Editor - PeerJ Computer Science

Taylor & Francis Group; Abingdon; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Private medical insurance

Flexible working

Volunteer days

Life assurance

Job summary

Taylor & Francis Group, part of Informa, is seeking an Editor for PeerJ - Computer Science. You will guide manuscript assessment, manage complex peer reviews, and advise on scientific and editorial standards.

The role includes recruiting for the Editorial Board and coordinating across departments to support publishing academics. You will represent the journal at conferences, promote submissions, and help shape policy updates while working in a hybrid model with in-person office time in Milton

Qualifications

• Advanced degree required (PhD) in a relevant field.
• Exceptional command of English (written and spoken).
• Experience with editorial decision making and peer review workflows.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance to manuscript assessment teams and manage complex reviews.
• Recruit and manage Editorial Board Members and liaise with Chief Editor.
• Advise on scientific and editorial standards across journals.
• Contribute to journal policies, scope and author instructions.
• Promote manuscript submissions and oversee the peer review process when needed.

Skills

Editorial judgment

Peer review expertise

Communication

Independent worker

Stakeholder management

Education

PhD

Job description

Informa is a leading academic publishing, business intelligence, knowledge and events business, creating unique content and connectivity for customers all over the world. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.

Taylor & Francis Group operates globally and produces high quality, peer reviewed books and journals. We produce unique, trusted content by expert authors, spreading knowledge and promoting discovery globally. We aim to broaden thinking and advance understanding, providing academics and professionals with a platform to share ideas and realize their individual potential.

Our purpose is to foster human progress through knowledge. We strongly believe that this requires us to encourage and examine different ideas and voices, so that any work that meets our exacting levels of quality deserves to be included in our publications. This requires open minds, the opportunity for robust debate, and the courage to defend perspectives that stand up to scrutiny, even if they conflict with our personal beliefs or values. Because that’s the only way to find the best obtainable version of the truth and, ultimately, foster human progress. If you agree, then we’d love to hear from you.

What we offer in return:

At Taylor & Francis we care about our colleagues, promoting work-life balance, wellbeing, and flexible working. You will be joining a thriving business, working alongside an exceptional group of people. We believe that the skills and experience you bring to Taylor & Francis are invaluable. We want you to have the opportunity to develop your abilities, and to innovate and develop in areas which you are passionate about.

Job Description

The Editor, PeerJ - Computer Science supports the editorial and strategic development of our PeerJ - Computer Science journal by providing guidance to the manuscript assessment team, individually managing complex peer review issues, and advising the Chief Editor, PeerJ - Computer Science on scientific and editorial standards.

The Editor will conduct ethical investigations as required, commission content, promote submissions, and represent the journal at conferences.

Additionally, the Editor will support the PeerJ - Computer Science Editorial Community team in recruiting for and managing the Editorial Board, including conducting meetings of the Editorial Board with the Chief Editor. And you will collaborate across departments to address the needs of publishing academics, driving growth and championing open research.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide Expert Peer Review Support: Serve as an escalation point for the manuscript assessment team (desk editors) in handling complex or novel scenarios, offering guidance and expertise.
• With support from the PeerJ - Computer Science Editorial Community team, recruit and manage Editorial Board Members: actively recruit, vet, train, and maintain strong communication with Editorial Board members across diverse subject areas.
• Advise on Scientific and Editorial Standards: offer insights and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders on scientific, technical, and editorial matters within your subject expertise.
• Contribute to Journal Policies: provide input on updates and improvements to the Scope, Editorial Policies, and Author Instructions for PeerJ journals.
• Promote Manuscript Submissions: actively encourage manuscript submissions through targeted journal promotion and outreach efforts.
• Oversee Peer Review Processes: manage the full peer review process for manuscripts when an academic editor is unavailable, ensuring timely and high-quality reviews.
• Represent the Journal by attending local and international conferences to enhance market knowledge, network with the academic community, gather feedback, and promote PeerJ- Computer Science and open research initiatives.
• Support Content Commissioning: proactively suggest topics and assist in commissioning high-quality content to align with journal goals.
• Drive Journal Promotion: ensure the journal is effectively promoted through all relevant channels and platforms.
• Strategic Development: collaborate with the Chief Editor to provide strategic input for developing a robust and competitive journal program.
• Conduct Ethical Investigations: lead and manage ethical investigations as required, ensuring adherence to publishing and industry standards.
• Collaborate Across Departments: work closely with colleagues in other departments to communicate the needs of publishing academics and develop strategies to address those needs.
• Implement Process Improvements: identify and implement process enhancements to improve key performance indicators (KPIs) for the peer review process.
• Foster Team Collaboration: partner with the Editorial Community and Desk Editor teams to ensure seamless operations and alignment with organizational goals.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess:

• An advanced degree (minimum PhD, but ideally postdoctoral)
• Excellent English comprehension and communication skills (written and verbal)
• Good analytical, decision making and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, contribute to building a positive team spirit and support everyone’s efforts to succeed.
• Knowledge of the academic publishing industry.

Skills and Behaviours Required

• Capable of understanding complex scientific topics
• Able to confidently converse with academics, and able to communicate academic concepts to a broader audience.
• Capable of handling multiple responsibilities, working independently, and meeting strict deadlines.
• The ability to communicate both upstream and downstream within the organisation.
• Positive and flexible attitude
• Willingness to travel as required by the company.
• A high level of personal motivation and demonstration of persistence to overcome obstacles.
• Effective presentation and organizational skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Additional Information

We believe that great things happen when people connect face-to-face. That's why we work in-person with each other, or with customers and partners, three days a week or more. When you’re not spending time together in one of our offices or other workplaces – like at conference – you get the flexibility and support to work from home or remotely.

What we offer in return

• An excellent work/life balance with a fantastic, flexible working culture
• 25 days annual leave per year plus a day off for your birthday
• 3 additional discretionary days off during the holiday season at the end of the year
• 4 paid volunteering days each year
• Company funded single cover private medical insurance
• Employee assistance programme – offering 24/7 well-being support
• Share Match – Plan that matches every share purchased with two free shares.
• Life assurance, plus optical and medical care

The successful candidate will be able to utilise our balanced working model. We ask that candidates live within a commutable distance of our officesto ensure that as a balanced worker they can make it to our office locations to collaborate as required. There is an expectation for a minimum of 3 days per week in-person time, with those 3 days a week spent in our office in Milton Park, Oxfordshire.

Please note that our Milton Park office will be relocating to Oxford city centre in late 2027 / early 2028, offering an exciting new workplace in the heart of the city.

If you have a disability, or face another barrier, and would like to request an adjustment to assist your participation in the hiring process and/or in the advertised position, please contact [e-mail]. Your request will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.

Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa Business

We want all our candidates to shine in our recruitment process. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to ensure you can show us your best self. This could include having the application form in a different format, having more time for questions, or anything else. Please ask us; we are happy to be flexible! Please contact [e-mail]

Being Yourself at Taylor & Francis

If you’re excited about working with Taylor & Francis to foster human progress through knowledge, we invite you to apply even if your existing skills and experience don’t fit every item listed above. At Taylor & Francis, we are at our best and most successful when colleagues can be themselves and contribute regardless of their identity or background. As a colleague, you will have the opportunity to further innovate and develop in areas that you are passionate about. Our goal is to empower you with the resources, incentives, and flexibility you need to enjoy success at work and to live a healthy, balanced life.

Taylor & Francis is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in and value diversity of people and thought, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where all colleagues can learn and succeed as their true selves. Taylor & Francis recruits, develops, and retains colleagues without regard to any protected personal characteristics or other non-merit-based factor.

We genuinely care about our colleagues, promoting work-life balance, wellbeing, and flexible working. We believe that the skills and experience you bring to Taylor & Francis are invaluable. We want you to have the opportunity to develop your abilities, and to innovate and develop in areas which you are passionate about. To find out more about our business and the great career opportunities please go to our Careers Site: http://www.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/careers

Or better yet check out our LinkedIn ‘Life’ Page, highlighting our accomplishments, employees, and company culture. It’s also a good way of meeting our recruitment team, who will be happy to advise you on your journey here at T&F.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/taylor-&-francis-group/life/79e0c27c-afdf-4bbb-84e6-5f8ed5e10bb8/