Interim Associate/Senior Editor - BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Fixed-Term contract (Maternity Leave Cover)

Locations: London or Berlin

Application Deadline: 2nd July 2026

About Springer Nature

Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world.

About the Brand

BMC has more than 20 years of experience in developing open access and provides high-quality, impactful research and a supportive publishing experience for authors. We are committed to publishing the best open access journals in our portfolio of over 250 titles and we strive to drive progress in biology, health sciences and medicine.

About the Role

You will contribute to the success of the BMC Series by supporting editorial handling of content in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders and by driving the content development of this journal. This is a dynamic and varied role that will give you the opportunity to see content across a broad range of topics and contribute to the success of BMC as a whole. Communication is a key part of this role, as you will need to build excellent and productive relationships with the external Editorial Board who manage the peer review process and with internal teams responsible for journal editorial office support.

Role Responsibilities

• Content Development
  • Develop a journal development strategy for BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, taking into account individual journal performance and development needs, as well as the overall strategy of the BMC series.
  • Work with colleagues across the Journals group to support subject-specific strategy development at Springer Nature.
  • Identify and commission reviews, collections and supplements, and work with the scientific community to drive these forward.
• Peer Review Quality
  • Oversee the handling of the content published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders primarily by advising on content handled by editorial board members, but also by handling individual submissions yourself where required.
  • Investigate and resolve publishing or research ethics cases, both pre- and post-publication, with the guidance of Springer Nature Research Integrity Group when needed.
  • Engage effectively with other teams to support the resolution of editorial issues and to prioritise author service while maintaining editorial standards.
  • Advise on editorial policy development as appropriate.
• Editorial Board Management
  • Build strong communication and relationships with Editorial Board Members and authors.
  • Conduct calls with Senior Board Members to discuss journal policy, editorial board recruitment, and content-related matters.
  • Contribute to the recruitment and training of new editorial board members.
  • Support editorial board engagement initiatives across the journals.
  • Organize and lead Senior Board and Editorial Board Meetings, both in-person and online.
  • Ensure that all Editorial Board Members are fully informed of the journal’s ethos and editorial policies and have the necessary training to perform their roles effectively.
• Building Awareness of the BMC Series
  • Contribute to the efforts of the marketing team, providing input into marketing plans and activities.
  • Develop journal website content and features that are of interest to the community and raise the profile of the journal website in the online environment.
  • Attend conferences to promote the journal and develop a network of contacts within relevant fields.
  • Increase journal visibility by writing blogs and participating in social media activities to promote journal content and BMC values.
• Team Contribution
  • Contribute to the culture of the BMC editorial team by supporting your colleagues, covering for them when needed and sharing expertise and experience.

Experience, Skills & Qualifications:

• Educated to PhD or MD level (or equivalent) in a relevant field with research experience
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a customer-focused approach
• Ability to critically assess manuscripts across a range of topics for novelty, scientific content, and their implications
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills, able to balance short-term deadlines with long-term goals
• Previous solid editorial experience in scientific publishing is needed to be considered for the Senior Editor level

To Apply: You Must Submit

• a CV
• a cover letter where you also explain how your skills and knowledge could be applied to the role.

At Springer Nature, our mission is to be part of progress – and that begins with inclusion: of people, perspectives, and ideas. We believe that diverse perspectives drive progress, and we are committed to creating an environment where people and ideas can flourish.