Further Information

Microbiology Society – Job Description for:

Job Title: Publishing Operations Editor

Reports to: Head of Publishing Operations

Department: Publishing

Location: Charles Darwin House, London

The Microbiology Society is one of the larges microbiology societies in Europe and publishes several leading journals. The Publishing Operations Editor coordinates operations for assigned journals within the portfolio, including editorial office services and production activities.

This is not an exhaustive list of duties; the post holder may be asked to collaborate on cross-departmental projects and take on other duties commensurate with the grade of the post.

Editorial and production operations

• Provide a high level of service for Editors, Reviewers, and Authors.
• Ensure the efficient handling of submitted articles through the peer review workflow, liaising with Editors, Reviewers, Authors, and other staff members as needed.
• Coordinate with the external editorial office to ensure that all journals, whether managed internally or externally, are operating to the same standards.
• Oversee the production of accepted articles and journal issues to ensure high-quality, timely publication, including liaising with the offshore production provider.
• Ensure that all processes comply with standard operating procedures, including making updates to the SOPs when required.
• Use the peer review and production software to provide detailed monthly reports on key metrics.
• Process invoices from external editorial office and production suppliers to ensure prompt payment, including tracking and reporting on costs.
• Monitor Article Processing Charge revenues and chase late payments where needed.
• Maintain and modify pages on the journal hosting platform for assigned journals.

Journal development

• Working with the Managing Editors, contribute to:
  • Development plans and projects for assigned journals.
  • Communications for assigned journals (e.g. journal-level Twitter accounts).
  • In-depth annual reports, including bibliometric and usage analysis.
  • Author and Reviewer surveys.
• Provide support for and attend Editorial Board meetings and other conferences relevant to assigned journals, including the Microbiology Society’s annual conference.
• Working with all members of the publishing team:
  • Contribute to the annual review and update of the five-year departmental plan.
  • Take part in special projects as outlined in the plan.

Person specification

Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• First-rate time management and organization skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Computer literate, with the ability to quickly develop expertise in new software.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to change.

Desirable

• Experience in journal publishing operations, including peer review and production.
• Knowledge of XML, specifically the JATS schema, and HTML.
• Experience of providing high-quality customer service.
• A degree or equivalent in a scientific subject.
• An interest in or understanding of microbiology.