Marketing Communications Trainee Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The German American Chamber of Commerce, West Coast (GACC West) is part of the worldwide network of German Chambers of Commerce abroad. In San Francisco we are the bridge between German business and Silicon Valley innovation. As cross-cultural translators, we strengthen the transatlantic innovation ecosystem and connect entrepreneurs, industry and innovation experts from Germany and the US. Through customized innovation programs, startup collaborations and strategic market expansion in the Western US, we make Silicon Valley innovation methods, success stories and the unique Silicon Valley mindset accessible to German companies and create sustainable transatlantic partnerships.

About the Role

As Marketing & Community Manager, you will give German decision-makers the confidence to think bigger and move more boldly. You'll build and deepen GACC West's community here in Silicon Valley — our Advisory Circle, German innovation outposts, founders, and innovators — and turn what you learn from that community into thought leadership, case studies, and content that show German Mittelstand leaders, founders, and policymakers what's possible, giving them the conviction to act on it. You'll also work closely with our Innovation Solutions team across programs, industries, and topics, and bring fresh energy and new thinking to how we market and build community. Y ou'll have the opportunity to take the lead for GACC West's marketing department, Marketing and content execution, partnerships, and event strategy and execution all flow through this role.

What You Will Do

Marketing Execution & Brand

• Execute GACC West's marketing and content strategy across channels — newsletter, website, and social media
• Maintain brand consistency and voice across all touchpoints
• Own the content calendar, turning strategic priorities into concrete content — thought leadership being one output
• Run day-to-day digital marketing — email/newsletter, website, and social — and use data to sharpen what's working
• Bring fresh energy and new thinking to GACC West's marketing approach — question the existing playbook and introduce new formats and ideas

Thought Leadership (German Audience)

• Translate Silicon Valley trends into content that gives German Mittelstand, startup, and political audiences the confidence to think bigger and act boldly
• Represent GACC West as a credible voice on German-U.S. innovation exchange

Community & Partnerships (Silicon Valley)

• Make community building a top priority — proactively creating touchpoints, programs, and initiatives, not just maintaining relationships, so the community actively grows and flourishes
• Grow and deepen our community of alumni, member companies, founders, and Silicon Valley ecosystem partners
• Drive our Advisory Circle of 20+ Silicon Valley thought leaders — identify, activate, and nurture key stakeholders over time
• Build and maintain relationships with German innovation outposts, founders, and innovators across the Bay Area
• Build partnerships with Silicon Valley players — corporates, VCs, startups, and tech ecosystem organizations — that expand our reach and credibility
• Manage and develop a Marketing Trainee, providing day-to-day guidance, feedback, and growth opportunities
• Opportunity to grow into leading GACC West's marketing department, taking on greater ownership of its direction and priorities over time
• Partner closely with the Innovation Solutions team on marketing, communications and event support across their programs, industries, and topics
• Turn outcomes from our innovation programs into case studies that inspire action and support sales and business development in Germany
• Partner with the Germany-based business development team so content translates into real customer conversations

Events

• Own event strategy and execution, using community and industry events as a tool to engage our stakeholders and deepen relationships across the ecosystem
• Develop new event formats and platforms where transatlantic knowledge exchange and business opportunities can thrive

What We Are Looking For

• Strong collaboration skills — comfortable aligning priorities and working cross-functionally with other teams and stakeholders (e.g., our Innovation Solutions team, Germany-based business development)
• Hands-on experience with digital marketing channels and tools (email/newsletter platforms, website/CMS, social media, basic analytics)
• 2–4 years of experience in marketing, communications, or content strategy — ideally with exposure to B2B, innovation, or tech ecosystems
• A gift for translating complex or technical topics into content that moves non-technical, high-stakes audiences to act
• Strong storytelling instincts — you can spot a good story and shape it to inspire, not just inform
• A strong execution mindset paired with editorial judgment — you take direction and priorities and run with them
• Proven event management and execution skills – you can take an event from concept to delivery, handling logistics and last-minute curveballs with a level head
• Cultural fluency to move credibly between government officials, corporate leaders, and scrappy founders — knowing instinctively which register a conversation calls for
• Genuine curiosity about Silicon Valley and innovation — the kind that doesn't need a business case to read up on it
• Comfort with ambiguity — happy inventing new formats rather than running an existing playbook
• Quick to build working fluency in new industries and technologies, and energized rather than overwhelmed by juggling multiple projects and campaigns at once
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; conversational/basic German is required
• A desire to grow into a leadership role — whether through prior experience leading, mentoring, or managing others (e.g., a small team, interns, or trainees), or a strong drive to develop those skills

What We Offer

• A mission-driven role: help shape how German decision-makers see opportunity and act on it
• Lots of room to experiment with new content, event formats, and campaigns
• A defined growth path from executing strategy to co-owning it
• A collaborative, bilingual, international team based in San Francisco
• Direct exposure to founders, corporate innovation leaders, VCs, and government stakeholders
• The opportunity to grow into leading GACC West's marketing and events team

A valid U.S. work authorization is required for this position, based full-time out of our San Francisco office.