Assistant Editor

Purpose of the Role

Assistant Editors play an important role in the manuscript ‘submission to accepts’ process, overseeing tasks such as conducting suitability checks, finding and assigning EBMs, and managing communication with editors, reviewers, and authors. They play a key role in facilitating decision-making, resolving author queries, and ensuring manuscripts progress smoothly through the publishing pipeline. Furthermore, they monitor the overall health of the journal by reviewing its performance, identifying challenges, and proposing solutions. In essence, they act as catalysts in the peer review process, ensuring high-quality manuscripts are delivered to EBMs and peer review is conducted efficiently and within set timelines.

Responsibilities

1. Quality Checks and Suitability Assessment:

Perform thorough editorial checks on submitted manuscripts to ensure they meet our journal’s guidelines and standards, determining suitability for peer review and editor assignment

Review manuscripts to verify they are not sourced from paper mills, and take appropriate action if any are identified

Ensure that duplicate manuscripts do not pass through the review process

Identify and follow the correct process for handling appealed manuscripts by coordinating with internal editors or EBMs

Ensure that all ethical standards, including human, animal, and plant ethics, research integrity, and plagiarism checks, are thoroughly applied

Ensure that the submitted manuscript aligns with the scope and focus of the journal to which it has been submitted

2. Manuscript Pipeline Management:

Oversee and manage the journal's manuscript pipeline from the "Ready for Editorial" stage to the final decision, ensuring smooth and timely processing of all submissions

Ensure that all stages of manuscript processing adhere to the standard turnaround time (TAT), and take appropriate action for any delays

3. Editor Assignment:

Invite Editors or assign manuscripts to the appropriate handling editor based on subject expertise and workload

Ensure that EBMs are engaged and taking action within the established timelines, and take appropriate measures if there are any delays

4. Editor Support and Collaboration:

Provide ongoing support to editors throughout the peer review process, creating strong working relationships to facilitate smooth operations

Collaborate closely with editorial staff to improve processes and implement new initiatives for continuous enhancement of the review process

5. Email Correspondence Management:

Handle email communications between authors, reviewers, editors, guest editors, and other stakeholders to facilitate smooth interactions and keep all parties informed at each stage of the publication process.

6. Final Decision Assessment:

Review and assess the decision recommendations made by handling editors and communicate the final decision (acceptance, revision, rejection) to authors in a timely and professional manner

Question the EBM's decision if it does not align with the established guidelines and rules

7. Monitoring Review Progress:

Actively monitor the progress of manuscripts throughout the review process, offering support where needed to ensure timely completion and final decisions

8. Mentorship and Team Support:

Provide mentorship to new team members, guiding them through the editorial processes and supporting their growth within the team.

9. Process Improvement:

Contribute ideas and suggestions to improve editorial workflows, reduce turnaround time (TAT), and enhance the management of manuscripts at various stages of the editorial process.

Key Relationships

• Authors, EBMs and Peer Reviewers
• Journal Editors/Editorial Quality Team
• Journal Editorial Office
• External Partners (Vendors)

Experience, Skills & Qualifications

Experience

• 2 years of experience with a minimum 1 year in Scientific Publishing
• Good understanding of the Publishing process and Peer review systems

Skills

• Good Communication Skills (written and verbal English)
• Email etiquettes
• Subject matter expertise (STEM)– Medicine/Life/Physical Science
• Strong analytical and logical reasoning ability
• Customer service and business communication experience
• Experience in Manuscript handling will be an added advantage

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in – Medicine/Life sciences/Physics/Chemistry/HSS
• A minimum of two years of prior experience in manuscript handling—particularly within the Transfers team—is highly desirable

Eligibility

In accordance with our internal career movement guidance, 12 months in current role is a requirement before applying to a new role