Associate Publisher

Relx Plc; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

RELX PLC’s STMJ team manages a portfolio of journals and collaborates with editors, societies, and research communities to drive development and long-term success. The role blends relationship building, strategy, data analysis, and a keen interest in scholarly publishing.

You will contribute to editorial workflows and publishing technology while engaging with researchers and institutions across disciplines. A travel component is expected, with 2–4 trips per year depending on assignments.

Qualifications

• Experience in publishing, ideally in scholarly journals is preferable, but not essential.
• Evidence that you have set goals and met them, and that your work made a difference to a journal or programme.
• Excellent networking and communication skills in English.
• The ability to adapt to change, manage several responsibilities at once, and work well both independently and with colleagues and customers at different levels, in different locations and from different cultures, often to deadlines.
• A data-driven approach and an interest in how publishing is changing.
• Financial and commercial awareness, and an eye for how a journal can develop.
• Good judgment when using AI tools, including knowing when output can be relied on and when it needs checking.
• Willingness to travel, on average 2 to 4 trips per year.

Responsibilities

• Follow market trends in publishing and research to spot needs for journals and communities.
• Set portfolio strategy using market knowledge and data analysis to meet STMJ targets.
• Develop the portfolio by growing content through journals, acquisitions, and new formats.
• Manage contracts with editors and negotiate editorial agreements.
• Oversee the editorial fees budget and related finances.
• Build relationships with editors, editorial boards, societies, and researchers.
• Contribute to wider STMJ projects and cross-team initiatives.

Skills

Networking

English communication

Data analysis

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Editorial workflows

Job description

Associate Publisher

Are you passionate about scholarly publishing and excited by the opportunity to shape the future of academic research?

Would you enjoy building strong partnerships with editors, societies, and research communities while driving the development of a portfolio of influential journals?

About our Team

Our STMJ (Science, Technology, and Medical Journals) team publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed research that drives progress across scientific and medical disciplines. We collaborate closely with authors, editors, reviewers, and societies to ensure the integrity and impact of the published work. Through innovation in editorial workflows and publishing technology, we help global research communities discover, evaluate, and disseminate knowledge that advances science and improves lives. You will join a team of 10 publishers, led by a Publishing Director, who together look after around 150 journals in the life sciences or social sciences/economics space.

About the Role

As an Associate Publisher, you will manage a portfolio of journals and work closely with editors, editorial boards, societies, and research communities to support their development and long-term success. The role combines relationship building, strategic thinking, data analysis, and a strong interest in academic publishing and the evolving scholarly communications landscape.

Responsibilities

• Follow the market. Keep up to date with developments in publishing and research, and identify where there are needs and opportunities for your journals and the communities that they serve.
• Set portfolio strategy. Use market knowledge and data analysis to develop a strategy that meets STMJ targets and keeps your journals competitive. You will need experience gathering, presenting and interpreting data.
• Develop the portfolio. Grow content through existing journals and through acquisitions, and look at new content formats, extensions and channels.
• Manage contracts with editors. Negotiate and manage contractual relationships with journal editors.
• Manage budgets. Look after the editorial fees budget.
• Build relationships. Stay in regular contact with editors and editorial boards, and engage with research institutes, societies, funding bodies and others in the research community.
• Contribute to wider projects. Take part in projects across STMJ and in other parts of Elsevier that need STMJ input. These might be pilots of a new product, service or business model, or improvements to how we work.

Requirements

• Experience in publishing, ideally in scholarly journals is preferable, but not essential.
• Evidence that you have set goals and met them, and that your work made a difference to a journal or programme.
• Excellent networking and communication skills in English.
• The ability to adapt to change, manage several responsibilities at once, and work well both independently and with colleagues and customers at different levels, in different locations and from different cultures, often to deadlines.
• A data-driven approach and an interest in how publishing is changing.
• Financial and commercial awareness, and an eye for how a journal can develop.
• Good judgment when using AI tools, including knowing when output can be relied on and when it needs checking.
• Willingness to travel, on average 2 to 4 trips per year.

Work in a Way That Works for You

We promote a healthy work/life balance across the organisation. We offer an appealing working prospect for our people. With numerous wellbeing initiatives, shared parental leave, study assistance, and sabbaticals, we will help you meet your immediate responsibilities and your long-term goals.

Working Pattern

Working flexible hours - flexing the times when you work in the day to help you fit everything in and work when you are the most productive.

About the Business

A global leader in information and analytics, we help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. Building on our publishing heritage, we combine quality information and vast data sets with analytics to support visionary science and research, health education and interactive learning, as well as exceptional healthcare and clinical practice. At Elsevier, your work contributes to the world’s grand challenges and a more sustainable future. We harness innovative technologies to support science and healthcare to partner for a better world.

We are committed to providing a fair and accessible hiring process. If you have a disability or other need that requires accommodation or adjustment, please let us know by completing our Applicant Request Support Form or please contact 1-855-833-5120.

We are an equal opportunity employer: qualified applicants are considered for and treated during employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, disability status, protected veteran status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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