Founding Editor-in-Chief, Cell Biotech (Cell Press)

RELX INC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement benefits

Wellbeing platform

Insurance: disability & life

Parental leave & family benefits

Employee savings plans

Paid time off & volunteer days

Job summary

RELX INC is seeking a Founding Editor-in-Chief for Cell Biotech to launch and lead a premier biotech journal. You will define scope, identity, and editorial direction, recruit and mentor a founding team, and drive a rigorous peer-review process. The role offers location flexibility near key offices and a path to shape the field from inception.

Ideal candidates possess a Ph.D. in biotechnology, extensive editorial leadership, and a global network of researchers.

Qualifications

• Have a Ph.D. in biotechnology or a closely related field, with a proven record of research expertise.
• Have extensive full-time editorial experience.
• A deep network of international researchers within the scope of the journal, and a proven ability to engage with and influence the community.
• Display a comprehensive understanding of current and emerging trends in biotechnology, with the ability to translate that into a clear journal scope and strategy.
• Display exceptional leadership and management skills, with the ability to recruit, inspire, and develop a diverse and talented editorial team.
• Have outstanding written and oral communication skills, coupled with a genuine passion for engaging with the scientific community.
• Are a visionary and entrepreneurial thinker, ready to establish Cell Biotech as a leader.

Responsibilities

• Defining the aims, scope, and article formats of Cell Biotech, and setting a strategic vision for the journal.
• Recruiting, building, and mentoring a founding editorial team, and fostering collaboration and high standards.
• Establishing and leading a rigorous peer review process to ensure high-impact research.
• Drawing on your network to attract world-class submissions and build relationships with researchers and institutions.
• Collaborating with the Cell Press editorial family and business units to launch and grow the journal.

Education

Ph.D. in biotechnology

Job description

Medford, MA

Munich

Shanghai_Tianshan

Amsterdam

Oxford Nielsen House

Beijing

London Wall

New York, NY

Full time

R115305

Founding Editor-in-Chief, Cell Biotech (Cell Press)

Are you ready for an unparalleled opportunity to launch and lead a new Cell Press journal that will shape the future of biotechnology research?

Do you have the vision to define a journal’s scope, identity, and editorial direction from the very beginning?

Do you have leadership skills and the desire to recruit, build, and inspire a founding editorial team?

About our Team

Cell Press publishes over 50 scientific journals across life, physical, earth and health sciences. We bring editorial excellence, commitment to innovation, unparalleled reach, visibility, and passion for advocacy to all areas of scientific exploration.

About the Role

Cell Press is launching Cell Biotech, a prestigious new journal to serve global biotechnology researchers. It will sit alongside our top-tier journals, including our flagship, Cell, and will publish highly influential research. We are looking for a visionary and dynamic founding Editor-in-Chief who is as passionate about advancing biotechnology as they are about building a thriving community of authors, reviewers, and readers. This is your chance to create a journal from the ground up, shape the field it serves, and influence research that could change lives. If you have deep knowledge of the field, an entrepreneurial mindset, and the ability to inspire and lead a new editorial team, we want to hear from you.

This is a full-time editorial position. There are strong advantages in candidates willing and able to be based in proximity to one of our offices (Boston MA, USA; London or Oxford, UK; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Munich, Germany; Beijing, Shanghai or Shenzhen, China). We are able to offer some flexibility in location. If hired in the UK, this role is included in the pay bargaining unit represented by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). We will consider applications on a rolling basis. An assessment or business case could be part of our selection procedure. A pre-employment screening will be part of our recruitment procedure.

Responsibilities

• Defining the aims, scope, and article formats of Cell Biotech, and setting a strategic vision that positions it as the go-to journal for groundbreaking biotechnology research, with appeal to researchers well beyond the immediate area. Your leadership will define the identity of the journal and help shape the future of the field.

• Recruiting, building, and mentoring a founding editorial team, and fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and high standards. Your guidance will empower a new team to reach its full potential in serving the community.

• Establishing and leading a rigorous peer review process, ensuring that only the most impactful and innovative research is published. You will be the gatekeeper of quality and relevance for the journal.

• Drawing on your network of leading researchers to attract world-class submissions from launch, and building meaningful relationships with researchers, institutions, industry, and professional societies. Your outreach will establish the voice of Cell Biotech and connect it to the global biotechnology community.

• Working closely with the Cell Press editorial family, the production and operations teams, and the business development, marketing, and press teams to launch the journal successfully and to develop cross-journal initiatives. You will also contribute to the overall publishing strategy of Cell Press.

• Keeping your finger on the pulse of emerging trends in biotechnology and related fields. Your vision will keep the journal ahead of the curve and at the center of the scientific conversation.

• Representing Cell Biotech and Cell Press at conferences and public forums, showcasing its impact and engaging with the broader scientific community.

• Traveling to participate in domestic and international conferences and to visit research institutes.

Requirements

• Have a Ph.D. in biotechnology or a closely related field, with a proven record of research expertise and a broad interest in research across the scope of the journal.

• Have Eextensive full-time editorial experience.

• A deep network of international researchers within the scope of the journal, and a proven ability to engage with and influence the community.

• Display a comprehensive understanding of current and emerging trends in biotechnology, with the ability to think conceptually and critically about a wide range of scientific issues and to translate that into a clear journal scope and strategy.

• Display exceptional leadership and management skills, with the ability to recruit, inspire, and develop a diverse and talented editorial team, as well as proven organizational and project management skills.

• Have outstanding written and oral communication skills, coupled with a genuine passion for engaging with the scientific community.

• Are a visionary and entrepreneurial mindset, ready to take bold steps to establish Cell Biotech as a leader in its field.

Work in a Way That Works for You

We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working options. Our benefits include wellbeing initiatives, shared parental leave, study assistance, and sabbaticals—supporting both your immediate responsibilities and long-term goals.

Working for You

• Health benefits: medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement benefits: 401(k) with match and Employee Share Purchase Plan
• Wellbeing: wellness platform, Headspace subscription, and Employee Assistance Programs
• Insurance: short- and long-term disability, life, accidental death, critical illness, and hospital indemnity
• Family benefits: parental leave, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Savings accounts: HSA, FSA, dependent care, and commuter benefits
• Paid time off, plus volunteer and Employee Resource Group participation days

About the Business

As a global leader in information and analytics, we help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes. By combining trusted content with advanced analytics, we support research, education, and clinical practice. At Elsevier, your work contributes to solving global challenges and building a more sustainable future.

U.S. National Base Pay Range: $95,300 - $158,800. Geographic differentials may apply in some locations to better reflect local market rates.

If performed in New York City, the base pay range is $114,300 - $190,500.

This job is eligible for an annual incentive bonus.

If performed in any of the following locations: DEU Home Based – Frankfurt; Germany – Frankfurt (Baseler Platz); Germany – Munich; Home Based – Bavaria; Home Based – Hamburg; Home Based – Hesse; Home Based – Munich; or Home Based – Saarland, the base pay range is €75,200 - €125,500.

If performed in NLD Amsterdam (Radarweg), the base pay range is €79,000 - €131,500.

This job may be subject to a collective labor agreement in the Netherlands. Please consult with the hiring team for further details.

We know your well-being and happiness are key to a long and successful career. We are delighted to offer country specific benefits.

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.

RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers, enabling them to make better decisions, get better results and be more productive.

Our purpose is to benefit society by developing products that help researchers advance scientific knowledge; doctors and nurses improve the lives of patients; lawyers promote the rule of law and achieve justice and fair results for their clients; businesses and governments prevent fraud; consumers access financial services and get fair prices on insurance; and customers learn about markets and complete transactions.

Our purpose guides our actions beyond the products that we develop. It defines us as a company. Every day across RELX our employees are inspired to undertake initiatives that make unique contributions to society and the communities in which we operate.