Production Editor in Bristol

Be part of a community working together to make science better. A society publisher with the perfect blend of a not‑for‑profit purpose and a commercial perspective. Here, we help each other be the best we can be: a team big enough to create impact and small enough to care. We are looking for an experienced Production Editor to join our team on a 12-month fixed term contract.

Role Summary

The Production Editor is responsible for managing a group of journals in a timely and efficient manner to ensure publication on schedule, to budget and to agreed quality standards. They manage the end‑to‑end production process which can include editing, proofreading, correction and final publication of articles. They work on one or more journals with different workflows and production suppliers. The role is accountable for providing excellent service to authors during their journey to publication, and to partners in delivering high quality and timely production of the journals they entrust us with. Production Editors in the Partner Production team build relationships with and have a solid understanding of the goals and requirements of the partners they work with. Production Editors are expected to contribute to the development of product quality, customer service and continuous improvement of processes within the department, and to undertake project work as required.

Key job accountabilities:

• Effective management of individual product allocation, including on‑time, on‑budget publication of an allocation of products to the required quality standards.
• Effective communication with customers (authors, partners and publishers) and external suppliers to build relationships and resolve content, editorial, quality and technical queries.
• Cost recording and monitoring, and appropriate decision making to ensure cost effectiveness.
• Taking a customer‑focused approach to product management.
• Improved supplier performance through monitoring quality and schedule adherence on product allocation and taking effective action to address issues.
• Overseeing work in progress and taking effective action to address issues.
• Providing constructive and effective feedback as part of day‑to‑day processes.
• Ensuring appropriate resolutions to incidents are identified, implemented and maintained.

About you:

• Previous experience in a production or publishing role would be highly advantageous but is not essential as full training will be provided.
• Excellent editorial skills or demonstrable ability to acquire them.
• Customer‑centric approach and ability to handle high volumes of complex customer enquiries, principally by email.
• Strong technical knowledge, computer skills and numeracy.
• Effective communication and organisational skills; ability to plan and balance priorities.
• Accuracy and an eye for detail.
• Able to work on own initiative, and flexibly as part of a team.
• Good technical and problem‑solving skills with an aptitude for HTML, XML, digital file management and online publication.
• Professional attitude and diligent, dedicated approach.

We know it is unusual for someone to tick every box so, if you don’t meet all the criteria, but demonstrate most of the skills and experience we are looking for, and have the enthusiasm to work with us, go ahead and apply.

Who We Are:

IOP Publishing is a society‑owned scientific publisher, providing impact, recognition and value for the scientific community. As the publishing arm of the Institute of Physics, 100% of our profit goes towards public and scientific good.

Why work with us at IOP Publishing:

• Purpose: We are a world leader in the development of electronic publishing for the scientific community – working in the interests of science and scientists, we aim to maximise the impact of the research we publish.
• Culture: We offer a truly international culture with offices in Europe, Asia and the US and our reach is global. Our culture is the perfect blend of dedicated and intelligent professionalism, informal, friendly collaboration and authenticity with a social conscience.
• Financial benefits: A competitive salary starting from £25,000 (Band B), an excellent pension scheme, a discretionary annual bonus scheme and a range of other useful and cost‑saving benefits available through our benefits platform.
• Health and Wellbeing: 33+ days holiday (including bank holidays), plus an extra day’s leave to use for a moment that matters to you, a 35‑hour working week, life assurance, cycle to work scheme, dental insurance, health care cash plan, and a great positive working environment in our brand new office in central Bristol – modern airy and designed with all of our colleagues in mind – for work and social time.
• Flexibility: A flexible hybrid working environment to suit everyone’s needs – we don’t need you in the office every day so we can consider applicants from further afield who can travel to Bristol at least once every 2 weeks (any travel to the Bristol office is at the employee’s expense).

And last but not least, did we mention that we are unique? IOP Publishing is central to the Institute of Physics, a not‑for‑profit society and we gift‑aid all our profits to support science through the activities of the Institute. IOP Publishing is an equal opportunity employer. Our goal is to ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are built into our identity in a way that is natural and sustainable, visible through the work we produce, our company branding, our professional networks and the communities we serve and support, which includes our employees, talent communities and candidates. We particularly welcome applicants from under‑represented backgrounds. We make recruitment and workplace adjustments wherever we can, so please let us know if there’s anything that we can do to support you. Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for candidates. If however you already have the right to work in the UK or hold an eligible work permit or visa, we encourage you to apply for this position.