Job Title: Corporate Interpreter/Translator and Executive Administrative Assistant

Pay: $35-38/hour

Location: Costa Mesa, CA

Work hour: M-F 8-5

Hybrid: minimum 3 days office/2 days home

SUMMARY

• The bilingual (Japanese-English) Corporate Interpreter/Translator, Executive Administrative Assistant provides written/verbal translations and document creation services requested by Company Executives in their efforts to improve quality of business operations. This position works with subject matter experts who may be VPs, Directors, Legal Counsels, Managers, and the parent company, and the subjects handled are mostly technical and confidential in nature.
• In addition to translation and interpretation, this role is to coordinate, manage, and record the documentation processes needed for significant investment projects requiring approval by the parent company (e.g., Board of Director’s Meeting) to ensure the stringent requirements of the parent company and the deadlines are met for successful Ringi.
• This role is required to assist the preparation of the Overseas Executive Presentation for the quarterly Corporate Officer’s Meeting at the parent company.
• This role also provides administrative assistance to the Executives in the preparation for the annual North American Kickoff Meeting.
• Liaises with Corporate Administration Department of the parent company for various matters especially Ringi*.
• Research industry news and market trends, and prepare reports
• This role handles other administrative assistant duties for the Executives as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but not limited to the following.

• Provide written translation of emails, letters, speeches, presentations, legal contracts, policies, SOPs, test results, technical specifications/standards, etc. which are mostly confidential and technical in nature.
• Provide verbal interpretation of presentations and discussions in in-person or online meetings including regularly scheduled team meetings, meetings with external parties, audit meetings, involving Executives, subject matter specialists, and the parent company.
• Take notes while interpreting in meetings and create minutes post-meeting in English and Japanese.

• The topics of translation and interpretation span all business areas including, but not limited to, Finance & Accounting, Legal, Logistics, Supply Chain, R&D, Manufacturing, Testing, Quality Control, IT, and Administration.

• Act as a driving force to propel document preparation processes needed for critical investment proposals requiring approval by the parent company, (e.g., Investment Committee, Executive Committee, Board of Director’s Meeting), and ensure that our documents fulfill the stringent Ringi* requirements of the parent company (*Ringi: Bottom-up collective decision-making process in traditional Japanese management systems) and all the deadlines are met for successful and timely audit results.

• Understand Ringi* rules/processes, documentation requirements, board meeting schedule of the parent company and various document submission deadlines.
• Use discretion to invite additional experts to team meetings, such as legal counsels, when appropriate.
• Provide continual translation of the working documents (from Japanese to English, and vice versa) which may go through as many as 50 revisions.
• Continually communicate with the parent company to keep track of the project’s progress.
• Arrange team meetings and provide interpretation for the subject matter experts and the parent company.
• Continually check accuracy of the provided data in revisions and make corrections as needed.
• Use creativity and analytical skills to create brand new slides to meet the page number constraint.
• Keep track of and communicate updates and changes to all involved parties.
• Be the record keeper who can provide the record and evidence when needed.

• Assist with the preparation of the overseas executive update to be presented by the company president in the quarterly Corporate Officer’s Meeting at the parent company, by translating the source data provided by the subject matter experts into Japanese, and the final presentation and revisions into English.

• Check accuracy of the presented data and revise data/graphs as needed

• Translate and/or assist with the preparation of the quarterly financial results presentation in all-hands meetings.
• Attend bi-weekly TNA Cost Analysis meetings and interpret for Finance VP, TNA, and TR.

• Take notes while interpreting in the meeting, to create meeting minutes.

• Attend USTMA’s quarterly Finance meetings and interpret for Finance VP.
• Create Japanese business letters and emails.
• Provide Ringi* related assistance and written and verbal language support to Finance VP.
• Use CAT tool to handle high-volume rough translation

• Edit the source text with correct punctuations and grammar before feeding to the translation machine for better results.

• Research industry news and market trends, and prepare reports
• Assist with litigation discovery process and witness preparation before deposition. (Written translation of legally sensitive technical documents and verbal interpretation involving technical details for the witness and the external litigation attorney.)
• Assist with translation of business contracts, internal rules, technical standards, etc.
• Assist with General Counsel of Risk Management, CIO, Directors, and subject matter specialists as needed.
• Assist in the coordination of executive department administrative projects as assigned by company President
• Handle sensitive and confidential information
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 
  Native fluency in Japanese and proficient in English at a professional level
• Work experience in Japanese and preferable in-country.
• High level interpretation and translation skills in Japanese and English.

• Ability to translate/interpret accurately and render correct concepts and meanings between Japanese and English following complexity, clarity, tone and style from one language into another, upholding the correct rules for grammar and syntax in both languages.

• Strong writing skills in both languages, especially with the knowledge of business Japanese writing.
• Proficient reviewer and editor.
• Work experience within automotive manufacturing industry and knowledge of technical vocabulary a plus.
• Dedicated to exceeding quality work standards.
• Familiarity with CAT tools (not mandatory)
• Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality.
• Manage time effectively and work with little direction or supervision.
• Capable of meeting aggressive deadlines.
• Capable of working outside normal business hours to fill the time difference between the U.S. and the parent company in Japan.
• Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy.
• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English and Japanese language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word)
• Knowledge of document processing, department support, managing files and records, and designing forms
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing department support including meeting quality standards for all correspondence
• Superior analytical, interpersonal, organizational and time management skills
• Attention to details

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Post-secondary education completion in Japanese.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college.
• Must have at least 5-7 years working in a corporate environment as a translator/interpreter.
• Work experience within automotive manufacturing industry and knowledge of technical vocabulary a plus.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Bilingual fluency English <> Japanese. Ability to read and comprehend instructions, correspondences, and memos. Ability to write correspondences. Ability to effectively present information in one on one and small group situations to employees of the organization.

To apply, please send resume to itatebayashi@pasona.com