Assistant Editor - London, United Kingdom - Royal United Services Institute

Description

Reports to:
Director Publications


Department:
Publications


Salary Range:
£31,500 -£35,000 based on skills and experience.


Location:
London Office (Hybrid)


Contract:
Permanent, Full Time or 0.8 FTE


About RUSI

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is the worlds oldest, and the UKs leading independent think tank engaged in cutting edge research in defence and security.

Its mission is to inform, influence and enhance public debate on a safer and more stable world. RUSI is a research-led institute, producing independent, practical and innovative analysis to address todays complex challenges.

RUSI publishes a wide variety of digital and print outputs, including research papers, commentaries and RUSI Newsbrief, among others.

It also houses the RUSI Journal, a leading peer-reviewed academic journal in defence and security that was first established in 1857 and is published by Taylor and Francis.

Our publications combine scholarly rigour and policy relevance and are intended to be readable for a wide audience. The Institutes published works are well regarded for their accuracy and clarity of expression on often-technical topics.


About the role

We are now recruiting for an Assistant Editor-Periodicals to work across RUSIs range of publication outputs, with a specific responsibility for maintaining the quality of content in the RUSI Journal and ensuring its smooth day-to-day running.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to work on a specialist, world-leading publication.

With a busy and varied publications schedule, the Assistant Editor will need to be flexible, able to work autonomously and communicate clearly with team members and internal and external stakeholders, and confidently and calmly work to meet tight and sometimes overlapping deadlines.

Key tasks

• Maintain the production of the _RUSI Journal_ throughout multiple editorial stages including: peer review; editing; typesetting; proofreading; corrections implementation; file supply and transfer; and content management system upload (including monitoring activity on a publishing partners website).
• Carry out highquality content, copyedits and proofreads of _RUSI Journal _content.
• Liaise with thirdparty suppliers to ensure that production deadlines are met and that deficiencies in quality control are identified and rectified effectively and efficiently.
• Ensure the timely supply of data to facilitate print production of the _RUSI Journal_.
• Monitor the workflows of the _RUSI Journal_, identifying key dependencies such as the availability of staffing. Propose solutions to managers to identified problems.
• Plan forthcoming issues of the _RUSI Journal_, ensuring that necessary publications collateral is obtained prior to deadlines.
• Assist the Editor of the _RUSI Journal_ in managing peer review of all submissions.
• Assist the Editor and Deputy Editor of the RUSI Journal with commissioning research and author liaison.
• Assist the Editor and Deputy Editor of the _RUSI Journal_ with daytoday management of external publishing partnership.
• Support the Editor and Deputy Editor of the RUSI Journal with business development.
• Support the production of the RUSI Journal Radio podcast.
• Record and report completed projects accurately for financial and audit purposes.
• Provide editorial support to RUSIs other publication outputs.

The above list is not exhaustive, the Library and Information Manager will be required to undertake such duties that may be reasonably expected within the scope and grade of this role.

Person Specification

Essential skills and experience:

• Proven trackrecord of working in a publishing environment in either an editorial or project management capacity.
• Good understanding and/or experience of academic peer review management and tools.
• Demonstrable project management experience and skills, including familiarity with industrystandard tools.
• Excellent command of the English language with a proven ability to spot errors and inconsistencies and adhere to house style.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate and manage complex projects.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a dynamic team.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills and the ability to manage various tasks and projects with tight deadlines.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 suite, especially Microsoft Word.
• Knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Photoshop.

Desirable skills and experience:

• Good understanding of policy research and dissemination
• Experience working for a magazine/journal.
• Familiarity with RUSI style guide, products and audiences.
• Familiarity with editing for specialist audiences, particularly those interested in defence and security.

Our expectations

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave (rising with service)
• Additional days off during Christmas
• RUSI Christmas closure days
• Generous pension contributions at 6% employer contribution,
• Acces