Managing Editor for Science Journals

Job Title: Managing Editor – Scientific Journals Position Summary The Managing Editor is responsible for the operational management and editorial administration of a portfolio of peer-reviewed scientific journals. Working closely with Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Boards, authors, reviewers, publishing partners, and internal teams, the Managing Editor ensures the efficient operation of the editorial process from manuscript submission through publication. The role combines editorial project management, stakeholder engagement, workflow optimization, and strategic journal development to maintain high standards of scientific integrity, publication quality, and author experience. Key Responsibilities Editorial Operations Manage the day-to-day editorial workflow across a portfolio of scientific journals. Monitor manuscript progress through submission, peer review, revision, acceptance, and production. Ensure editorial decisions and publication timelines meet agreed service standards. Coordinate publication schedules and issue planning with production teams. Maintain accurate editorial records and reporting. Peer Review Management Support Editors-in-Chief and Associate Editors throughout the peer review process. Monitor reviewer invitations, response rates, and review completion. Resolve workflow bottlenecks and escalate complex cases where appropriate. Ensure peer review practices comply with publisher policies and ethical standards. Editorial Quality and Ethics Promote best practices in publication ethics, research integrity, and editorial independence. Manage cases involving plagiarism, authorship disputes, conflicts of interest, corrections, retractions, and ethical concerns in collaboration with editors and publishing leadership. Ensure compliance with relevant editorial policies and international publishing standards. Journal Development Work with editorial leadership to support journal growth and strategic objectives. Analyze submission, acceptance, review, and publication metrics to identify opportunities for improvement. Recommend workflow enhancements that improve author, reviewer, and editor experience. Support initiatives to increase journal visibility, quality, and impact. Stakeholder Management Serve as the primary operational contact for Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board members, authors, reviewers, and publishing partners. Build strong working relationships with internal departments including production, marketing, publishing, and technology teams. Coordinate Editorial Board meetings and prepare reports and performance updates. Systems and Process Improvement Maintain proficiency in manuscript submission and peer review systems. Identify opportunities to improve editorial workflows, automation, and operational efficiency. Develop and maintain editorial documentation, policies, and standard operating procedures. Team Leadership (if applicable) Supervise Assistant or Associate Managing Editors and Editorial Assistants. Provide training, mentoring, and performance feedback. Allocate workloads and ensure service levels are maintained across the journal portfolio. Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline, publishing, communications, or a related field. Several years of experience in scholarly publishing, journal management, or editorial operations. Experience managing peer review workflows and manuscript tracking systems. Excellent organizational and project management skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment. High attention to detail and commitment to quality. Preferred Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a scientific field. Experience managing multiple journals or a journal portfolio. Knowledge of publication ethics and scholarly publishing standards. Familiarity with bibliometrics, journal performance metrics, and indexing requirements. Experience working with international editorial boards and research communities. Key Competencies Editorial and publishing expertise Project and workflow management Scientific communication Relationship management Problem solving and decision making Leadership and team development Process improvement Analytical thinking Customer service orientation Success Measures Editorial turnaround times consistently meet targets. High levels of editor, author, and reviewer satisfaction. Efficient peer review and publication workflows. Strong compliance with editorial and ethical standards. Successful implementation of workflow improvements. Positive contribution to journal growth and performance. Working Relationships The Managing Editor works closely with: Editors-in-Chief Associate Editors Editorial Board members Authors and reviewers Production and publishing teams Marketing and communications Publishing technology teams Research integrity and ethics specialists