Deputy Editor (Life or Health Sciences), Scientific Reports

Location: London - Hybrid working

Application Deadline: 5th July 2026. Candidates will be considered as they apply, therefore early applications are encouraged.

About Springer Nature Group

Springer Nature opens the doors to discovery for researchers, educators, clinicians and other professionals. Every day, around the globe, our imprints, books, journals, platforms and technology solutions reach millions of people. For over 180 years our brands and imprints have been a trusted source of knowledge to these communities and today, more than ever, we see it as our responsibility to ensure that fundamental knowledge can be found, verified, understood and used by our communities – enabling them to improve outcomes, make progress, and benefit the generations that follow.

About The Brand

Nature Portfolio’s high-quality journals and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences help move science and society forward. Nature Portfolio is home to the leading, international weekly journal of science, Nature – founded in 1869. It is also home to the Nature research and Nature Reviews journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications, and open access journals including Scientific Reports. Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries.

About The Role

Scientific Reports is a primary research journal from the publishers of Nature, covering all areas of the natural and clinical sciences. Online and open access, Scientific Reports publishes a high volume of scientifically valid, original research papers, without barriers to access. With the support of external Editorial Board Members, papers are rapidly peer-reviewed to ensure they are technically sound.

As a Deputy Editor, you will lead a team of Associate and Senior Editors. You will support the Chief Editor of Scientific Reports in overseeing the publishing team and the editorial workflows, including the peer-review process, post-publication cases, editorial board management, content development and acquisition, and, where required, making editorial decisions. Key performance indicators include rapid publication, sound peer-review practices, and high levels of service to staff, authors and Editorial Board Members.

This role is based in our London office on a hybrid working pattern and is offered on a permanent basis.

Responsibilities include:

• Training and line management of Associate/Senior Editor(s)
• Assist in the daily management of the journal workflow, with the objective of providing rapid, constructive peer-review and publication decisions, acting as handling editor on manuscripts as required.
• Respond to authors, reviewers, EBMs, Senior EBMs and readers of Scientific Reports in a timely fashion.
• Work with the publishing team in the allocation of manuscripts to EBMs.
• Liaise with EBMs on an ongoing basis to follow up on peer review and final decisions, ensuring decision policies are adhered to at all times by EBMs.
• Resolve pre- and post-publication issues raised by staff, EBMs and readers (e.g. authorship, scope, ethics and consent, misconduct), including communication with authors and other stakeholders.
• Input to policy development initiatives and implement editorial policy as required.
• Establish and maintain relationships with EBMs, including arranging and holding in-person meetings and editorial board meetings, and supporting initiatives to further improve engagement.
• Manage recruitment and training of new EBMs where required.
• Represent Scientific Reports at international/national conferences and institutional visits as required.
• Be an active member of the Springer Nature editorial community, engaging with editorial colleagues on other journals and driving collaboration on projects as necessary.
• Sign-off social media and marketing content.

To be considered for the position, you will have:

• PhD-level research experience or equivalent in life or health sciences
• Previous experience coordinating peer review and making independent manuscript decisions within a world-class STM publishing company
• Previous experience organising and leading outreach events, interacting with senior academic stakeholders, promotion of a journal or a portfolio of journals.
• In-depth knowledge of and experience handling editorial ethics and misconduct issues
• Strong interpersonal, communication and influencing skills, and fluent in English (written and spoken)
• Strong workload management and organisational skills
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Adaptable and flexible
• Thorough knowledge of the scientific community and its needs
• Highly self-motivated, resourceful and achievement-oriented
• Sound knowledge and interest in science in general
• Willingness to travel

To apply, please submit:

• a CV
• a cover letter outlining your key ambitions in the role, including your motivations behind applying for this exciting opportunity.

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.