Interpreter

Tenneco; Minnesota; On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Tenneco in Red Wing MN seeks a bilingual Executive Coordinator & Translator to bridge English and Japanese operations. This role provides precise translation and interpretation, supports expatriates, and coordinates international relocation and logistics.

You will handle PO requisitions, payroll backup, and general admin in a fast-paced manufacturing setting. Ideal candidates have native English/Japanese, JLPT N1 or TOEIC 900+, 2+ years interpreting experience, and strong MS Office and ERP

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Native or near-native fluency in English and Japanese with JLPT N1 or TOEIC 900+.
• Minimum of 2 years of professional interpreting experience.
• Experience with ERP software and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Translate emails, memos, and training materials between English and Japanese.
• Provide simultaneous and consecutive interpretation for meetings and audits.
• Coordinate expatriate relocation, housing, and onboarding processes.
• Manage PO requisitions and support payroll backup tasks.
• Oversee import logistics and liaise with vendors and carriers.
• Assist with general administrative duties as needed.

Skills

Translation

Interpretation

Expatriate Support

English-Japanese Translation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

ERP systems

Job description

We don't follow industry standards; we set them. We refuse to settle for being best-in-class because we constantly push to outperform expectations. Guided by our core values - radical candor, simplicity, organizational velocity, tenacious execution, and a commitment to winning we maintain a fast-paced mindset focused entirely on delivering results. We are determined to remain the most trusted partner, manufacturer, and distributor within our sector.

With a global presence, an innovative and expansive product portfolio, and an obsessive commitment to quality, our organization is entirely focused on driving excellence and achieving high-impact success.

How do we make it happen? Through an intentional, performance-driven culture. Fueled by a winning mindset and a relentless commitment to execution, our internal philosophy keeps our team bold, driven, and unapologetically focused on pushing past limits to redefine what is possible.

Here, you will work alongside a team of relentless problem-solvers who are committed to making a tangible, global impact. If you are ready to break boundaries, deliver exceptional results, and thrive in a high-velocity environment, you will find an ideal home here.

Want to learn more about who we are? Check out our website to discover the Tenneco Way

A leading international manufacturing corporation is seeking a highly skilled Bilingual Executive Coordinator & Translator. This role acts as a critical bridge between Japanese and American operations, providing high-level interpretation, translation, and administrative support. The ideal candidate will manage corporate translation needs, coordinate international import logistics, and provide comprehensive relocation and lifestyle support to expatriate employees.

Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Location: Confidential (Manufacturing Environment), Red Wing MN

Confidentiality: Strict NDA required; company name withheld for private search.

Basic Function

• Language Support: Deliver precise English-to-Japanese and Japanese-to-English translation and interpretation.
• Expatriate Care: Provide comprehensive lifestyle and administrative support to Japanese employees within and outside of work hours.
• Administrative Operations: Manage purchase order requisitions, perform general office tasks, and serve as the secondary backup for payroll processing.

Specific Responsibilities Interpretation & Translation (65%)

• Written Translation: Translate emails, memos, handbooks, job descriptions, presentations, corporate forms, and training materials.
• Verbal Interpretation: Provide simultaneous and consecutive interpretation for board meetings, teleconferences, ceremonies, customer visits, and government audits.
• Expatriate Relocation: Guide Japanese employees through the onboarding process, including securing housing, social security numbers, driver's licenses, bank accounts, and utilities.
• Family Liaison: Act as the primary point of contact for expatriate families coordinating with landlords, doctors, schools, banks, and utility providers.
• On-Call Assistance: Answer and make urgent phone calls for Japanese employees and families as needed, including occasional weekends.
• Travel Management: Coordinate corporate travel arrangements and accompany executives on domestic or international business trips as required.
• Annual Board Support: Interpret for the annual Board of Directors meeting (typically February), translate all executive decks, and travel out of state if necessary.
• International Delegation: Accompany American engineering teams to the parent plant in Japan as an interpreter once per year (approximately 1 week).

Purchasing & Procurement (15%)

• PO Management: Submit purchase order requisitions through the internal Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, secure approval numbers from the purchasing department, and issue final POs to overseas vendors.

Import Coordination & Logistics (15%)

• Freight Management: Collaborate with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics providers to submit clearance documentation and expedite shipments.
• Tracking: Monitor international cargo status daily until final delivery at the domestic facility.
• Compliance & Records: Organize and archive shipping calendars, commercial invoices, packing lists, and customs documentation.
• Issue Resolution: Troubleshoot transit delays, customs holds, and supply chain disruptions.

General Administration (5%)

• Operations Support: Cross-train to back up the payroll processor and perform general administrative tasks (filing, phone management, office supplies).
• Agility: Complete other duties as assigned; responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.

Position Requirements Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Language Proficiency: Native or near-native fluency in Japanese and English. Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N1 level and/or TOEIC score of 900+ required.
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of professional interpreting experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated experience navigating Japanese corporate structure and business etiquette.
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and general ERP software familiarity.

Core Competencies

• Absolute discretion regarding confidential executive and payroll data.
• Calm, clear-headed problem-solving capabilities under high-pressure scenarios.
• Exceptional organizational skills with strict attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a team-first, collaborative mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in simultaneous interpretation is highly desirable.
• Prior work experience or foundational knowledge in international logistics (Incoterms, customs clearance, import regulations).

Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities