Cultural Exchange Associate - Portland OR

Designated by the US Department of State, ACES is a high energy, highly-collaborative non-profit international student exchange organization based in Bellevue, WA, with a growing office in Portland, OR. Our mission is to provide high-quality international educational and cultural exchange experiences to individuals from the U.S. and foreign countries in order to promote global understanding. ACES believes that only through interaction can the peoples of the world truly understand each other, establish friendships and promote world peace.

We are looking for a full-time Cultural Exchange Associate to join the Portland, OR College Programs team who is enthusiastic about cultural exchange, enjoys problem-solving and challenges, loves communicating, gets excited about data and details, and would love to work with local people and people from around the world.

The primary goal of the Cultural Exchange Associate is to complete homestay placements for our student groups attending local college, university, and language programs, support students and hosts during the program, and lead our social media outreach.

Key components of the job include:

1. communicating with international and US domestic partners.
2. promoting our programs in the local community and schools, participating in outreach campaigns, responding to inquiries;
3. getting to know families/hosts and students to help them choose the right programs, maintaining accurate records;
4. guiding families and students through the application process, matching families with international students to ensure they are a good fit;
5. serving as a liaison between hosts, students, and university staff and providing ongoing cultural and emergency support to students, hosts, and university staff;
6. attending group arrivals, departures, farewell parties, classes, group activities, etc.
7. collecting photos and stories;
8. taking a lead on our social media, including Facebook and Instagram accounts, creating content, growing followers, and growing community connections with local organizations that will help us reach potential new hosts;
9. being part of the 24/7 emergency hotline rotation among Portland team of staff.

Job duties and intensity change throughout the year as we move through the cycles of preparing for student arrivals and departures, managing active programs, and reviewing post-program evaluations.

Success in this position requires flexibility, versatility, and resilience, commitment to acting as a member of a team, eagerness to accept responsibility, dedication to meeting deadlines, ability to act on new information efficiently, strong appreciation for detail, and a desire to understand the perspectives and communication needs of our host families, students, international and local partners, and staff.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Working knowledge of G-Suite, Microsoft Office, Excel, and cloud-based databases such as Salesforce, social media platforms
• Ability to create visually appealing social media content and marketing materials, familiar with Canva
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
• Ability to grasp concepts quickly, notice anomalies, and implement processes and protocols
• Ability to effectively engage with individuals and groups of a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds and ideologies
• Outstanding relationship-building, collaboration, customer service, oral and written communication, and time management skills
• Courage and willingness to reach out to community members through multiple channels including tabling at events, public speaking at informational meetings, making calls, and sending strategic emails
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment
• Ability to solve problems
• Familiarity with the Portland area
• Valid driver's license, excellent driving record, and own or have access to a reliable and insured car prior to the start date of the position

Desired Professional Competencies:

As this is a client-facing position, the role requires strong communication and relationship-building skills. We are looking for an inspiring and dynamic verbal and written communicator who understands the ways in which accurate, timely, and friendly communication serves to build trust and rapport with participants, partners, and staff.

Associates must have the ability to quickly and efficiently grasp concepts, make sound decisions in unclear situations with limited data, and analyze and solve problems.

The ideal candidate is able to contribute effectively to produce quality work on deadline, juggle competing priorities while under pressure, and strive to maintain a positive, dynamic, and inclusive working environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• International travel experience, preferably with experience in a homestay and/or as a host family
• Understanding of Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms
• Familiarity with Japanese language and culture is plus

Schedule:

40 hours per week; some overtime required during peak seasons. Shifts will include irregular hours while programs are in session, including some early morning, evening, and weekend hours in support of programs.

Job Conditions:

Working conditions include office work, computer work, occasional interruptions and/or changes, evening meetings and orientations, and working off-site. Work will also involve early mornings, late evenings, and schedule changes when groups are in Portland.

ACES does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities.