Research and Development Manager (Maternity Cover)

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Date: May 26, 2023

Location: London, GB

Company: Springer Nature Group

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Visit: group.springernature.com and follow @SpringerNature

 

Job title: Research and Development Manager (Maternity Cover)

Location: London

Fixed-term contract - Full time

Closing date: 11th June

 

The Open Access team enables one of the fastest growing areas at Springer Nature. It has responsibility for the overall OA business including business strategy, revenue, performance monitoring, business models, policies, and managing OA transition. Part of the wider commercial business, the OA group works in close coordination with both publishing and sales teams.

 

The Research and Development Manager acts as a source of expertise on external OA policy, funding, and competitor developments, conducting research and analysis to inform Springer Nature’s OA strategy, and communicating insights and implications for the business. The R&D Manager also plays a key role in translating market intelligence into action, identifying opportunities for activities that support our OA transition, and working closely with colleagues across the OA team and wider business to successfully develop and implement these initiatives.

 

The responsibilities include:

 

  • Monitor and analyse external OA policy, funding, and competitor developments across both journals and books, with support from R&D Coordinator
  • Supervise and work with the Research & Development Coordinator to ensure key external OA developments and their implications are rapidly disseminated and understood by relevant colleagues
  • Conduct research and analysis to enable OA policy and strategy development, communicating findings in reports, slide decks, or presentations.
  • Managing the ‘Open Access Policy Database’
  • Identify relevant OA consultations and surveys (e.g. UKRI OA policy consultation), and coordinate submissions from Springer Nature
  • Provide expertise and input on relevant OA thought leadership activity and white papers
  • Drive business activities and changes through OA market expertise, proactively identifying areas where the company needs to evolve policies and approaches or can learn from competitor activity
  • Attend industry conferences and events relevant to open research, and provide updates to the wider company
  • Line manage Research & Development Coordinator and Intern/Working Student

 

To be considered for the position, you will have:

 

  • Proven experience conducting research and analysis projects
  • Experience working in academic publishing and open access is desirable
  • Line-management experience is desirable
  • Strong research and analysis skills, with a keen ability to quickly assimilate and digest information and draw out relevant insights
  • Excellent communication skills, able to effectively convey information verbally and in writing, and formulate a clear narrative appropriate to the audience
  • Strong Microsoft PowerPoint skills, able to create clear and attractive slide decks
  • Numerate, and confident reading and interpreting data and a good understanding of Excel (pivot table)
  • Good initiative and ability to work independently and within a team environment
  • Effective networker, who can build relationships within the team and with colleagues around the business
  • Good organisational skills to manage multiple concurrent projects alongside day-to-day activities and line-management responsibilities  
  • Strong knowledge of academic publishing landscape including Open access, particularly OA funding and policy developments

 

This role is located in our London office (hybrid working). The position is offered on a full-time, fixed-term basis.

 

To apply: applicants should include a resume and a covering letter explaining their interest in the post.

Closing date: 11th June 2023

 

At Springer Nature, we are 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

 

Further details regarding benefits and hybrid working in your preference of location will be discussed 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.

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