Journals Publisher – Hong Kong

Our client, a leading STM Publisher, requires a new Journals Publisher based in Hong Kong. This is an exciting role involving leading a growing and dynamic team and portfolio of journals, acquiring and starting journals as part of the portfolio's strategic development, developing and managing key relationships with prestigious academic editors and institutions across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Providing management and leadership for the SE Asia team under direction of the Journal’s Editorial Director, APAC
  • Budget responsibility for the SE Asia journals programme and proactive development of the list
  • Leading commissioning bids and contract renewals
  • Building strong and lasting relationships with academic editors, learned societies and key institutions
  • Overseeing the financial wellbeing of the list of journals as well as preparing financial projections and proposals
  • Realising opportunities for organic growth
  • Making presentations at editorial board meetings
  • Representing the company at international conferences and regional events
  • Working collaboratively with internal colleagues in global offices

Skills & Experience: 

  • Sound commercial awareness as well as knowledge and experience of the academic Journals market
  • The ability to demonstrate how new business plans would be developed through commissioning new journals and acquiring existing titles
  • Experience managing financial budgets
  • Experience managing and developing a team with strong inter personal skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Good time management and organisational skills
  • The ability to use the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Journals Managing Editor – Japan

Our client, a leading global publisher, requires a new Managing Editor for their Japan office. The Journals Managing Editor will pro-actively manage a list of academic journals in all the STM and HSS fields, building relationships with academic editors and learned society contacts as well as realising opportunities for growth through organic development and acquisitions. This is a varied and challenging role, including frequent domestic travel.

Role Responsibilities:

  • Overseeing the editorial and financial performance of the existing portfolio of journals
  • Building a network of contacts and developing strategic plans to enhance our position in the field
  • Liaising with journal editors, academic society officers and colleagues 
  • Chairing and presenting at editorial board meetings, and representing the company at conferences in the region
  • Assisting with new journal proposals and bids
  • Managing general administration of the list, with supervisory responsibility of an Editorial Assistant
  • Providing appropriate cover in the Publisher/Editorial Director’s absence

Skills & Experience: 

  • Previous experience in academic journal publishing preferred
  • Willingness to work with confidence, flexibility, initiative and independence while playing an integral role in a professional publishing team
  • Familiarity with, and an awareness of, academic editors’ and societies’ needs in publishing activities will be an advantage
  • Able to manage a range of duties and maintain focus on deadlines and priorities at the same time
  • Self-motivated and able to use initiative when necessary
  • Excellent English/Japanese communication and presentation skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and adaptable to different work/cultural contexts
  • Excellent eye for detail Willingness to work to a high standard, highly professional in all conduct
  • Must have high computer literacy, proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly excel; familiar with online technologies
  • Good team player
  • Degree in Science & Technology and/or Medicine is preferred but not required

Managing Editor

Morgan Healey Retained Assignment 

Our client, one of Europe's leading not for profit organisations, employing over 3,500 people, requires a Managing Editor to oversee their successful publishing programme. 

The Publishing Division is the content powerhouse of the organisation. Its mission is to develop informative, engaging, and attractive content to support the organisations interaction with the public at large across all communication channels.

Within this position you will be responsible for managing and planning all publishing activities in the division. You will set priorities and oversee the editorial and production workflow. You also will shepherd the activities of the editorial, design and production teams to ensure that publications are released on time and on budget. In addition, among your responsibilities will be the selection and management of back-end applications, such as title management and digital asset management and distribution systems, and for selecting and managing customer-facing applications for publications.

Their publications include digital-only content, such as blog posts, podcasts, digital essays, as well as products published in print and electronic form, such as institutional reports, outreach publications and marketing materials in multiple languages.

Skills & Experience: 

  • University degree preferably in a field related to communication, economics, international relations or similar business related field
  • At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in the publishing or related industry, of which at least 5 in a project management / editorial management function, preferably in a scholarly or professional setting
  • In depth knowledge of publishing processes, standards and best practices; a demonstrated knowledge to the highest standards of editing. Demonstrated effectiveness in managing complex collaborative projects.
  • Familiarity with all phases of editing, copyediting and production, including typography, proofreading and page and book makeup; knowledge of design and printing. Knowledge of web editing. Excellent knowledge of the MS Office suite; familiarity with InDesign and other page layout software.
  • Excellent communication and influencing skills.
  • Excellent knowledge of English and/or French, with a good command of the other. Knowledge of other languages would be an advantage.

Managing Editor (Global)

Our client, a global publisher, requires a Managing Editor with a minimum of 5 years' experience in journal production. You will be responsible for managing the UK Journals Production Department, including budgeting, staff hiring and management, scheduling, and meeting high quality standards of production.

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Manage the daily activities and performance of the UK Journals Production department, ensuring that schedules and quality standards are met and that costs are controlled.
  • Monitor workloads and resources in the department and make recommendations as needed, including which UK journals to be placed with Global Services.
  • Prepare the department’s annual staff budget and manage to those budgeted costs throughout the year.
  • Work collaboratively with other departments, including Editorial, Commercial Sales, and Manufacturing.
  • Contribute to the management of the global Production Department.
  • Drive system improvements and process efficiencies.
  • Monitor and analyse author and editor feedback to ensure high satisfaction with Production.
  • Set standards of professionalism and leadership in interactions with all internal staff.
  • Represent and act as ambassador
  • Perform daily work with minimal supervision from direct manager.

Skills & Experience: 

  • A bachelor’s degree.
  • At least 5 years of journals production experience with a college or an academic publisher, to include at least two years in a management position.
  • Ability to manage and motivate external professional relationships and internal staff.
  • Change management skills.
  • Ability to effectively manage time to meet deadlines and work professionally under pressure.
  • Ability to effectively manage budgeting, and analyse costs.
  • Ability to reason and problem solve.
  • Effective decision making.
  • Experience managing a high-performing team.
  • Extensive knowledge of journal production and manufacturing processes.
  • Expertise in various software programs, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Acrobat, and a basic familiarity with other production-oriented software programs.

Operations Manager – Germany

Our client, a leading provider or solutions to the publishing sector requires an Operations Manager based in Germany. 

The candidate will manage overall operations and is responsible for the effective and successful management of freelancers, productivity, and quality. Serve as a company representative to local customers. Enhance the operational procedure, systems and principles in the areas of information flow and management, business processes, enhanced management reporting and looks for opportunities to expand systems. 

Responsibilities:

  • Recruit, select, train, assign, schedule, coach, counsel and discipline employees
  • Help set up and maintain facilities in eastern Europe
  • Manage and support freelancer / employees
  • Work with solutions team in new process development, implementation and management
  • Communicate job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising and reviewing job contributions
  • Plan and review compensation actions; enforcing policies and procedures
  • Contribute operations information and recommendations to strategic plans and reviews; prepare and complete action plans; implement production, productivity, quality and customer-service standards; resolve problems; complete audits; identify trends
  • Analyze process workflow, employee and space requirements and equipment layout; implement changes
  • Meet or exceed operations labor budget expectations
  • Manage staff levels, wages, hours, contract labor to revenues
  • Manage relationships with key operations vendors
  • Track vendor pricing, rebates and service levels
  • Review and approve all operational invoices and ensure they are submitted for payment
  • Serve as primary point of contact when there are customer issues related to quality, customer service
  • Communicate customer issues with operations team and devise ways of improving the customer experience, including resolving problems and complaints
  • Work closely with management team to set and/or implement policies, procedures and systems and to follow through with implementation.

Skills & Experience: 

  • Degree Educated
  • 7-10 years of experience in the publishing or related fields.
  • Strong systems and operations background
  • Excellent communication and influencing skills with both internal and external contacts.
  • Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues at all levels and as part of a team.
  • Good organisational and time-management skills are required together with the ability to work under pressure, prioritise and to meet deadlines.
  • Proactive approach to problem solving.
  • High level of computer literacy (including MS Office, Outlook, internet browsers and CRM), proven experience with social media is preferred.
  • Focused on objectives and results.