Vice President Nature Journal Production and Publishing Services

About Springer Nature Group

Springer Nature opens the doors to discovery for researchers, educators, clinicians and other professionals. Every day, around the globe, our imprints, books, journals, platforms and technology solutions reach millions of people. For over 180 years our brands and imprints have been a trusted source of knowledge to these communities and today, more than ever, we see it as our responsibility to ensure that fundamental knowledge can be found, verified, understood and used by our communities – enabling them to improve outcomes, make progress, and benefit the generations that follow. Visit group.springernature.com and follow @SpringerNature / @SpringerNatureGroup

About the Role

Group Production serves the entire Springer Nature Group and is responsible for its publication output in all relevant formats, both print and electronic. Our mission is to be the bridge from the author's computer to the global audience, built on a partnership of people and systems. Group Production is organized as a matrix-style organization and team members are located worldwide. We are committed to process and product innovation to provide best-in-class author services and ensure high standards in both the publishing experience and the final product.

The VP Nature Journal Production and Publishing Services reports directly to the VP Group Production and has full responsibility for a global Journals Production Nature team and its partnership towards Publishing. With this comes responsibility for the end-to-end publishing process for over 150 Journals, 42,000 articles per year. This is a strategic role that leads to future departmental development by working in close collaboration with Publishing Executives, Editorial, Finance, Technology and the other Group Production departments to align strategies and integrate journals production processes to ensure our high-quality and turnaround expectations are met.

This role is located in our London office on a hybrid working model. The position is offered on a full-time, permanent basis.

Role responsibilities:

• Oversee all facets of Journal Production Nature and the implementation of new technologies, workflows, and methodologies to enhance production efficiency, improve turnaround times, achieve annual budget requirements, and ensure superior quality standards.
• Provide critical, strategic thinking and vision in anticipation of future departmental needs to successfully position Journal Production Nature in an ever-evolving business landscape.
• Serves as a cross-functional, forward-facing strategic role, managing currently 5 direct reports in a global organization with about 90 staff members.
• Work closely with senior-level executives as well as the other Group Production departments and editorial, publishing, sales and technology teams to ensure quality, timeliness, smooth integration of production processes with overall business objectives.
• Lead diverse teams of production editors, art editors, sub editors and production controllers, championing employee development to ensure the highest level of morale and productivity through proper coaching.
• Identify, define and align key KPIs and OKRs for Nature Journals area with overall corporate goals and oversee annual targets for the Nature Journals team
• Manage the department budget and all related processes (e.g. budgeting, forecasting, invoicing)
• Actively contribute to the creation, development, and execution of global company policies and workflow scenarios.
• Conduct internal risk assessment analysis and external vendor audits with the intent to identify and correct problems before they occur.
• Handles significant confidential data/materials, including sensitive personnel files, pricing and cost information, and Springer Nature proprietary information.

Experience, Skills & Qualifications:

Essential

• Extensive senior leadership and managerial experience.
• Collaborative mindset and the ability to work with senior level staff from all business areas to bring ideas forward.
• Strategic thinker with strong planning, operations, and finance skills.
• Experience of managing production budget, resource allocation, and timelines to ensure the efficient execution of journal products.
• Data-informed approach that supports critical analytical thinking.
• Competent development and implementation of strategies that align production workflows in support of Publishing requirements.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale production operations across multiple platforms (print, digital, multimedia).
• Strong understanding of production technologies, digital publishing tools, and content management systems (CMS).
• Proven ability orchestrating, motivating, and managing a diverse, multifaceted, production team in a matrix environment.
• Effective negotiator capable of influencing sound business decisions.
• Advanced proficiency in common workplace software and comprehensive data analytics and interpretation skills.
• Excellent communication fluency in English is mandatory
• Willingness and ability to travel.

Desirable:

• Proficiency in German, Dutch, or additional languages is a plus.
• Google Big Query and Looker.

To apply, you should include:

• A CV
• A cover letter explaining your interest in the post

At Springer Nature, we value the diversity of our teams and work to build an inclusive culture, where people are treated fairly and can bring their differences to work and thrive. We empower our colleagues and value their diverse perspectives as we strive to attract, nurture and develop the very best talent.

Springer Nature was awarded Diversity Team of the Year at the 2022 British Diversity Awards. Find out more about our DEI work here https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/taking-responsibility/diversity-equity-inclusion

If you have any access needs related to disability, neurodivergence or a chronic condition, please contact us so we can make all necessary accommodation.

For more information about career opportunities in Springer Nature please visit https://careers.springernature.com/