Executive Publisher, Medicine Journals

Position: Executive Publisher, Medicine Journals

Location: New York City or Philadelphia (Hybrid Working Model)

How the role fits in and the purpose

The Executive Publisher is responsible for driving and managing the strategic growth and development of a portfolio of journals. The Executive Publisher also contributes to the overall success of the publishing unit by managing, developing and nurturing a team of individuals. The Executive Publisher will create an environment to successfully engage with society partners, external editors and editorial board members, attract the best authors, and to deliver their publishing program in a timely and efficient manner.

Key tasks:

Create a positive and energetic team environment, providing trusted management in which your team feel engaged and understand what is expected and the value of their contribution to the business.

• Contribute to the setting of performance goals for your staff, and ensure that these are well communicated, cascaded into individual objectives and targets as appropriate, monitored regularly, with appropriate action taken as necessary.
• Be visible to and engage regularly with your team to monitor performance and their development; carry out regular performance appraisals that focus both on targets/achievements and personal development.
• Understand the value and importance of regular communication with your wider team – both to solicit their suggestions and ideas, and to report back to them on our activities and progress.
• Provide subject-based and policy guidance to your team, and oversee the investigation and resolution of research integrity issues.
• Provide appropriate coaching and seek to ensure a culture where team members look to solve their own issues and engage in continuous improvement and, as appropriate, innovation.
• Be aware of staff wellbeing, regularly monitor employee satisfaction and seek to address recurring issues.
• Role-model our values and ways of working and ensure that these are incorporated into the day-to-day running of your team.

Drive the editorial and publishing development of a portfolio of journals

• Produce journals that deliver a best-in-class author experience and enjoy maximum engagement from the external editors and Editorial Board Members (EBMs) on whom we rely; working closely with the Editor and Author Engagement horizontal.
• On a regular basis ensure portfolios are aligned with our strategic priorities in a rapidly changing external environment. 
• Agree with your Publishing Director the annual targets for journal submission, publication and transfer volumes as well as target turnaround times.
• Ensure a data led approach to portfolio management and development, and that all KPIs are regularly monitored, reported and met, and that action is taken as needed.
• With your Publishing Director, take responsibility for the commercial performance of your portfolio and/or team portfolios.
• Strive for maximal efficiency and productivity of our EiCs, peer-reviewers and EBMs.

Understand and engage regularly with external editors and the research communities that your journals serve

• Ensure we drive strong partnerships with our external editors and that you and your team (as appropriate) monitor editorial performance and address as necessary so that we provide excellent author service, in particular with respect to manuscript handling times.
• Engage effectively with the other verticals and horizontals in the Journals group to develop effective workflows to support optimal journal function. Look to proactively identify service level issues which affect our external editors and research communities.
• Work closely with your team to build close working relationships with external EiCs, EBMs and the wider research community, attending external meetings as appropriate. Look for opportunities to demonstrate Springer Nature’s thought-leadership position and demonstrate our worth as a strategic publishing partner.
• Understand the trends and changes in the communities you serve to ensure that Springer Nature can respond with increased publishing volumes, new editors/EBMs and new journals
• Be aware of changes within the research community and publishing industry, and translate these into proposals for successful (new) products and services.

Understand and engage regularly with your society/institutional publishing partners

• Evaluate the strategic value of your respective partnerships and work with your Publishing Director to develop commercial terms and prepare effective proposals to renew our valuable partner contracts.
• Monitor the key partner relationships in your portfolio and ensure that Springer Nature delivers an excellent service to its publishing partners, while carefully balancing requests for custom solutions with the need for standardized service levels.
• Engage effectively with the other verticals and horizontals in the Journals group to develop effective workflows to support optimal journal function. Look to proactively identify service level issues which affect our partnerships and work closely with the Society and Partner management center of excellence.
• Be aware of the leading societies, associations and journal owners in your communities with whom we might partner. Develop and maintain relationships and pursue opportunities as appropriate.

Ensure the implementation of new policies, workflows, systems and processes.

• Ensure you, and your team as appropriate understand our strategic priorities.
• Interpret and disseminate external intelligence and market research to support the development of your team and portfolio of journals.
• Adopt and promote a data-driven culture whereby we utilize all relevant data and information in our decision making.
• Implement new policies, processes, workflows and systems, in collaboration with our relevant horizontal units: Editor and Author Engagement, Research Integrity Group, Strategy and Development and Society and Partner Management.
• Support the development of strong transfer pathways.

Contribute to the wider Springer Nature Journals division

• Take part – and encourage your team as appropriate to take part – in cross-departmental projects and/or company-wide task forces and working groups.
• Build close working relationships with the Publishing Directors in your wider unit, your peers and other Journals Group colleagues as appropriate.
• Champion your subject area within the wider organization, including the Journals Group, ensuring high visibility and inclusion in key projects.
• Ensure that you understand and can explain the key strategic goals of the division, and key internal and external publishing initiatives and developments: such as Open Research, SharedIt, ORCID and Publons.

Experience/Skills/Qualifications:

• Educated to a minimum of Bachelor's degree level or equivalent, preferably in a relevant field of study (Sciences)
• Preferably 5 years of experience managing a portfolio of journals
• Relationship management experience in working with society partners
• Thorough understanding of the research or scientific process as it pertains to our publishing
• Thorough understanding of the needs of editors, authors and referees as key customers
• Strong management and communication skills
• Strong leadership and team-building qualities
• Excellent English language skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong commercial skills
• Enthusiasm and passion for excellence in research and science

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If you are an internal applicant please inform your line manager.

Springer Nature US provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes the benefit offerings listed below: 
•    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  

Annualized Base Salary Range: $104,000 – $120,000. The salary offer may vary based on work experience, education and skill level.

Springer Nature is an Equal Opportunity Employer that complies with the laws and regulations set forth in the following “Equal Employment Opportunity Is The Law” poster: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
  
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.