Editorial Manager

American Association for the Advancement; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 69,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Health insurance

Flexible spending account

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement benefits

Disability coverage

Job summary

AAAS is seeking an Editorial Manager - Production to lead a team of Editorial Coordinators and Editorial Associates, guiding manuscript processing from submission through publication and post-publication activities.

You will collaborate with the AME and Editorial Management to improve efficiency, maintain schedules, train staff, and manage external vendors like Straive and KriyaDocs, ensuring quality and timely publication for editors, authors, and reviewers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, or science-related field.
• 5-7 years in a professional setting; master's and management experience preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication.
• Strong organization, multitasking, and time management.
• Experience editing technical or scientific texts under tight deadlines.
• Understanding of STM publishing and Open Access.
• Proficiency with MS Office and Adobe software.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a team of Editorial Coordinators, Senior Editorial Coordinators, and Editorial Associates.
• Oversee team administration including timesheets and time-off requests.
• Identify process improvements with Editorial Management peers and AME.
• Lead production process changes from submission to post-publication.
• Train new production staff and provide ongoing coaching.
• Maintain production schedules, trackers, and licensing information.
• Coordinate with external vendors Straive and KriyaDocs.
• Troubleshoot CTS issues with management and technical teams.
• Coordinate with VancePak on upcoming publication lineups.
• Collaborate with Online Operations to resolve display issues.
• Attend relevant staff, Editorial Management, and production meetings.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Time management

Editing technical texts

MS Office

Adobe software

STM publishing knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in English/Communications/science

Master's degree

Tools

MS Office

Adobe software

Job description

In AAAS’s gold open access journal Science Advances (SA), Editorial Managers (EMs) work closely with the Assistant Managing Editor (AME) to oversee the day-to-day operations and personnel of the team. EMs help to ensure the rapid, high-quality processing of manuscripts by supervising a team of Editorial Coordinators, Senior Editorial Coordinators, and Editorial Associates whose core responsibilities are to process manuscripts from submission through publication, with a focus on the production process. EMs are responsible for the management of 4-8 people on the Science Advances team, supporting staff as they process manuscripts and support editors, providing editorial direction and quality control, and investing in personnel growth of their direct reports. EMs work closely with the AME, ME, and Editor as the core management team, continuously looking for ways to improve efficiencies, improve team culture, and add value to the journal experience for editors, authors, and reviewers.

The EM - Production will play a key role in managing the process of accepted manuscripts in the stages prior to publication as well as post-publication by collaborating with their peer EMs who are editorially focused and bringing the two processes into a more collaborative effort. The EM - Production will be the lead for all production system-related matters.

Help us ignite the next era of science.

WhatYou'llDo

• Manage and develop a team of Editorial Coordinators, Senior Editorial Coordinators, and Editorial Associates, including delegating work, providing day-to-day guidance, conducting regular check-ins, supporting professional development, and completing quarterly and annual performance reviews.
• Oversee team administration, including approving timesheets and time-off requests, and proactively escape team relations, management, editorial board, or operational concerns to the Associate Managing Editor (AME).
• Collaborate closely with Editorial Management peers and the AME to identify process improvements, address operational challenges, improve team efficiencies, and provide support across the department as needed.
• Lead process-related changes and continuously review procedures for manuscript processing from submission through publication and post-publication to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance with established requirements.
• Train new production staff and provide ongoing training and coaching to strengthen staff knowledge of editorial and production processes, including conducting regular reviews to identify knowledge gaps and establish learning plans.
• Oversee the timely processing and publication of accepted manuscripts, including author corrections, revised figures and supplementary files, final proofreading, galley review, and post-publication matters such as eLetters, corrections, and retractions.
• Maintain production schedules, trackers, galley folders, holds lists, licensing information, and other documentation necessary to support accurate and timely publication, including maintaining approximately six weeks of advance publication scheduling.
• Oversee and support the corrections team to ensure post-publication corrections are processed accurately and on schedule.
• Guide staff in responding to author, reviewer, and editor inquiries received through the General Editorial Inbox, Help Desk, and individual inboxes in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain and update production procedures, manuals, tracking documents, and related resources to reflect current processes and requirements.
• Serve as a liaison between staff and external production vendors, including Straive and KriyaDocs, communicating journal requirements, resolving production issues, monitoring quality, and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Partner with management and technical teams to troubleshoot CTS issues and support system enhancements and projects that improve the experience of editors, reviewers, authors, and staff.
• Coordinate with VancePak on upcoming publication lineups, schedule changes, delayed or accelerated papers, and press ream requests.
• Collaborate with Online Operations to resolve technical and display issues, address underlying code concerns, and finalize issues ahead of publication.
• Attend and actively participate in relevant staff, Editorial Management, team, and production meetings.

Minimum Qualifications

• An Editorial Manager for Science Advances should have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in English, Communications, or a science-related discipline and a minimum of 5-7 years of experience working in a professional setting. Masters preferred. Management experience is strongly preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Strong skills in identifying, communicating, and addressing problems
• Willingness to adapt to new tasks, workflows, and tools in changing organizational environment
• Strong organization, multitasking, and time management skills, and ability to meet tight deadlines
• Proven excellent skills in editing technical or scientific texts under tight deadlines with expert knowledge of English grammar
• An understanding of researchers and research environments and a high comfort level when dealing with them
• Strong ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and independently when appropriate
• Strong knowledge of issues and trends in STM publishing, including Open Access issues
• Eagerness for developing new knowledge and skills related to job duties
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office and Adobe software

Theanticipatedinitialrate of compensation for this position is $77,000 per year. AAAS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, each subject to the terms of the applicable program. Additional benefits may apply.

AAAS is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category. AAAS uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. No visa sponsorship is available for this position