Commissioning Editor

We are currently recruiting for an experienced and self-motivated Commissioning Editor to join our Conference Proceedings team on a full-time, permanent basis.

Job Summary

Proceeding articles capture for the publication record the research work presented at scientific conferences. Proceedings can serve as important snapshots of early-stage research that are later built upon in full research articles.

The Commissioning Editor works with conference organisers to bring new conferences into IOP Publishing’s proceedings journal portfolio: negotiating contracts, managing relationships and retaining existing customers. They are responsible for developing and implementing strategies that will support the successful development of the programme.

The Commissioning Editor deals with the content of journals but also needs to have the ability to assess the credibility and scope of conferences, including extensive investigative work into the history of events and the feasibility of being able to meet the scope and quality that IOP Publishing requires. There is a need for the successful applicant to be a motivated self-starter who can develop and manage relationships with new and existing customers.

What will you be doing?

 Key job accountabilities:

  • Deal with a set portfolio of conferences which they will need to expand and meet financial targets for the year and contribute to overall financial targets of the team
  • Initiating and maintaining relationships with new conference organiser clients to drive the signing of new publishing agreement
  • Developing an understanding of the global scientific conference landscape within IOP Publishing’s subject disciplines, identifying needs and trends in the conference community
  • Effective selling of IOP’s services in proceedings publications via face-to-face meetings and desk-based commissioning activities
  • Negotiating contract terms within agreed parameters

About you:

Successful applicants should demonstrate the following:

  • Degree educated or equivalent experience (ideally with a science background)
  • Outstanding communication and networking skills to work effectively with conference organisers, authors, editors and partners as well as internal stakeholders
  • Relevant experience in STM publishing with an understanding of commercial pressures
  • Willingness to travel regularly to conferences and other meetings

What we offer:

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer employees an excellent pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution), discretionary annual bonus scheme, 25+ days holiday, standard 35-hour working week, volunteering days, and a comprehensive benefits package including private medical insurance, life assurance, as well as a range of flexible benefits such as cycle to work scheme, discounted gym membership and healthcare cash plan. 

Our modern and contemporary offices are based in the thriving city centre of Bristol, a stone’s throw away from Temple Meads train station, and within walking distance of Cabot Circus shopping centre, and numerous cafés and restaurants. Named on more than one occasion as the best city in the UK to live in, Bristol is a cosmopolitan and creative city boasting a historic harbour, internationally renowned cultural institutions and home to world-class festivals and events.

As there will not be a requirement for the person in this role to be in the office weekly, we are open to considering applicants from a wider geographical area who are happy to travel to Bristol around once per fortnight for meetings, team anchor days, annual appraisals, one to one and team meetings, subject to business needs.

To apply, please submit your CV and cover note through our careers site. 

About us:

IOP Publishing is an international scientific publisher, through which leading-edge research is distributed worldwide. Our rapidly expanding journals programme is published alongside other sources of scientific information in the form of eBooks, magazines and conference proceedings. Other publications include easily accessible community and regional websites. We are a world leader in the development of electronic publishing for the scientific community and have offices in Europe, Asia and the US. Working in the interests of science and scientists, we aim to maximise the impact of the research we publish.

IOP Publishing is central to the Institute of Physics, a not-for-profit society. Any financial surplus earned by IOP Publishing goes to supporting science through the activities of the Institute. With a continuing focus on growth, we recognise that every single person has a real part to play if we’re to achieve our aim of becoming the world’s leading publisher in our field.

Vision Our vision is that diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are built into our identity in a way that is both natural and sustainable and that is visible through the work we produce, our Ways of Being, our company branding, our professional networks and the colleagues and communities we serve and support.