Associate Executive Editor

Who we are:

The American Physical Society (APS) is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics through its outstanding research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy, and international activities. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and throughout the world.

Position Summary:

As an Associate Executive Editor, you will direct and oversee a team of editors working across a multidisciplinary and prestigious suite of physics and physical sciences journals, ensuring that they meet publishing goals and editorial (scientific) standards. Reporting to the Executive Editor, and collaborating with editorial management, you will also contribute to initiatives and projects that support the entire APS Editorial Department and APS journals publishing.  This is an exceptional opportunity for an editor with the drive and broad interests to move forward in a career in scientific publishing.

APS has a “remote first” concept that promotes equal treatment and equal access within the United States, independent of physical work location, with a majority of staff working primarily from remote work locations. APS values diversity and welcomes candidates from a variety of backgrounds. APS offers a dynamic work environment with an outstanding total compensation package, including salary, outstanding benefits, and excellent paid time off.

Responsibilities:

• In alignment with APS journals publishing strategy, direct and oversee the editorial teams working across a portfolio of 4 or more journals grouped by topical area or common editorial interests. (The journal portfolio may evolve based on APS journal growth, editorial needs, and priorities.)
• Supervise, coach and support the managing editors who run these journals
• Contribute to the development of journal-level and portfolio-level goals and strategies
• Ensure high standards for editorial content
• Regularly review editorial processes and performance to improve the quality and speed of publication and to ensure an excellent author and referee experience
• Ensure efficient allocation of staff and other resources to the journal portfolio
• Keep up with trends in the scientific community and in scientific publishing
• Initiate, contribute to and/or lead projects that support the Editorial Department and APS journals publishing
• Collaborate with other APS departments in support of journal-level and cross-journal goals and initiatives
• Support the journals’ mission to be a welcoming environment for the diverse and global research community
• Contribute to a positive work environment that encourages continued learning, professional growth and collaboration
• Represent the journals at a senior management level, as needed
• If suitable, serve as a managing editor for one of the journals in the portfolio

Education: B.A/B.S and M.A/M.S is required. Ph.D. preferred in the physical sciences.

Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in scientific publishing
• Minimum of 3 years leading a journal or a collection of journals (comparable leadership experience within an editorial team will also be considered)
• Proven track record of leading projects and supervising teams
• Knowledge of and interest in scientific publishing trends
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills
• Ability to lead through change
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong time management skills, including proven ability to take ownership to drive and complete tasks, to consistently meet deadlines, and adapt quickly to change

Travel: Significant travel to attend conferences, participate in events, and visit research institutions and universities will be part of the job.