Commissioning Editor, Collections Management and Acquisitions

Springer Nature•Jersey City, NY

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Springer Nature Journals Group aims to support researchers in communicating and advancing discovery for a better world. We do this by providing a trusted environment in which researchers can quickly, easily and transparently share their discoveries, data and research stories. The Collections Management and Acquisition Team is a division within the Publishing Performance& Intelligence group providing expertise and dedicated resources to support the growth of commissioned content across the SN Journal portfolio. The Commissioning Editor is responsible for attracting high-quality content into key Springer Nature Open Access journals via the creation of Topical Collections. Increasing commissioned content is an essential part of our strategy to grow our Open Access portfolio and as such appropriate topic identification is critical. The Commissioning Editor will work with our Editorial Board Members and with our data scientists and analysts to ensure topic selection benefits from being data-driven. Similarly, identification of an appropriate Guest Editor is key to a Collection’s success; the Commissioning Editor will reach out to high-level active researchers and encourage them to engage in Topical Collections in Springer Nature journals either as an editor or an author. This is a rare opportunity to join and help shape a new and growing team at a pivotal time. This is a full-time role offered in either the New York or Jersey City office. The location strategy supports the team structure and aligns with business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree, preferably in a STEM discipline with a keen interest in Science
3 – 4 years’ experience in the publishing industry or science research
Familiarity with the Research Process and the Scientific community
An excellent understanding of the research publishing landscape and how journals and journal publishers serve the research community, particularly Open Access journals
Strong data analysis and reporting skills – ability to directly query data is desirable
Practical awareness of the importance and key aspects of research ethics
Excellent presentational skills
Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal
Good interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders
A creative mindset and the ability to bring energy, ideas and new approaches
A strategic and commercial mindset, with experience in developing and implementing plans
Ability to adapt quickly to change, juggle a varied workload under pressure and work quickly and efficiently on own initiative as well as part of a team

Nice To Haves

Direct experience of managing a journal or journal portfolio is desirable

Responsibilities

Lead commissioning strategies for key journals, applying Business Insights, Editorial Skills, and Decision Quality to drive portfolio growth.
Define and implement best practices across the Collections lifecycle, leveraging Project Management and Publishing Workflows & Systems expertise.
Identify and prioritize Collection topics using Market Intelligence, data-driven analysis, and a Global Perspective.
Monitor topic-level market trends and share, translating insights into strategic commissioning opportunities through strong Business Insights.
Conduct competitor analysis to identify growth opportunities and support informed Decision Quality.
Build and leverage relationships across internal and external editorial communities, demonstrating Consulting Skills, the ability to Balance Stakeholders, and Communicate Effectively.
Utilize data analysis tools and editorial expertise to ensure topic selection is evidence-based and aligned with journal objectives.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions for complex topic modeling and content acquisition challenges.
Manage the Collections pipeline against ambitious publication targets using strong Project Management skills.
Partner with editorial teams to align Collections strategies with journal development plans while effectively Balancing Stakeholders and maintaining journal ownership.
Identify and engage Guest Editors and authors through effective communication, relationship-building, and Consulting Skills.
Coordinate the training of Guest Editors, ensuring understanding of editorial standards and Publishing Workflows & Systems.
Work with Marketing teams to enhance Collection promotion and community engagement, leveraging Market Intelligence and a Global Perspective.
Support Managing Editors in overseeing peer review activities, applying Editorial Skills, effective stakeholder management, and knowledge of Publishing Workflows & Systems.

Benefits

Medical, Dental and Vision
401(k) with company match and contribution
Hybrid office working policy, Summer Hours, and paid time off
Flexible Spending and Commuter programs
Multiple Life insurance options
Disability coverage
Tuition Assistance
Voluntary benefits: Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, and Legal Assistance Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Family-friendly benefits and a variety of employee discounts
An array of Employee Social Networks