Freelance Managing Editor: PhD (History)

Cactus Communications; España; On-site; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexibility

Job summary

Cactus Communications is seeking project-based Managing Editors with a PhD in History to oversee editorial decisions across a portfolio of journals. You will make independent post–peer review decisions, uphold standards, and collaborate with internal teams to maintain throughput and quality.

Ideal candidates are active researchers with 3–5 publications in English in the last five years and experience with editorial systems (ScholarOne, EM, SNAPP, REX).

Qualifications

• PhD in History with ongoing research activity.
• 3–5 publications in last 5 years in English.
• Publications should avoid retractions or misconduct.

Responsibilities

• Assess manuscript suitability and issue initial revision decisions post peer review.
• Evaluate peer-review reports and determine need for additional review for complex cases.
• Synthesize reviewer feedback into editorial decisions upholding journal standards.
• Provide clear decision letters to authors explaining revisions and expectations for resubmissions.
• Manage revision requests on original submissions and assess author responses.
• Ensure consistency in decision-making across submissions and timelines.
• Collaborate with Publisher, Desk Editors, and Reviewer Selection Support via email.
• Attend regular check-ins with Publisher to give updates on processing and challenges.
• Aim for manuscript decisions within 5 business days; respond to queries within 2 days.
• Provide KPI reporting and periodic performance updates.
• Participate in reviews to assess delivery against KPIs and implement improvements.

Skills

PhD in History

Active researcher

English publications

Education

PhD in History

Tools

ScholarOne

EM

SNAPP

REX

Job description

One of our prestigious publisher clients is looking for project-based Managing Editors support to ensure timely, high‑quality editorial decisions across a portfolio of journals. In this role, candidates will need to make independent, post–peer review decisions, uphold journal standards, and collaborate closely with internal teams to maintain throughput and quality. Manuscripts will be assigned as required, allowing for flexibility around commitments.

We are specifically seeking candidates with a PhD specializing in History, having 3-5 years of research experience, and currently involved in research/academia/practicing clinically.

Job Responsibilities

• Assess the suitability of submitted manuscripts and, following peer review, issue initial revision decisions (minor/major) and final (accept/reject) decisions.
• Evaluate the quality and relevance of peer-review reports and determine when additional review is warranted for borderline or complex cases.
• Synthesize reviewer feedback into coherent editorial decisions that uphold the journal’s reputation through rigorous editorial standards.
• Provide clear, constructive decision letters to authors explaining revision requirements and expectations for resubmissions, whilst maintaining a professional tone in all author correspondence.
• Issue and evaluate revision requests on original submissions, determining whether author responses adequately address reviewer comments.
• Ensure consistency in decision-making across original and revised submissions throughout the appointment.
• Collaborate with the Publisher, Desk Editors, and Reviewer Selection Support primarily via email and other asynchronous channels.
• Attend scheduled regular check-in meetings with the Publisher to provide updates on manuscript processing and any challenges encountered.
• Decision turnaround: complete all manuscript decisions within a maximum of 5 business days from assignment.
• Response times: respond to queries and communications within 2 business days.
• Provide KPI reporting and periodic performance updates.
• Participate in reviews to assess delivery against KPIs and implement corrective and preventive actions where needed.

Qualifications and Prerequisites

• PhD in History
• Active (or very recent) researchers with a minimum of 3-5 publications in the last 5 years.
• Publications should be primarily in English.
• Must have at least 2 publications in the last 2 years.
• Publications should not have a retraction note or expressions of concern related to authorship disputes, plagiarism, or research misconduct.
• Should be either the first or the last author on the publications.
• Should have working knowledge of an editorial management system (ScholarOne, EM, SNAPP, REX, etc.) [Preferred]

Benefits of the role

• Flexibility: Set your own work hours to match your lifestyle.