Publishing Manager: Scholarly Journals / Production Manager

SUMMARY:
My client based in the Northern Suburbs is seeking to employ a Publishing Manager: Scholarly Journals. You will be responsible for developing and implementing an overall publishing and editorial strategy to sustainably grow the companies Journal Publishing's impact, influence, and financial return.

POSITION INFO:

Responsibilities:

Journal publishing and editorial strategy:

• Strengthen the Company''s portfolio by managing quality submission volumes, raising journal ranking, improving author satisfaction, and growing article impact.
• Manage the journal portfolio to ensure individual journal, departmental, and divisional targets (including revenue, quality, and profitability etc.) are achieved.
• Collaborate with Editors and journal owners to publish high-quality content in maximum suitable volume to increase the market share of the respective journals.
• Ensure that all Journal production functions meet cost, quality and schedule requirements and that the highest customer service objectives are achieved.
• Identify and advise on possible workflow improvements in the publishing process; initiate remedial actions, negotiations and process changes where necessary.
• Work with finance, marketing, and operations colleagues to ensure maximum profitability of the portfolio, including management of costs; initiate remedial actions, negotiations and process changes where necessary.
• Lead the transition process for newly acquired titles to ensure a methodological approach, coordination with other departments, including the marketing and acquisitions team, and keeping clients informed on what to expect at each stage.
• Ensure the timeous compilation and printing of journal hardcopies.
• Identify, manage, and develop plans for special issues and or supplements for the journal portfolio.
• Implement and maintain the company journal policies across the portfolio.
• Assist with the implementation of projects that scale across the journals program.

Publishing Integrity and Ethics

• Ensure that all policies are up-to-date and, at a minimum, comply with the funder, government, and industry-wide standards.
• Advise, guide and support Editors on Publishing Integrity, and Ethics were necessary.
• Lead pre-emptive contract renewals and oping the business plans for approval and writing and presenting detailed proposals, in liaison with the Publishing Manager.
• Lead or contribute to the response to RFPs for new journal business in subject areas identified for content growth.
  • With data-driven analysis.
  • High quality is written proposals.
  • Persuasive presentations.
  • Commercially intelligent financial arrangements.
  • In full agreement with the company legal and compliance requirements.
  • In accordance with the company strategic priorities.
• Present for approval and launch new open-access journals with society partners, after undertaking necessary qualitative research and detailed financial modelling.
• Create and present Editorial Development plans to societies and editorial boards)
• Interpret and translate relevant data to steer editorial decision-making and direction.
• Prepare written and formal verbal presentations (i.e., as required to groups such as The Company Board and Executive Management on Publications; Editorial Advisory Boards; Editors'' Conferences; outside publishing and marketing groups and other societies and associations, both domestic and international).

Contract Management

• Lead pre-emptive contract renewals and oping the business plans for approval and writing and presenting detailed proposals, in liaison with the Publishing Manager.
• Lead or contribute to the response to RFPs for new journal business in subject areas identified for content growth.
  • With data-driven analysis.
  • High quality is written proposals.
  • Persuasive presentations.
  • Commercially intelligent financial arrangements.
  • In full agreement with the company legal and compliance requirements.
  • In accordance with the company strategic priorities.
• Present for approval and launch new open-access journals with society partners, after undertaking necessary qualitative research and detailed financial modelling.

Presentations and Reports

• Create and present Editorial Development plans to societies and editorial boards)
• Interpret and translate relevant data to steer editorial decision-making and direction.
• Prepare written and formal verbal presentations (i.e., as required to groups such as The Company Board and Executive Management on Publications; Editorial Advisory Boards; Editors'' Conferences; outside publishing and marketing groups and other societies and associations, both domestic and international).

Management of Staff

• Responsible for the overall goals, development, motivation, and management of Publishing Journals department.  Ensure that all duties are properly executed to achieve the goals and objectives assigned to the department.
• Responsible for performance appraisals, development of annual goals and objectives, and individual development plans for staff reporting directly to this position.
• Cultivate a culture of excellence, innovation, customer-centricity, collaboration, and transparency.
• Identify and seek out any suitable software systems that is needed for operational efficiencies.
• Evaluate the software systems and its associated costs to make a recommendation of best fit for the Company.
• Suggest changes to the software system as required to enhance operational efficiencies.
• Oversee the testing of any changes to ensure it meets operational requirements.
• Ensure the public view of any platform text remains relevant to the audience always interacting with the platform.

Management of Publication Systems

• Identify and seek out any suitable software systems that is needed for operational efficiencies.
• Evaluate the software systems and its associated costs to make a recommendation of best fit for the Company.
• Suggest changes to the software system as required to enhance operational efficiencies.
• Oversee the testing of any changes to ensure it meets operational requirements.
• Ensure the public view of any platform text remains relevant to the audience always interacting with the platform.

Open Access (OA)

• Stay abreast with OA trends and developments and the Company''s position and activities, which could include listening to webinars on the topic and reading various reports.
• Stay current with trends specifically in the way of transformative agreements, as well as the state of market and government policies around OA, both locally and globally.

Qualifications, Experience and Technical Requirements:

• A Bachelor''s degree in English, journalism, communications, public relations, engineering, or a related field. Masters in Publishing will be advantageous.
• 5+ years of direct editorial experience in scholarly publishing or relevant experience.
• 4+ years of management experience. Broad team management experience, with demonstrated ability in change management and performance management.
• Proven experience with project planning and developing specific business development opportunities in support of strategic plans.
• Experience in global vendor management and vendor contract negotiations.
• Excellent communications skills, both written and oral, including effective presentation skills when making recommendations to large/senior groups;(English and Afrikaans)
• Highly developed interpersonal and diplomatic skills; ability to exercise sound judgment in decision-making.
• Analytical and forecasting ability to review trends and align development appropriately.
• Entrepreneurial skills.
• Problem-Solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively, influence and build trust.
• Ability to travel from time to time.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a virtual environment.
• Excellent written and verbal English and Afrikaans (read, write, and speak). 
• Attention to detail.
• Computer literacy (Proficiency in Microsoft Office software, particularly Outlook, Word and Excel (i.e. working with track changes, version control, removing or inserting author information, etc. proficiently).
• Proficiency in working with Adobe PDF.

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Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you not receive feedback within 48 hours, please accept your application as unsuccessful.

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