Journals Publishing Assistant

Company: Royal Statistical Society
Salary: £28 to 32k pro rata
Location: London/ hybrid

Line manager: RSS Journals Manager

Line management responsibility: None

Term: Permanent, part-time 21 hours per week (flexibility around days and hours worked)

Background:
Our vision is a world where data is at the heart of understanding and decision-making.

Founded in 1834, the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) is one of the world’s leading organisations advocating for the importance of statistics and data. We’re a professional body for all statisticians and data scientists – wherever they may live.

We have more than 12,000 individual members in the UK and across the world. As a charity, we advocate for the key role of statistics and data in society, and work to ensure that policy formulation and decision making are informed by evidence for the public good.

We are looking for an outstanding candidate to join the publications team in the Digital and Content department of the Society. Working as part of a friendly, professional team, you will support the Journals Manager who oversees and manages the full journal development and delivery process.

The Journal of the Royal Statistical Society consists of three world leading, peer-reviewed scientific journals of statistics and data science, and we have just launched a new, open access journal – RSS: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. With our 5-year strategy and the focus on impact in all aspects of the Society’s work, this is a great opportunity to get involved in journal delivery and development, and to further develop your experience within journal publishing.

Pension and benefits: Our defined contribution pension scheme can be joined after three months in post. Your contributions of up to 8% of salary will be double matched by the Society (making a maximum contribution by the Society of 16%). A training budget, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and employee assistance programme are also available.

Location: The RSS office is in central London and currently open twice a week. We offer flexible working arrangements and office attendance is encouraged but not mandatory depending on the role. In person attendance for certain meetings is required (including all staff/team meetings and governance/committee meetings that take place in person). Limited travel within the UK and internationally may be required.

Working hours: 21 hours per week (pro-rated). Applications for job shares and flexible working will also be considered.

Holidays: 25 days per annum (pro-rated), plus bank holidays and an additional close down between Christmas and New Year.

Probation: This post is subject to a six-month probation period.

Job purpose:
To support the Journals Manager who oversees and manages the full journal development and delivery process. This includes securing excellent relations with publishers, editors, editorial panels, trustees and authors as well as developing journal strategy in conjunction with many of the same stakeholders.

Key responsibilities:

Support and provide administration for the Society’s editorial panels, Journal Webinar Advisory Group, Discussion Meetings Committee and Publications Network

• Proactively support the editors, chair and members of journal committees and groups as directed by the Journals Manager. This involves developing credible relationships with these stakeholders and the publisher and working to support the Journals Manager to facilitate regular meetings, elicit and disseminate papers, reports and analyses prior to meetings and taking notes/writing of minutes
• Coordinate the process of appointing new associate and joint editors as directed by the Journals Manager and update the membership of journal committees and groups in the Society’s CRM system and other repositories
• Design, develop and deliver a programme of journal webinars, working with the Journal Webinar Advisory Group to select papers, invite the authors and agreed discussants, arrange the meeting and rehearsals, and publicise the events
• Work with team members to promote journal content, news, events and innovations to RSS members

Support journal editorial and production processes

• Liaise regularly with the publisher’s editorial office to ensure the smooth running of the journal peer review process and effective support of editors, reviewers, and authors
• Provide support for the journal production process managed by the Journals Manager and delivered by Oxford University Press (OUP), intervening as necessary to ensure reported problems are quickly and effectively resolved
• Provide reports to the Journals Manager and RSS senior management as required on journal activity plans and performance, including regular collection and updating of journal KPIs.

Journal development

• Support the development and delivery of the annual marketing strategy and associated activity planning by OUP and with other RSS management and stakeholders, including the support of marketing and fundraising initiatives
• Support the journals’ continuous development programme, contributing to the identification and implementation of agreed improvements and innovations
• Actively support all aspects of the new journal and its future development
• Review and update the journals publications pages on the Society’s website and the RSS/OUP hub.
• Organise, publicise, deliver and evaluate RSS journal events, specifically the Journal webinar and Discussion Meetings to proactively support the committee membership and stakeholders, upholding the RSS brand and professional reputation
  

General administration

• Write/update descriptions of processes (Standard Operating Procedures) for which you are responsible and share in relevant organisation folders

Person specification:
Essential

• Knowledge of publication processes, preferably gained through experience working to produce a learned journal
• An understanding of the issues facing peer review journals and an understanding of open-access publishing
• Strong communication and writing skills with high attention to detail, able to communicate confidently and concisely with a wide range of people
• Excellent organisational, coordination and planning skills with the ability to prioritise workload and deliver to deadlines
• Experience of organising meetings including the preparation of agendas, circulation of papers, production of minutes and coordinating actions
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as being part of a high-performing team
• Computer literate (Microsoft 365, Dynamics CRM) and ability to adapt to changes in technology
• Ability to work flexibly and cooperatively with team members and members of the RSS, many of whom volunteer their services. NB: the RSS has a flexible working policy but some meetings and events involve being present on set dates and times
• Excellent problem resolution skills
• Committed to on-going personal and professional development

How to apply for the role
Please submit your CV and a covering letter to Judith Shorten, RSS Journals Manager, at the email address detailed on our website.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 12 November.

We may arrange interviews before the deadline has passed.

The covering letter should be a maximum of two sides of A4 and cover why you are interested in the role as well as how you meet the job specific competencies.

Any questions about the role should also be directed to Judith Shorten at the above email. Likewise, if you are interested in applying but cannot do so until nearer the deadline, please email Judith to register your interest.