Journal Development Editor, Geological Society of London

Job Location

Hybrid working from the Bath office

Overall purpose and objectives of the job

To collaborate with the Head of Editorial Development in driving development of defined journals within the Society portfolio in line with KPIs, devising and leading on editorial development initiatives, managing relationships with contributors, and overseeing peer review, towards delivery of high-quality content and a positive editorial experience. Journal Development Editors also develop a specialism or two which they lead on within the Publishing House e.g. research integrity, publication ethics, editor engagement, EDIA, Open Access, commissioning etc.

Key accountabilities:

• To manage the development, commissioning and peer review of designated journal title(s) in order to increase visibility, submissions and reputation within the field.
• Be proactive in commissioning and building a pipeline of content for publication, towards achieving annual key performance indicator objectives for the number of papers accepted, as defined by Head of Editorial Development.
• Collaborate with journal Editorial Board(s), and manage membership to ensure sufficient subject expertise and representation of the journal(s)’ diverse community.
• Become competent in use of the Society’s online submission & peer review system and handling queries from editors, authors and reviewers.
• Take responsibility for all journal-related instructions and guidelines for editors, authors, and reviewers, and ensure editors have clear instructions on what is required of them.
• Plan for and attend relevant events/conferences to represent your journal(s) (and wider Society Publishing House and Society), commission new articles and collections, and meet external collaborators.
• Take a central role in ensuring your journal(s) are developed to further meet the needs of the community and remains an attractive publication venue.
• Track market developments, conduct market research, and be informed on key issues related to the science and publishing communities, including competitors.
Qualifications and experience

We recognise that the right person for this role may not meet all of the criteria but may also bring different strengths and experience. If you demonstrate most skills and are eager to work for the Society, please do go ahead and apply.
The Society is pleased to advertise the role with a flexible level of commitment (part-time, 0.5 – 0.8 full time employment) to meet a range of personal circumstances. A decision on the final level will informed by the candidate’s ability to meet the accountabilities of the role (listed above), as well as qualifications and experience.

Essential skills:

• Direct experience of working within the publishing environment
• Direct experience of editorial development processes, including commissioning and building a pipeline of content for publication
• Experience with, and / or knowledge of, Open Access publishing and a willingness to engage with stakeholders on the subject
• Direct experience using and configuring online peer review and submission systems e.g. Editorial Manager
• Proven experience of managing multiple deadlines, and delivering work and projects to schedule and budget
• Undergraduate level qualification, with proven ability to engage with scientific subjects
• Excellent and demonstrable influencing, negotiating and relationship-building skills
• Excellent understanding of the workings of the research environment and academic institutions
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• High level of IT literacy
• A willingness to embrace innovation and new ways of working
Desirable skills:
• Experience of working for a learned or professional society (or other charitable organisation with trustees, committees and volunteers)
• Relevant post-graduate qualification
• Demonstrable experience of signing key subject experts and strong author and editor management skills
• Experience collaborating across teams and an ability to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement
• Commercial awareness and an ability to identify and capitalise on opportunities
• Understanding of the production processes involved in scholarly publishing.

How to apply

As an equal opportunity employer, we kindly ask for applicants to anonymise CVs and cover letters before submitting by replacing your full name with initials.
To apply for this position, please forward a copy of your CV together with a cover letter to recruitment@geolsoc.org.uk. Please ensure that your cover letter fully addresses the appointment criteria in the person specification in no more than 750 words.
First round interviews will take place remotely. Please let us know if you will require any special provisions to be made should you be called for an interview. We regret that unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.

For further details please visit: The Geological Society