Associate Director - Community Development (China)

Informa is one of the world’s leading knowledge services groups. We help people and organisations gain an advantage, insight, and know-how. We use our knowledge to engage with and to help our customers make better, informed decisions, driving progress and success.

Taylor & Francis is one of the world’s largest publishers of high-quality, peer reviewed scholarly journals, books, e-books and reference works. We empower learners, thinkers and doers with trusted knowledge that advances research and enriches lives. We bring together diverse people, ideas and opinions to validate and publish the experts, theories and truths that matter. And we’ve been doing this in an unbroken arc since 1798.

Our purpose is to foster human progress through knowledge. We strongly believe that this requires us to encourage and examine different ideas and voices, so that any work that meets our exacting levels of quality deserves to be included in our publications. This requires open minds, the opportunity for robust debate, and the courage to defend perspectives that stand up to scrutiny, even if they conflict with our personal beliefs or values. Because that’s the only way to find the best obtainable version of the truth and, ultimately, foster human progress. If you agree, then we’d love to hear from you.

The Community Development team, part of the academic journals editorial team at Taylor & Francis, drives strategic engagement with the global researcher community. If you have a background in academic publishing and/or research, experience with training and engagement activities, and are a natural networker, this job might be an amazing job opportunity for you!

Reporting to the Director of Community Development this role will forge productive relationships with researchers by:

• Developing deep insights into the regional research ecosystem
• Building capacity with targeted training and engagement activities
• Deepening researcher relationships via outreach programs and regional advisory boards
• Fostering strategic partnerships with key institutions and organizations
• Serving as the primary point of contact for Editorial Development in the region
• Collaborating with regional Commercial and Marketing teams on joint initiatives
• Contributing to the global Community Development strategy

Closing date for applications: 18th July 2025

What you’ll be doing:

• Design and deliver comprehensive training programs that enhance researcher capabilities in the region, including training on research integrity in collaboration with the Ethics team.
• Establish and nurture strategic partnerships with key research institutions, societies, and organizations to support Editorial Development objectives.
• Develop insights into regional research trends, publishing practices, and factors that shape the research and publishing ecosystem.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Commercial, Marketing and Content teams to achieve integrated organizational goals.
• Develop an annual strategy for researcher engagement in the region, in collaboration with the Director of Community Development.
• Organize Editor events including, but not limited to, regional training, advisory boards, workshops, and networking sessions.
• Analyse initiative outcomes using advanced analytical tools, producing monthly performance reports and a comprehensive annual review.
• Proactively identify program and process improvements and contribute innovative solutions to team challenges.
• Enthusiastically engage in self-development, resolving skills gaps and developing deep systems knowledge, communications skills, and sector awareness.

What we’re looking for:

• Extensive experience working in academic publishing and/or research
• Knowledge of the research landscape and understanding of researcher needs
• Ability to readily grow their network of connections within the researcher ecosystem
• Proven track record in presentation, training and stakeholder engagement
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Advanced proficiency in workplace software, including core MS Office packages (Word, Excel, Power Point)
• Fluent in both Mandarin and English
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate complex concepts for diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate engaging publishing workshops
•  Proven track record of building and maintaining strategic partnerships
• Agile mindset with a strong capacity for process improvement and innovation
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high-quality standards
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development
• Adaptable and resilient in a dynamic, fast-paced research environment

At Taylor & Francis we care about our colleagues, promoting work-life balance, wellbeing, and flexible working. You will be joining a thriving business, working alongside an exceptional group of people. We believe that the skills and experience you bring to Taylor & Francis are invaluable. We want you to have the opportunity to develop your abilities, and to innovate and develop in areas which you are passionate about.

Location:

• The role will be based in Beijing or Shanghai, and you must have the right to live and work in China,
• The successful candidate will be able to utilise our balanced working model. We ask that candidates live within a commutable distance of our Beijing/Shanghai office to ensure that as a balanced worker they can make it to our office locations to collaborate as required. There is an expectation for a minimum of 3 days per week in-person time.​

What we offer in return:

At Taylor & Francis we care about our colleagues, promoting work-life balance, wellbeing, and flexible working. You will be joining a thriving business, working alongside an exceptional group of people. We believe that the skills and experience you bring to Taylor & Francis are invaluable. We want you to have the opportunity to develop your abilities, and to innovate and develop in areas which you are passionate about.

• An excellent work/life balance with a fantastic, flexible working culture
• 20 days (pro-rata for first year) annual leave per year, plus an extra day off for your birthday
• 4 paid volunteering days each year
• Paid sick leave of 14 days
• Social insurance and housing fund plus supplementary medical insurance
• Employee assistance programme – offering 24/7 well-being support
• Performance bonus
• Annual health screening for employee and spouse, optical and medical care

Training And Professional Development:

We’re passionate about ensuring you have all the tools and resources at your fingertips to reach your short and long-term career goals. We’ll support you in your journey by working together on your own bespoke Taylor & Francis Development Plan, ensuring you have the resources, tools, support, and coaching that will get you where you want to be.

Interview process:

Once you have submitted your application, we may get in touch with you for an initial screening conversation or ask you to complete a short video interview to enable us to better understand your skills, experience, and motivation. Following this, you will be invited to attend a competency-based interview, either virtually or in person. Typically, we’d then finish the interview process with a final, 2nd stage interview before extending an offer to the successful applicant.

Taylor & Francis Group an Informa Business

We want all our candidates to shine in our recruitment process. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to ensure you are able to show us your best self. This could include having the application form in a different format, more time for questions, or anything else – please ask us, we are happy to be flexible! Please contact recruitment@tandf.co.uk

Being Yourself at Taylor & Francis

 If you’re excited about working with Taylor & Francis to foster human progress through knowledge, we invite you to apply even if your existing skills and experience don’t fit every item listed above. At Taylor & Francis, we are at our best and most successful when colleagues can be themselves and contribute regardless of their identity or background. As a colleague, you will have the opportunity to further innovate and develop in areas that you are passionate about. Our goal is to empower you with the resources, incentives, and flexibility you need to enjoy success at work and to live a healthy, balanced life.

Taylor & Francis is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in and value diversity of people and thought, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where all colleagues can learn and succeed as their true selves. Taylor & Francis recruits, develops, and retains colleagues without regard to any protected personal characteristics or other non-merit-based factor.

We genuinely care about our colleagues, promoting work-life balance, wellbeing, and flexible working. We believe that the skills and experience you bring to Taylor & Francis are invaluable. We want you to have the opportunity to develop your abilities, and to innovate and develop in areas which you are passionate about. To find out more about our business and the great career opportunities please go to our Careers Site: http://www.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/careers

Or better yet check out our LinkedIn ‘Life’ Page, highlighting our accomplishments, employees, and company culture. It’s also a good way of meeting our recruitment team, who will be happy to advise you on your journey here at T&F.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/taylor-&-francis-group/life/79e0c27c-afdf-4bbb-84e6-5f8ed5e10bb8/