At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape the future of research quality with innovative certification methods and expert peer review.
- Company: Join a pioneering team at OxSci, redefining trust in scientific research.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, meaningful equity, and a direct line to the founder.
- Other info: Founding role with significant growth potential and the chance to define industry standards.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming academic publishing and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in scholarly publishing and a passion for innovation in research quality.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About Us
Science runs on trust, but the machinery meant to produce that trust is failing. Peer review is slow, opaque, inconsistent, and increasingly gamed. And a flood of AI-generated research is about to overwhelm a system that was already straining. No one is the credible, independent arbiter of research quality. We think there should be one.
OxSci is building a credit rating agency for science: a certification layer that combines AI with expert peer review, so researchers, institutions, and AI developers can assess research quality quickly and at scale. We're early, focused, and well-resourced. The standards we set now (what "quality" even means, and how expert judgment and AI combine to produce a defensible rating) will define the company.
About the founder
OxSci was founded by Shumiao Ouyang, Associate Professor of Finance at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and Fellow in Management at Wadham College. His research spans fintech, digital payments, and AI; he holds a PhD in Economics from Princeton and degrees from Peking and Tsinghua Universities. He started OxSci out of a conviction that the systems for judging scientific quality are overdue for reinvention, and you'd be building it with him directly.
The role
We're looking for a founding editorial mind to shape how OxSci's certification works, and to earn the academic community's trust in it. The quality judgments themselves rest with the expert peers who review; AI is there to make their work faster and sharper, not to replace it. Your leverage is research taste and a deep read of the academic ecosystem. Concretely:
- Build and curate the network of expert reviewers: knowing who the right people are, bringing them in, and earning their trust.
- Shape and continually improve how reviews happen, including how AI supports reviewers rather than overriding their judgment.
- Bring research taste and ecosystem fluency to guide where the standard and the product should go, spotting what's not working and pushing the corresponding changes.
- Represent OxSci to journals, institutions, and researchers, and be a credible voice on research quality.
- Work side by side with the founder and a small technical team to turn all of this into a product, and to shape what the company becomes.
This is a founding role, not a defined box. Much of the work isn't written yet; you'll help write it.
Who you are
You know the academic publishing world from the inside, and you want to fix it, not administer it. The strongest fit has spent time on the professional side of scholarly publishing: a journal editor, a Publisher or portfolio lead at a major house, a research-integrity or peer-review-innovation role, or an early or founding seat at a next-generation publishing or metascience venture. Many of the best people we'll meet are researchers who crossed over from the bench, or operators who've already tried to fix peer review from inside the system. Top-publisher experience is a plus, not a gate.
What we actually care about:
- Research taste and ecosystem fluency.
- You can tell strong work from weak, editors and academics take you seriously, and you understand how the machinery of publishing really runs.
- You’re a builder. You’ve shipped something new (launched a journal, built a tool, run a pilot, started something), not only managed what already existed.
- A point of view on what’s broken, and you’ve probably said so in public: a talk, an essay, a thread.
- You see AI as leverage, not threat, and you’re excited to define how it and human judgment combine.
- The mission is what pulls you. You’d want to work on this problem before the details were even worked out.
Strong written and spoken English is essential.
What we offer
A founding seat with meaningful equity, a direct line to the founder, and the rare chance to define a standard the field doesn't yet have. Editorial and publishing work is chronically underpaid; this role isn't. Pay is genuinely competitive, and compensation and equity are discussed openly and structured for a founding-stage role.
How to apply
Skip the cover letter. Send us a few paragraphs (one page max) answering: What is the single most broken thing about how research quality is judged today, and if you were building the standard from scratch, what would you do differently? Email it with your CV to. We read every one, and a sharp answer gets a fast reply.
Founding Editorial Lead in London employer: OxSci
OxSci is an exceptional employer for those passionate about transforming the academic publishing landscape. With a founding role that offers meaningful equity and a direct line to the founder, employees are empowered to shape the future of research quality alongside a small, dedicated team. The hybrid work model in vibrant London or Oxford fosters a collaborative culture, while competitive compensation reflects the value placed on innovative contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Editorial Lead in London
✨Dive Into the Publishing Community
Get involved with local or online publishing communities. Join forums, attend literary festivals, or participate in panel discussions. This can be a goldmine for meeting industry professionals and hearing about opportunities that aren't advertised yet.
✨Stay Updated with Industry Trends
Follow leading publishing media channels on social media, like Twitter and Instagram. See what tactics and content formats are currently trending. This knowledge can help you tailor your discussions when you're networking or at interviews with companies like OxSci.
✨Make Your Passion Visible
If you have a blog or a social media presence focused on books or publishing, use it! Share your thoughts on recent publications, trends in the industry, or interviews with authors. This can showcase your passion and knowledge, making you stand out as a candidate.
✨Hunt for Opportunities on Company Websites
While job boards are useful, don’t forget to go directly to company websites, like OxSci. They often post openings there first. Plus, you might find job descriptions that give insight into what skills they really value, which can help you ace that interview.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Editorial Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Writing Style:In the publishing-media world, your writing style is your signature. Make sure your CV highlights relevant writing experiences, whether that's published articles, blog posts, or even social media content. Give us a glimpse of your voice and flair for storytelling right from the start!
Include Relevant Projects:Don’t just list your roles; include specific projects you've worked on that demonstrate your skills in editing, research, or content creation. If you've contributed to a magazine or worked on a publication, make that front and centre! It shows you've got hands-on experience in the industry, which we absolutely love.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Let’s be honest: a generic cover letter is a missed opportunity. Take the time to craft a letter that speaks to why you’re passionate about this role at OxSci. Mention what excites you about the publishing-media industry and how your skills align with the job description. We want to see that enthusiasm!
Format Matters!:In the publishing-media sector, presentation is key. Ensure your CV and cover letter are well-organised and visually appealing. Use headings, bullet points, and a clean layout. This isn't just about aesthetics — it shows your attention to detail and professionalism, which we really appreciate at OxSci.
How to prepare for a job interview at OxSci
✨Know Your Stuff: Be Ready on Industry Trends
Get yourself clued up on the latest trends in the publishing-media world. Think about how digital transformation is impacting the industry, and be ready to chat about relevant examples. This shows you're not just passionate but also informed!
✨Showcase Your Creativity with a Portfolio
Bring along a portfolio that showcases your writing, editing, or design work. Since it’s a full-time role, they’ll want to see how your style fits their brand at OxSci. Tailor your presentation to their projects for maximum impact.
✨Brush Up on Editing Techniques
Expect some technical questions about editing styles, proofing techniques, and style guides. They might ask you to solve a practical problem or provide feedback on a piece—know the tools and software commonly used in the industry, and be prepared to discuss them!
✨Express Your Passion for Storytelling
In the publishing-media field, storytelling is key. Be ready to discuss what stories inspire you and why you want to join the team at OxSci. Let your enthusiasm shine through; they want to know you're genuinely interested in contributing to their narratives!
