Head of Journals

Biochemical Society

Length of contract
2 year

About the Organisation

Biochemical Society promotes the future of molecular biosciences, facilitating the sharing of expertise, supporting the advancement of biochemistry and molecular biology, and raising awareness of their importance in addressing societal grand challenges. The Biochemical Society’s training programme aims to support the next generation of biochemists and provide opportunities for people of all ages and experience to explore and engage with molecular bioscience. The current programmes include some live face-to-face or online training events and a number of self-led online training courses.

About the role

We are seeking an enthusiastic, experienced Head of Journals with a passion for STM journals to oversee the editorial and production functions across the Portland Press portfolio. The position has management responsibility for the publishing team, fostering a culture of conscientious work and continuous improvement. You will work creatively to grow the journal's portfolio and ensure outstanding researcher/customer service and excellence across all publications. 

The Head of Journals will support the Director of Content and Engagement on the delivery of the PPL strategy, growing the publishing portfolio based on strategy and community need to achieve agreed targets, year-on-year growth, increase usage, and attract the best authorship. You will also work closely with the Head of Sales and Licensing to ensure content and commercial strategies are aligned to drive growth and innovation.

The post-holder will oversee all systems, processes, suppliers and partners are delivering to agreed standards, along with driving continuous improvements to KPIs within publishing processes to deliver high-quality, cost-effective end-to-end publishing service in line with business strategy and research needs, and be able to recommend improvements or innovative ways of working. This role will contribute to growing and maintaining the international profile and reputation of Portland Press and the Biochemical Society to deliver a reliable and efficient service with internal and external stakeholders to generate new ideas.

This position has management responsibility for the Publishing team, fostering a culture of conscientious working and continuous improvement to creatively grow the journals' portfolio and ensure outstanding customer/research service across all publications. Suitable candidates will have experience working in all areas of STM journal systems and processes, as well as demonstrate good knowledge of publishing policy, procedures and practices to drive performance and meet internal and external expectations.

Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning:

• Supporting the Director of Content and Engagement on the delivery of the PPL strategy, growing the publishing portfolio in line with strategy and community need, including achievement of agreed targets, achieving year-on-year growth, increasing usage, financial targets, and attracting the best authorship.
• Working with the Head of Sales and Licensing, ensure content and commercial strategies and teams are working together to drive growth and innovation.
• Day-to-day accountability of publishing processes, being the first point of escalation for managers.
• Main point of contact for Publications Committee, and escalation point (senior-level liaison) for Editorial Boards, ensuring appropriate governance oversight of policies and procedures.
• Ongoing review of procedures and processes to deliver a high-quality, cost-effective publication service.
• Where required, prepare information for and present to the Portland Press Board, particularly in relation to progress against the PPL strategy.
• Main point of contact for marketing and communications to support author, reader and institutional engagement and authorship/readership growth.
• Using monthly KPIs, garner insights and deliver outcomes that are needed via the publishing team. 

Portfolio Management and Quality Control:

• Drive continuous improvement to KPIs within publishing processes to deliver a high-quality, cost-effective end-to-end publishing service in line with business strategy and researcher needs.
• Ensure first-class outputs and simple, efficient author journeys.
• Oversee the Publishing Operations Manager in ensuring that all systems, processes, suppliers and partners are delivering on time and cost effectively to support agreed standards and processes, recommending improvements and new/better ways of working. 

Business Acumen:

• Maintain awareness of the STM and competitor landscape and trends in publishing, particularly areas that could impact journal performance and author/reader behaviour.
• Senior oversight (point of escalation) of relationships with suppliers and partners, ensuring that outputs and services are delivered on time and cost-effectively to agreed standards and processes.
• Contribute to the annual budgeting process, keeping publishing budgets under scrutiny to ensure (as much as possible) a streamlined cost base whilst providing excellent researcher service.

Community Network:

• Contribute to growing and maintaining the international profile and reputation of Portland Press and the Biochemical Society in the STM publishing communities.
• Build and maintain a network and personal contacts within the scholarly publishing community.
• Establish relationships with internal and external stakeholders, both in the UK and overseas, as necessary to deliver a reliable, efficient service and to generate ideas.
• Contribute to organisational strategic initiatives that support key scientific and community priority areas.

People Management and Development:

• Lead and motivate the publishing team (direct line management of the Portfolio
• Manager, Publishing Operations, Manager and Research Integrity and Policy Manager.
• Ensure that team members are well informed about organisational activities and opportunities, and financial and business plans.
• Coach, motivate and manage the performance of staff.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrable passion for and knowledge of STM publishing
• A background in the molecular biosciences (a similar field) could be an advantage
• Proven experience in all areas of STM journal systems and processes
• Commitment to excellent customer (researcher) service
• Good knowledge of publishing technology and industry standards
• Good knowledge of publishing policy, as well as industry-accepted procedures and practices
• Effective communication with internal and external stakeholders
• Proven experience in setting and managing strict budgets and working to KPIs
• Proven experience in driving excellent performance, internally and from external suppliers and partners
• Pro-active approach to problem solving
• Embraces change with a positive attitude
• Proven ability to lead and motivate a team
• Excellent organisational and communication skills

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salaries within the sector
• 24 days holiday + eight bank holidays and additional days over the Christmas break
• 14.5% employer pension contribution, 6.1% employee pension contribution
• Flexible working options available
• Enhanced Family Friendly Policies
• Employee Assistance Programme and Retail Offers and Discounts
• 4-day working week, available upon passing your probation
• Eyecare vouchers with Specsavers
• Enhanced Family Friendly Policies
• Paid Carers Leave
• Volunteering Leave
• Study Leave
• Enhanced Sick Pay after one year's continuous service

Conditions of employment

• Candidate must be eligible to work in the UK. We are not able to sponsor a visa.

Working locations

• Home-based

How to apply

• Apply online
• Please send a CV and covering letter. You mustn't include your Personal Information, name and contact details in your CV or Cover Letter.
• Please note that due to limited resources, it is not possible for the Society to acknowledge receipt of applications. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Interviews

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Please note that this role is home-based and, as such, interviews will be virtual.

Policies

This is because the Society is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We offer a range of family-friendly, inclusive employment policies to support staff from different backgrounds. The Society takes the security of your data seriously. It has internal policies and controls in place to ensure that your data is not lost, accidentally destroyed, misused or disclosed, and is not accessed except by our employees in the proper performance of their duties.

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