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Job Title: Team Lead, Collections Management and Acquisition

Location:  Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing

Closing Date: 30th Apr 2024

The Team Lead, Collections Management and Acquisition is responsible for the journal-level Topical Collection launches and management. The successful candidate works with the Commissioning Editors and Managing Editors within their team to maintain a healthy collections pipeline and improve commissioning efficiency and effectiveness to ensure growth within the respective portfolios and meet assigned targets of collection launches, submissions and publications. The major responsibilities include the training and development of multiple direct reports, managing the team’s workload and ensuring team efficiency, monitoring their performance and providing feedback, as well as delivering personal targets. This role reports to the Head of Collections Management and Acquisition.

The responsibilities include:

 1.   Lead a collections management team

• Recruit a diverse mix of highly qualified and motivated people into Commissioning Editor and Managing Editor roles. 

• Supervise a team of Commissioning Editors and Managing Editors, responsible for their training and development.

• Motivate, engage and inspire a team of Commissioning Editors and Managing Editors and strive to achieve strong employee satisfaction scores for your team and the wider department. 

• Monitor team performance and coach the team as necessary to improve the performance.

• Report on progress toward targets and goals

• Engage regularly with your team members via the formal performance review processes that focus both on targets, achievements and personal development

2.   Execute the strategy for growing quality content via Topical Collections

• Work closely with the Head of Collections Management and Acquisition to define the strategic direction of Topical Collection launches within the assigned portfolios to reach agreed targets.

• Align with the journal editors on collections planning and improve the processes if necessary

• Provide daily supervision to team members to meet the assigned targets

• Report to line manager on results and challenges, actively propose solutions as well as work closely with the manager towards the team’s target.

• Control collections performance to determine how to maximize the outcome of Topical Collections by increasing the commissioning efficiency and effectiveness

• Test and implement newly defined strategies and improvement initiatives

3.     Engage with Guest Editors and Authors

• Recruit and train Guest Editors to ensure appropriate content handling

• Develop strong relationships with Guest Editors

• Drive engagement and high level of satisfaction within the Guest Editors community in close collaboration with the Editorial Engagement and Marketing teams

• Actively engage with the community of potential authors to commission quality articles for topical collections to meet the assigned team targets

4.     Support the development of tools and systems needed to grow Collections content at scale

• Collect and provide improvement ideas of reporting optimizations to the line manager for optimizing the Collections KPI report with the support of ACE team.

• Work closely with the PP&I Center of Excellence to implement required technology in daily commissioning activities aimed at identifying and inviting the best potential authors to the assigned journal portfolio

• Provide feedback based on market needs and daily operations to the line manager to increase the efficiency of submissions and peer review with the support of the Submission and Peer Review system team 

• Provide feedback based on market needs and daily operations to the line manager to optimize the delivery of Collections content on our platforms with the support of Product & Platform Group 

5.   Work with key internal stakeholders to ensure the goals of the Collections Management and Acquisition team are achieved and the needs of our research communities are met

• Establish a close collaboration with the publishing team to keep them informed of Topical Collection initiatives and seek their input and feedback as needed.

• Build close working relationships with other internal divisions as needed e.g. Product & Platform group, Technology, Production, Customer Service, etc.

6.   Deputise for the Head of Collections Management and Acquisition, as and when required

Experience, skills and qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree minimum

• Solid related work experience preferably in STM publishing, with a proven track record of content acquisition

• People management and supervisory skills, previous experience managing a target-driven team would be highly beneficial

• Experience in working with the research publishing community with extensive networks is preferred

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build both internal and external relationships

• Ability to work collaboratively and professionally with all internal and external stakeholders

• A willingness and proven ability  to work in a fast-paced, target-driven environment

• Detail and quality-oriented, strong organizational and prioritization skills

• Experience of the organizational complexities in a matrix organization

• Ability to communicate and effectively interact with people within a multicultural and diverse environment

Internal applicants please inform your line manager when applying.

Applicants should send:

• A cover letter that conveys their interest and motivation for the role and indicates salary expectations,

• A CV (which should include a brief account of the applicant’s research accomplishments and of other relevant experience)

Candidates will be considered on an on-going basis. Early applications are encouraged.

Internal candidates please inform your line manager before applying to this role.

At Springer Nature we value the diversity of our teams. We recognize the many benefits of a diverse workforce with equitable opportunities for everyone. We strive for an inclusive workplace that empowers all our colleagues to thrive. Our search for the best talent fully encompasses and embraces these values and principles.

We’re committed to creating a great working environment which includes the benefits you receive, opportunities for you to develop your skills and ways to get to know your colleagues. Some of these include:

• Support networks that focus on fostering dialogue around diversity, community building, advice and advocacy

• Wellbeing initiatives to support in maintaining a healthy work life balance

• 24 hour access to our learning and development platform LEAP and LinkedIn Learning to help develop your skills

• A fantastic benefits package

Further information about life at Springer Nature, hybrid working and the range of benefits available in your preferred location will be shared during the interview process.

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At Springer Nature, we value the diversity of our teams and work to build an inclusive culture, where people are treated fairly and can bring their differences to work and thrive. We empower our colleagues and value their diverse perspectives as we strive to attract, nurture and develop the very best talent. Springer Nature was awarded Diversity Team of the Year at the 2022 British Diversity Awards. Find out more about our DEI work here https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/taking-responsibility/diversity-equity-inclusion

If you have any access needs related to disability, neurodivergence or a chronic condition, please contact us so we can make all necessary accommodation.

For more information about career opportunities in Springer Nature please visit https://careers.springernature.com/