with innovative leaders and communities to build effective institutions and advance path-breaking reforms.

The Asia Foundation’s Leadership and Exchange Programs team (LeadEx) seeks a Junior Associate (JA) to support a variety of exchange programs, remotely and in the San Francisco Bay Area. During this 12-week program, the JA will support the Asia Foundation Development Fellows program, the startup of the 2030 Climate Champions program, and recruitment for several LeadEx programs. Finally, the JA will assist in the redesign of LeadEx’s web presence, update the alumni database and interact with alumni.

During the 12-week program, the JA will:

SCOPE OF WORK:

• Provide staff support for the Asia Foundation Development Fellows Leadership Dialogue and Exchange Program in the United States October 1-14, 2023, a delegation consisting of 12 changemakers from across Asia and the Pacific, and assist with wrap-up activities. The JA may also support the William P. Fuller Fellowship delegation and the Chang-Lin Tien Distinguished Visiting Fellowship, which will take place simultaneously with the Asia Foundation Development Fellows program. This activity may involve travel.
• Assist in the startup phase of the 2030 Climate Champions program that will promote dialogue amongst emerging leaders in China and the U.S. on the issue of climate change.
• Assist in recruitment and application evaluation for various LeadEx programs, including the Asia Foundation Development Fellows Program and the LeadNext: Ambassadors for a Global Future program.
• In coordination with the LeadEx team and Global Communications, work to redesign the public-facing LeadEx page on the Asia Foundation website and LeadEx public communications channels to effectively communicate the vast array of LeadEx programming and approaches.
• Assist the LeadEx team in building out platforms to help The Asia Foundation tell better and more illustrative stories of impact in the field of Leadership Development & Exchanges.
• Assist the LeadEx team in populating an alumni database by engaging with and collecting information from former grantees.

DELIVERABLES:

• Assist in escorting the Asia Foundation Development Fellows and William P. Fuller Fellows.
• Assist in planning and implementation of the 2023 Global Leaders’ Summit in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• By the end of the fellowship, the JA will complete content revision for the redesign of the public-facing LeadEx presence on the Asia Foundation website and on social media platforms.
• The JA will assist LeadEx staff in populating grantee data into an alum database and the LeadEx.org online community by inputting current records and outreach to alumni for updated contact information, bios, publications, stories, and accomplishments.
• Deliver at least one blog piece about a LeadEx program.
• Assist with other programs as needed.

TAKE-AWAY FOR THE JUNIOR ASSOCIATE:

The Junior Associate will take away connections to the vast network of talented alumni of LeadEx programs, a deep understanding of LeadEx’s approach to leadership development, experience in storytelling, marketing, and communications work, and experience in developing systems for effective engagement of alumni.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The position for the Junior Associate is expected to be competitive. We are seeking talented, high-energy individuals who will benefit from their affiliation with the Foundation and contribute to the organization.

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING:

• Received a master’s degree within the past four years. In addition, to be considered, a candidate must have completed and obtained this degree before the beginning of the program period. The Fall 2023 program period is 12 weeks: Mid-September- Mid-December.
• Completed graduate studies in Asia-related areas: international relations, international development, public administration, public policy, law, political science, economics, women’s empowerment, and/or sociology with work experience in Asia.
• Authorization to legally work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Great organizational skills
• Great computer skills.

WHY WORK AT THE ASIA FOUNDATION:

You will have the opportunity to help solve some of the toughest challenges in the development/aid sector. Address environmental problems in the region, improve access to legal information, enhance civil society, promote government engagement/collaboration, and encourage learning and awareness.

You will work in an innovative environment and build lasting relationships. The Asia Foundation, its donors, and its partners are unmatched throughout the region. This is an opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most accomplished leaders, influencers, and social entrepreneurs working in Asia today.

APPLICATION DETAILS:

Please apply at: http://www.asiafoundation.org/about/careers. Please upload your cover letter and resume, and letters of recommendation.

We will only consider applicants who apply online and provide all required documents. We require a resume, cover letter, and two letters of recommendation (either two academic OR one academic and one personal). In addition to being considered, please answer the assessment questions provided.

This position is a paid internship that offers medical, dental, and vision benefits.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. Women and people of color are encouraged to apply.

**Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship

**No relocation assistance will be provided for this position

**No phone calls, please.

Internship compensation is $22.50/hr.

About the Organization

The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports programs in Asia that help improve governance, law, and civil society; women's empowerment; economic reform and development; and international relations. Drawing on more than 50 years of experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research. With a network of 18 offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, D.C., and its headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on both a country and regional level. In 2007, the Foundation provided more than $68 million in program support and distributed 974,000 books and educational materials valued at $33 million throughout Asia. The Asia Foundation is not an endowed organization, and depends solely on monetary contributions from donors to accomplish its work. For more information, visit www.asiafoundation.org.