Senior Managing Editor, Journals

Company: Society for Scholarly Publishing
Location: Alexandria
Posted on: February 1, 2025

Job Description:

A major medical specialty organization in the greater metropolitan Washington D.C. area seeks an experienced and motivated professional to manage its portfolio of high-impact peer-reviewed journals.Reporting Structure:The Senior Managing Editor, Journals, reports to the Director, Publications.QualificationsMinimum of five years' publishing experience; including at least one year fully managing the peer-review process of one or more scientific journals (preferably in the health sciences) as Managing Editor or Senior Managing Editor. Must have one to two years of experience managing direct reports or acting as team lead with significant people management responsibilities. Experience managing society-owned journals is helpful but not required. Master's degree in publishing or related field a plus. A bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience (four years' relevant work experience is equivalent to a bachelor's degree) is required.Strong organizational/project/people management skills are a must. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the journals' Editor in Chief, Associate Editors, and other staff. Ability to effectively plan and manage multiple short/long-term projects with competing deadlines. Demonstrated proficiency with journal submission systems and related tools (e.g., iThenticate) is required. Experience with Aries Editorial Manager preferred. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Strong copy editing skills are highly preferred.Capacity to understand and carry out journal reporting and make proactive recommendations to improve reporting. Ability to identify and help resolve complex issues-from process improvements to ethics questions. Having a continuous improvement mindset is key. Detail-oriented and service-minded with a strong desire to provide the best possible experience for the journals' authors, peer reviewers, and editors alike. Interest in and knowledge of journal publishing trends (particularly for society journals) are a plus.Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for the day-to-day running of the Editorial Office (EO) for two peer-reviewed journals.
• May be asked to manage or liaise with contractors, vendors, or consultants on specific projects related to the journals.
• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to provide strategic direction and guidance for the journals.
• Serves as the primary liaison between the society and the Editor in Chief (EIC), Deputy Editor, Associate Editors (AEs), authors, peer reviewers, and publisher.
• Manages two direct reports and delegates responsibilities appropriately. This position may be required to provide coverage of daily EO tasks during periods of training, vacation coverage, and high submissions (e.g., leading up to the society's Annual Meeting).Specific Duties
  • Ensure that all manuscripts processed are handled quickly, accurately, and according to the highest professional and ethical standards-from pre-submission to post-publication reporting.
  • Manage the review and revision process, including notifications, additional reviews, editor's acceptance, and author notifications with the support of Editorial Coordinators.
  • Review disposition letters to authors and proofread them as needed to ensure consistent, courteous communication.
  • Liaise with the publisher's production team to ensure all accepted articles are exported and published promptly and without issue or error.
  • Implement case-by-case solutions and process-based improvements in collaboration with EIC and others.
  • Will be required to occasionally copy edit or proofread articles.
  • Provide leadership and direction to reports, including training, performance management, and professional development.
  • Prepare agenda, meeting notes, and arrangements for regular and special meetings (including but not limited to monthly meetings with the EIC, monthly joint meetings with the publisher, EIC, and EO, meetings with AEs, Annual Editorial Board meetings, and more).
  • Prepare timely weekly and monthly reporting per the direction of the EIC and/or Director of Publications. Prepare a detailed biannual report detailing journal submissions, EO, AE, reviewer performance, and other measures.
  • Coordinate the publishing of the Annual Meeting Program Supplement in collaboration with the Meetings team.
  • May involve significant copy editing and/or proofreading of abstracts for 2-3 months per year or overseeing and reviewing such work.
  • Maintain AEs, Editorial Board member terms and information in internal and external records, including on journal and society's websites. Maintain a calendar of special issues, supplements, and key deadlines (e.g., Annual Meeting submission deadlines).
  • Schedule monthly podcast recordings and ensure recordings are delivered promptly to the appropriate individuals. Work with others to identify and share articles of particular interest to society's members and the public for PRs, social media posts, etc.
  • Provide submission system training for all users as required (i.e., maintain documentation, hold training sessions for new AEs, etc.)
  • Provide information regarding annual budgetary needs for the journals.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of scholarly publishing trends and best practices through participation in regular professional education and professional development activities.This is a hybrid position with three days in-office at the society's Northern Virginia headquarters. Full travel coverage is provided. Exceptional candidates within the mainland US may be considered for fully remote work on a case-by-case basis. The ability to travel domestically overnight up to approximately three times per year is preferred.Full benefits and additional information will be provided upon request. Interested candidates may submit an application through the SSP Career Center or by email to publications.recruiter@gmail.com. Please provide a brief resume and a one-page cover letter that includes your salary expectations.
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