Location
London, Hybrid (minimum 3 days per week in office near Old Street)

Hours
Full Time, with an option to opt-in to a 4-day working week (32 hours over 4 or 4.5 days) at no loss of salary

Salary
£35,000 per year

About the Role
We are seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated Assistant Editor to join the British Ecological Society’s experienced publications team. This is an excellent opportunity to assist in launching and managing a brand new journal within the society’s world-renowned portfolio. Reporting to the Head of Product Development, you will take overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the journal while providing support across the wider publications portfolio.

Your core duties will include managing a timely and fair peer review process for an international journal, supporting content acquisition plans, handling enquiries from authors, reviewers and editors, maintaining accurate manuscript records, and contributing ideas for journal development. You will liaise with the publisher’s production department to ensure smooth publication, assist with marketing and promotion through online campaigns, printed publicity and social media, update journal web pages, and develop and manage the journal blog.

Attendance at the BES annual conference and other relevant external meetings will be required. This role offers the chance to work in a collaborative environment with a focus on innovation and quality in scientific publishing. The BES office provides a relaxed atmosphere with casual dress code, free coffee, fresh fruit, pastries, and a beautiful canal-side location with dedicated break-out and well-being spaces.

Experience
- Proven experience in scientific or academic publishing
- Experience with peer review systems is desirable
- Familiarity with social media and digital publishing tools
- Understanding of the research sector and STM publishing industry

About you
- Enthusiastic, self-motivated and detail-oriented
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to translate complex information into accessible language
- Strong time-management and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise multiple deadlines
- Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
- Comfortable communicating with a wide range of stakeholders

Qualifications
- Education to degree level (or equivalent), ideally in a relevant subject
- Proficient in IT including MS Office products and ideally content management systems