About us
The Physiological Society (‘the Society), a registered charity, brings together over 2,700 members from over 60 countries. Since its foundation in 1876, our members have made significant contributions to our knowledge of biological systems and the treatment of disease. The Society promotes physiology and supports those working in the field by organising world-class scientific meetings, offering grants for research, collaboration, and international travel, and by publishing the latest developments in its leading scientific journals.
Job purpose and background
The Physiological Society, whose purpose is to support the science, teaching and understanding of physiology, has two highly successful journals (The Journal of Physiology [JP] and Experimental Physiology [EP]), and an Open Access journal (Physiological Reports [PR]), which it owns jointly with the American Physiological Society (APS), those journals are all published in partnership with Wiley. They also have two recently launched Gold Open Access titles, in partnership with Elsevier, The Journal of Precision Medicine: Health & Disease [JPM] and The Journal of Nutritional Physiology [JNP]. The five journals publish important advances in our knowledge of physiology that increase our understanding of how our bodies function in health and disease. They are highly regarded in the international physiological community. JP has published the work of 40 Nobel Prize winners, among them Sir Alan Hodgkin, Sir Andrew Huxley, and more recently Sir Peter Ratcliffe.
Reporting to the Chief Executive and as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Associate Director of Publishing is responsible for the strategic leadership, management and development of the Society’s publishing portfolio. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced publishing professional to shape the future direction of a growing portfolio of high-quality journals, working in close partnership with our publishing partners, Wiley and Elsevier, as well as our Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Boards and wider research community. The role is a key strategic component of the Society’s activities, driving the sustainable growth, impact and reputation of the publishing portfolio while ensuring it continues to support the Society’s charitable mission. The Associate Director of Publishing will develop and articulate the publishing strategy, identify opportunities for innovation and expansion, and oversee the successful delivery of the publishing programme.
Acting as the Society’s ambassador for its journals, the postholder will build and nurture influential relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally, representing the Society within the scholarly publishing community and enhancing the visibility, reputation and influence of its publications.
The Associate Director of Publishing will lead and develop the publishing team, creating an environment in which individuals can thrive and deliver excellent outcomes. Working collaboratively across the Society, the role requires strong leadership, commercial awareness, financial acumen and exceptional stakeholder management skills, alongside extensive expertise in scholarly publishing. Success in the role will depend on the ability to foster productive partnerships, attract and support leading editors and authors, and ensure the publishing portfolio continues to grow in quality, reach and sustainability while contributing to the wider success of the Society.
Main tasks and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- Leading the editorial growth strategy for the publishing portfolio that delivers content, quality, and growth as well as meeting agreed financial targets for each of the journals.
- Advising on and updating the Society’s policies and practice considering new developments in journal publishing including the use of Artificial Intelligence. To benchmark the features, coverage, and service levels of the journals against those of other biomedical publications.
- Collaborating with key stakeholders including the Chair of Publications Committee, Wiley, Elsevier, and the Editors-in-Chief to develop new journal strategies and launch new journals. This will include product development, monitoring profitability, preparing, and implementing journal development/improvement plans, and establishing and reporting on annual performance targets including those for submissions, decisions, transfers, and turnaround times.
- Working with key stakeholders including the Publisher to design and deliver a strategic plan for journal commissioning that develops the best authorship for each title.
- Ensuring implementation of strategy and new policies, workflows, systems and processes.
- Engaging with the research community to understand trends in the discipline, including competitor landscape analysis and trends in international funding for physiology and related research.
- Forming a close working relationship with Wiley, Elsevier, and the Editorial Boards and Publications Committee:
-Managing the relationships with Wiley to ensure an efficient and cost-effective service which meets agreed service levels, monitoring all KPIs to achieve targets that deliver the publishing strategy.
-Managing the relationships with Elsevier to ensure an efficient and cost-effective service which meets agreed service levels, monitoring all KPIs to achieve targets that deliver the publishing strategy.
-Collaborating with each Editor-in-Chief, Senior Editors and Editorial Boards of each journal, to lead the development and implementation of the scientific and commercial strategy for each product in the portfolio in line with the Society’s organisational objectives.
- Monitoring services provided by external vendors to ensure standards are maintained, and managing relationships with those vendors, ensuring services are cost-efficient and support the organisational aims of the Society.
- Taking responsibility for the annual budget for the publishing department. Ensuring the delivery of annual workplans on time and within budget. Monitoring financial performance and identifying opportunities to increase profitability.
- Overseeing the integration and optimisation of an existing portfolio of journals, becoming the outward face of the Society in the scientific community, and promoting the portfolio.
- Managing a successful publishing team, to ensure the operational requirements of the Society’s publishing function are met, while facilitating their personal and professional development.
- Sit on the Joint Management Board of Physiological Reports ex officio, contributing to that journal’s strategy and financial management in collaboration with the American Physiological Society and Wiley.
- Contributing to the Society’s strategic planning and senior management decisions, attending Senior Management Team meetings, and attending Board meetings.
Key attributes:
Essential:
- Educated to degree level or equivalent, preferably in a relevant field of study, as this role will be managing key relationships with high-profile science professionals and editorial boards as well as being a brand ambassador for the Society.
- Thorough understanding of the needs of editors, authors and referees as key customers.
- Demonstrable experience of leading a team within a scientific/academic publishing environment.
- Excellent stakeholder management and strong people management skills.
- Substantial experience with scientific journal development, management, and publishing processes, from new title launch to boosting financial performance. Ideally with experience from a society publishing background.
- Strong analytical and financial acumen and sound commercial judgement.
- Proven experience of translating market opportunities into profitable business models.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including demonstrated negotiation skills.
- Strategic awareness including a detailed understanding of industry trends and best practice.
- Excellent understanding of ethical issues and standards in scientific publishing including the management of investigations of allegations of mis-conduct.
- Excellent project management and prioritisation skills.
- Proficient in standard IT packages, including Microsoft Office.
The Society has adopted agile working which means you will be office-based 2 days per week and there will be flexibility around your start and finish times.
What we offer:
Our generous benefits include:
- good non-contributory pension
- private medical insurance
- life assurance
- 27+ days annual leave
- comprehensive training and development
- access to our 24/7 Wellbeing and Mental Health Platform
- cycle to work scheme
The Society is committed to actively promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity. To this end we would welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, including minoritised communities and applicants with a disability, to better reflect the community we support and help broaden our perspectives.
To apply:
This role comes with a competitive salary and company benefits along with a hybrid working pattern. For further information please send your CV and cover letter, plus salary expectations, and address to Jennie Wallace (HR Manager)– jwallace@physoc.org.