Commissioning Editor

The Commissioning Editor is responsible for the overall publishing performance of Philosophical Transactions A. This includes contributing to increased profits through the successful implementation of editorial and publishing strategies and delivering the very best academic content with a commitment to ensuring the highest academic standards are met. They are responsible for commissioning high-quality, high-impact content, so that the journal remains a market leader in its field. The main responsibilities are commissioning content, editorial development and administration of pre- and post-acceptance of content. Reports to: Senior Commissioning Editor, Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Responsibilities:

• Taking the lead on all publishing aspects of Philosophical Transactions A. Responsibility for achieving strategic objectives through agreed tactics. The Commissioning Editor reports to the Senior Commissioning Editor and works with an extended team including members of Production, Sales, Marketing, Design, Finance, and Press.
• Commissioning sufficient content and administration of pre- and post-acceptance of content to ensure a sufficient and steady flow of high-quality material to Production. Alerting the Senior Commissioning Editor and Head of Editorial & Production to issues with content delivery.
• Liaising with Production to ensure content is delivered in a timely way and published to a high standard
• Taking a proactive approach to the editorial development of Philosophical Transactions A to ensure that it is a leader in its field. This will include:
• Working with the Senior Commissioning Editor, Academic Editors, Editorial Boards, and key Royal Society colleagues to develop a strategic plan for the journal by identifying the publishing needs/trends in the scientific community;
• Development of plans and implementation of agreed tactics to achieve these strategic aims, including coverage of key topics and author marketing initiatives to achieve targets in relation to the publication of high-quality peer-reviewed content;
• Liaison with Marketing staff to ensure: the correct marketing strategy to achieve our editorial and financial objectives; that the marketing messages reflect the status and editorial authority of the journals. Marketing will offer support for author marketing. Beyond this, the Commissioning Editor will carry out a range of marketing initiatives.
• Being the 'face of the journal' with top authors and ensuring they publish with us.
• Ensuring high impact and visibility in order that the journal can achieve market-leading positions for subscribers, readers and authors. Exploit opportunities offered by online and interactive publication.
• Ensuring all aspects of the journal run smoothly and in particular that the highest level of author care is met, from initial targeting, to submission, peer-review and follow up.
• Travelling to conferences, seminars and academic departments in the UK and internationally.
• Effective management of costs within agreed budgets.
• Acting as secretary to the Editorial Board which includes arranging Board Meetings, timely circulation of Board Papers, writing minutes and ensuring that action points are executed.
• Circulating and highlighting summaries of newsworthy articles to the Society's press office.
• Contributing to the on-going financial and editorial development of the Publishing Section as a whole by, for example, making suggestions for improvements to processes, identifying opportunities to launch new products and services.
• Liaising with Sales so they can grow revenues from subscriptions and other streams. Assisting the sales staff in exploiting opportunities for increased sales and renewals.
• The Commissioning Editor may take on specific additional responsibilities (e.g. responsibility for permissions, acting as Secretary to the Publishing Board, etc) as determined by the Head of Editorial & Production.
• Project work as is necessary from time-to-time and any other relevant duties as required.
• Providing appropriate cover for other members of the Editorial team in periods of absence as required., · Recognises own personal biases or limitations, and uses this understanding to improve decisions and plans for action
· Seeks out mentors and other development resources to gain additional self-awareness and personal development · Reflects on negative situations with maturity and seeks to understand own contribution to the situation · Holds things together and acts as a settling influence · Willing to continue learning within chosen field, training and developing towards the next level in both formal and informal ways · Works within the Royal Society Values at all times Working with others · Contributes ideas and identifies opportunities to work with others both within the team and across the organisation · Willing to provide and receive feedback to and from sectional colleagues when requested · Produces succinct presentations and papers for senior colleagues · Understands when to seek senior advice on potentially delicate negotiations · Reaches a variety of audiences using an appropriate mix of communication methods and tailored messages to appeal to their unique needs · Creates an environment of transparency while respecting confidentiality requirements · Builds consensus for delivering team goals. Frequently interacts with peers, on cross-functional matters. Resource management · Makes the best of internal/external resources and coordinates well with external partners to best meet the needs of the Society · Builds contingency into projects taking into account possible outside factors · Sets and monitors performance against quality and results orientated targets. · Focuses on both short and long-term goals · Creates novel solutions to problems · Creates a detailed design or plan to implement a new solution or approach · Evaluates new technology as potential solutions to existing issues. Adjusts course as new information comes to light · Executes quickly and decisively in a time-sensitive situation · Takes accountability to persist until opportunity is realised or problem solved Critical thinking · Determines and clarifies the requirements of any situation · Checks information for accuracy and raises concerns if information is inaccurate · Extracts the key points succinctly, clearly and accurately · Puts forward suggestions for improvement concerning current processes or systems · Tries different ways of doing things to get the best results · Compares and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of options · Formulates an opinion by considering opposing views and suggestions · Runs trials and models or applies statistical analysis and stress testing to confirm or disconfirm proposal Adaptability · Overcomes obstacles and is not deterred by setbacks; checks assumptions and first principles and works out alternative approaches · Reacts proactively to new challenges and works in a flexible manner to produce solutions · Provides feedback and participates in discussions surrounding new ideas approaches or projects · Maintains focus and continues to deliver when things are not straightforward · Adjusts to act differently depending on the situation · Takes steps to understand basic risk management and importance of identifying and maintaining controls · Leads team and helps them to understand and cope with ambiguous situations Managing people and relationships · Delegates effectively, setting clear expectations and authority · Monitors results and feedback to team on a regular basis · Recognises others' contributions and acknowledges their limits · Helps others to identify ways to improve their performance · Prioritises supervisory responsibilities and carries them out in a timely fashion · Understands and can identify client/stakeholder/staff needs and looks for opportunities to improve their experiences

Key Knowledge and Skills Required: Degree in a relevant scientific subject or equivalent Essential Excellent, up-to-date product and market knowledge. Thorough understanding of the publishing needs of the research scientist, both in traditional, peer reviewed STM journals and through other means (e.g. social media). Essential Commissioning experience. Must be aware of hot topics and key people in diverse areas within the physical sciences. Essential Experience in STM publishing, particularly with Open Access Essential Excellent communication and networking skills to work effectively with scientists, Editors, Board Members, the Fellowship and Officers of the Royal Society and in-house staff. Essential Competencies: Self-management · Works unsupervised and can motivate self · Produces results under pressure · Can manage in stressful situations · Pushes for the best results for self and team · Pursues and encourages feedback that may reveal an error in judgment or process and then makes appropriate adjustments, · Demonstrates trust in others' ability to accomplish tasks at acceptable levels of performance · Provides current, direct, complete and actionable positive and constructive feedback · Has a mind-set of sharing own and others' expertise · Creates an environment of transparency while respecting confidentiality requirements · Focuses on surfacing underlying customer issues/concerns and identifying root causes · Increases exposure to and personal relationships with others