Senior Editor - Research Methods (Maternity cover contract to start late January 2026)

Informa Plc; Abingdon; Hybrid; GBP 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A global publishing leader in the UK is seeking an experienced Editor III for their Research Methods list. This maternity cover role offers the chance to take ownership of a fast-growing list, engaging with a diverse range of authors and projects. The successful candidate will bring strong commercial awareness, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across departments. The role ensures flexibility in a balanced working model, with expectations for in-person collaboration.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus a day off for birthday

Company funded private medical insurance

10% company bonus

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Strong ability to budget and analyze financial data.
• Confident self-starter who can work independently.
• Understanding of current market trends for product development.

Responsibilities

• Meet annual commissioning and revenue goals.
• Identify market needs and recruit authors.
• Evaluate book proposals and solicit peer reviews.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Strong word processing, spreadsheet, and database skills

Creative thinking and initiative

Strong commercial awareness

Education

Previous experience of book commissioning in academic publishing

Job description

Company 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 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 realise their individual potential.

Job Description

We currently have an exciting vacancy for an Editor III on the Research Methods list at Routledge. This is a maternity cover contract which will start late January/early February 2026.

The role involves the proactive global commissioning of a wide range of books in Research Methods, managing the frontlist programme of new manuscripts for production and directing strategy for this expanding subject area.

The role is varied and motivating, involving working across a wide range of text types from bestselling textbooks and handbooks to professional titles and research level books, with an international range of authors. This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate who would like the chance to implement their own strategic vision and work with enthusiastic and motivated authors, whilst contributing to a fast-growing interdisciplinary list. The role will have overall responsibility for steering the Research Methods list, building upon its strong growth and commercial successes in recent years.

The successful applicant should possess strong commercial awareness, excellent networking skills and the ability to work with internal departments such as production, marketing, rights, and sales to lead the Research Methods list and help ensure revenue goals are met.

What you’ll be doing:

• Meeting annual commissioning and revenue goals for the Research Methods list
• Identifying market needs and recruiting authors to write books that meet these needs
• Evaluating book proposals and soliciting peer review
• Proposing suitable projects to the publishing committee, including compiling internal proposal documents and negotiating contract terms with authors
• Working closely with authors, and editorial, production, marketing, and sales colleagues to ensure that goals are met.
• Acting as a product champion with internal stakeholders to ensure buy-in and support for the list across other departments
• Being an ambassador for Routledge and Taylor & Francis and promoting the business to external stakeholders including academic authors, editors, etc.
• Contributing ideas towards global publishing strategies

Qualifications

What we're looking for:

• A confident self-starter who can work quickly and independently, while liaising effectively with team members globally.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, be highly organized, detail-oriented, and have a financial focus and ability to budget and analyse financial data, as well as the ability to prioritise a varied workload under pressure.
• Strong word processing, spreadsheet, and database skills.
• Previous experience of book commissioning in academic publishing and familiarity with the academic book publishing process.
• A thorough understanding of current market trends and competitor activity to inform decisions on product and concept development.
• A commercial mindset and awareness of customer needs for both textbook, research and professional publishing.
• Creative thinking and excellent use of initiative.
• Proven ability to work with internal stakeholders to resolve conflicts and overcome obstacles.

Additional Information

Please note you must have the right to live and work in the UK to be considered for this role.

Location

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

Closing Date

Friday 2nd January 2026. Please note that we will be shortlisting for interview on 5th January with a view to interviewing on Thursday 8th January.

What we offer in return:

• Apportioned salary of £47,095 pa + 10% company bonus
• 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.
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance, plus optical and medical care

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 make a contribution 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.

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 Liz Southwick. Your request will be reviewed and considered in the strictest confidence.

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.

This role may also be available on a flexible working or part time basis – please ask the Talent Acquisition team for more information.

We know that sometimes the ‘perfect candidate’ doesn’t exist, and that people can be put off applying for a job if they don’t fit all the requirements. If you’re excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we’re looking for, please go ahead and apply. You could be just what we need! We believe strongly in the value of diversity and creating supportive, inclusive environments where our colleagues can succeed.