Managing Editor
Are you passionate about disseminating research?
Do you thrive on working with external editorial teams and shaping the direction of influential academic journals?
Could you be our next Managing Editor, leading the development of high-impact, open access publications?
Up to £40,500
Fixed Term Contract until end of February 2027 / Full Time
Stevenage with Hybrid Working
At the IET, making our world a better place starts by creating a better place for our people.
At the IET you’ll have more than just a job. Our work is exciting and challenging, connecting the people who solve the problems that matter. It means working with us has real meaning and impact, and you’ll grow – professionally and personally – in ways you never thought possible.
We’re also making significant investments in our people, including providing a modern, vibrant workplace and embracing hybrid working.
What you'll be doing
The Managing Editor role, within our Journals team, will be responsible for driving the growth, development, and impact of an assigned journal portfolio.
The role will focus on building strong connections with academic and research communities, working closely with Editors and Editorial Boards to identify journal needs, and creating and delivering strategic journal development plans.
The Managing Editor will also collaborate with our publishing partner, Wiley, to ensure smooth day-to-day running of the journals, ensuring excellent customer service for authors, editors and reviewers.
In addition, the role will develop strategies and collaborate with the wider IET to strengthen journal quality, reputation, and reach of their assigned portfolio.
What we hope you can bring to the role
We are looking for someone with experience in managing STM journals, particularly with a focus on open access publishing.
You’ll need to have strong interpersonal and communication skills, as this role involves collaborating with editors, authors, and stakeholders. Proven knowledge of the publishing process, the ability to interpret data and market trends, and excellent time management skills are essential to succeed in this fast-paced environment.
As a self-driven and proactive individual, you’ll contribute to the strategic growth of our journals while being a team player who thrives on collaboration.
Additionally, a strong understanding of the open access landscape and the ability to develop strategies that increase journal quality and impact will be key to your success in this role.
A little more about the role
- Develop and implement strategic plans to grow the IET’s open access journals.
- Manage and oversee several journals, ensuring they meet or exceed targets and objectives.
- Build and support high-performing editorial boards, working closely with them to drive the strategic direction of each journal.
- Commission special issues and key content to enhance journal relevance and impact.
- Collaborate with Wiley’s editorial and production teams to manage article pipelines and meet publication targets.
- Monitor and analyse competitor activity and market trends to inform journal development strategies.
- Attend scientific conferences and events to network, raise the IET’s profile, and increase industry knowledge.
- Work closely with the marketing team to promote journals through various channels.
- Contribute to research integrity investigations and maintain best practices in open access publishing.
- Collaborate with internal IET teams to maximise outreach, visibility, and impact of the journals.
A little more about what we’re looking for
- Strong experience managing STM journals, with a focus on open access publishing.
- Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with editorial boards and external partners.
- Strong understanding of the publishing process, including journal development and article pipeline management.
- Experience using data insights on submissions, usage, and citations to inform decision-making.
- Excellent time management skills and the ability to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- A proactive and self-motivated attitude, with a desire for continuous improvement and development.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a customer-focused approach.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.
- Knowledge of current trends in open research and academic publishing.
- Tact, diplomacy, and a professional attitude when handling sensitive matters such as research integrity.
Please note: due to the forthcoming festive period, applications for this role will be reviewed in the week commencing Monday 5 January 2026.
We’d love to get to know you
Is Imposter syndrome creeping in? Don’t worry – we’d rather hear from you this time than not hear from you at all!
Download the full job description for a little more information about the role; but also, keep in mind that we’re open to discussing flexible ways of working, including reduced hours and working in an agile way, supported by a hybrid working framework that allows you to find the best place to do your best work.
The IET will collect, use and handle personal information about you in connection with our online and offline recruitment activities. For further information about privacy please see our Recruitment Privacy Notice.
Apply
When you select ‘apply now’ you will be taken to our candidate portal where, once registered, you can submit your CV in application for this role. If you have already created an account, you will need to log in to progress your application.
Should you require further support to register your interest in a role, or complete an application, please contact peoplesupport@theiet.org.
What if you could be you?
The IET is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
