Managing Editor

Are you looking to work for a company that contributes to the fundamental understanding of the universe? Do you want to be part of a team that helps the academic community communicate their research to as broad an audience possible? Do you care passionately about the peer review process and how it helps to safeguard the quality, validity authority and rigour of academic work? We have the right job for you!

IOP Publishing (IOPP) is looking for a Managing Editor to lead a team dedicated to delivering the best possible peer review experience to our authors and reviewers. The role involves managing, motivating and developing a high-performing team; a team that is constantly striving to improve; a team that delivers its goals, but doesn’t forget that its core objective is to support physical scientists in getting their research published.

Where does this role fit in at IOP Publishing?

IOPP has a mission to become the leading authority on peer review. Our Managing Editors play a vital role in supporting that goal, leading our teams of peer review experts to ensure that the peer review process meets the needs of the physical science research community.

Each Managing Editor is responsible for a large team dedicated to managing the peer review process on a portfolio of academic journals. The role involves managing, motivating and developing the team so that we deliver a fair, inclusive and efficient peer review service to our authors and reviewers. The role is responsible for resourcing, for delivering a first-class peer review process, and for driving improvements to our workflows. They also manage peer review on a small number of titles within the portfolio.

Working closely with their peers, the Managing Editor helps deliver the peer review strategy, sponsoring cross-departmental projects and initiatives designed to make IOPP the leading authority on peer review.

Key job accountabilities include

• Building and managing, motivating and developing a large peer review portfolio team.
• Maintaining a positive working environment for the team so that they can perform to the highest possible level.
• Delivering against key performance indicators: overall time from submission to decision, average number of reviewers per manuscript, acceptance/rejection ratios.
• Taking overall responsibility for the portfolio to deliver a fair, inclusive and efficient peer review process that meets customer requirements.
• Maintaining a focus on continuous improvement for peer review.
• Managing peer review on a small number of titles within the portfolio.

About you

Successful applicants should demonstrate the following:

• STM Publishing and peer review experience.
• Experienced people manager, ideally leading and motivating a large team.
• Experienced change manager/agent.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to track progress against KPIs.
• Ability to motivate a team to success.
• Collaborative approach to team management and working with peers.
• Degree or PhD in a related subject.

About the benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer employees a comprehensive benefits package including an excellent pension scheme, discretionary annual bonus scheme, private medical insurance, life assurance and generous annual leave, and a range of flexible benefits including cycle to work and gym membership.

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.

This role is based at our Bristol office. Blended and flexible working will be considered with regular office attendance informed by business needs and subject to the local Covid-19 situation.

To apply

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter through our careers site highlighting your previous experience and how it applies to the role, and why you are interested in this opportunity and IOP Publishing.

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.

We are seeking a diverse range of candidates and particularly welcome applicants from under-represented backgrounds.