Assistant Managing Editor, Journals

Assistant Managing Editor, Journals

Remote

Full time

job requisition id

JR983

At the American Cancer Society, we’re leading the fight for a world without cancer. Our employees and 1.5 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds including communities of color, the LGBTQ community, veterans, and people with disabilities. The greater the diversity of our people, the better we can serve our communities.

The people who work at the American Cancer Society focus their diverse talents on our lifesaving mission. It is a calling. And the people who answer it are fulfilled.

This position is a critical part of the American Cancer Society’s Journal Publishing Program that is responsible for the publication and dissemination of research articles and educational content in the scholarly medical journals, Cancer, Cancer Cytopathology, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, and a new journal launching in 2025. In a field that requires evolving strategies and tactics, the Assistant Managing Editor will be part of a fast-paced environment working with a results-oriented, high-performance Journals team, as well as commercial publishing staff and external medical Editors who set the goals for each journal. They will also work with external publishing partners to help support and implement peer review and publication strategies aimed at reaching our primary audience of oncology/oncology-related physicians, researchers, and other health professionals in related medical fields. Approximately 50% of the individual’s time will be spent on a new journal, with the other 50% being spent on supporting Cancer, due to volume, and the ACS Journals portfolio as needed. The Journals receive more than 4,000 submissions per year and generate critical revenue to support the Journals publishing program. Acts as lead in the event of the Director or Managing Editor’s absence, ensuring an uninterrupted workflow for peer review, production, and all editorial needs.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

EDITORIAL

• Oversees the editorial support vendor, ensuring adherence to protocols for peer review and production, keeping the Director apprised of progress.
• Responsible for the management of solicited content, from acquisition to submission, per goals set by the Editor-in-Chief
• Manages revenue-generating supplements and special issues from proposal to online publication, guiding authors, agencies, and funders through the complex processes involved.
• Works directly with the Editor-in-Chief on the consideration of letters to the editor and decision appeals.
• Responsible for tracking and analyzing complex peer review, production/publication, competition, and other data to help chart trends and also calculate semiannual Editor honoraria payments. Compiles reports for presentation and discussion at annual and quarterly meetings, as well as ad hoc meetings. Makes recommendations and implements changes based on data analysis.
• Responsible for managing and/or triaging communications received by the Editorial Office.
• Collects annual conflict of disclosures from Editorial Board members.

PRODUCTION

• Copyedits and proofreads critical materials, detecting errors or inconsistencies.
• Monitors journal online platforms and provides feedback to publisher for updates and changes.
• Manages the page budget for ACS journals, ensuring there is content to fill each issue and meet each deadline by continually reviewing manuscript data and reports. Compiles articles into issues. Conducts monthly page budget strategy meetings to advise the Managing Editor and Managing Director on the target acceptance rate and issue size.
• Screens submitted images for inappropriate manipulation and alerts the team and Editor-in-Chief to any issues that arise so they can be investigated.

OTHER

• Responsible for pulling analytics data from Wiley Journal Insights in order to review and report journal metrics. These data are used to measure immediate impact of content to the scientific and medical community.
• Provides support on journal user engagement efforts, including crafting social posts and editing of short-form video, podcasts, infographics, visual abstracts, etc.
• Organizes, plans, and manages logistics and communications for journal annual meetings held either virtually or in person.
• Provides support to the Program including managing invoices, honoraria, and contract payments, monitoring correspondence, managing group calendars, and updating ACS Nav Tools programs as needed.
• Serves as project manager on special assignments.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• Bachelor’s degree in English, publishing, journalism, liberal arts, or related degree.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound, autonomous decisions.
• Skill with analyzing and reporting quantitative and qualitative data. Ability to distill complex or technical information and find major points of interest to a given audience.
• Must be persistent, flexible, resourceful, deadline- and detail-oriented, and able to provide tactful and effective customer-service.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written, including using advanced Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to learn new computer programs quickly.
• Proven organizational and time management skills.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR KNOWLEDGE:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience with web-based peer review systems, peer review processes, and editorial procedures for a scholarly journal, including experience dealing with scientific researchers or physicians.
• Understanding of publication embargoes and press releases
• 1-2 years’ experience working with digital artwork and editing video in Adobe Creative Cloud for social media preferred.
• Comfortable presenting to large groups including leadership-level individuals.
• Familiarity with current issues and trends in scholarly publishing.
• Experience proofreading. Familiarity with AMA Manual of Style and AP Stylebook preferred.
• Experience training staff preferred.

SPECIAL MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• May travel to publishing and medical/scientific conferences.

The starting rate is $60,000 to $66,000. The final candidate’s relevant experience/skills will be considered before an offer is extended. Actual starting pay will vary based on non-discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education.

The American Cancer Society has adopted a vaccination policy that requires all staff, regardless of position or work location, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (except where prohibited by state law).

ACS provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills. Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits. We are a proud equal opportunity employer.