Associate Director, Publishing

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United Kingdom, +2 more countries.

📋 Description

• Offer strategic leadership for the PLOS journal portfolio, ensuring that portfolio priorities, publishing investments, and journal development strategies are aligned with organizational goals and the mission of PLOS.

• Lead and cultivate a team of Publishers accountable for the performance and strategic progression of the journal portfolio.

• Act as the primary steward of overall portfolio publishing performance, translating organizational strategy into actionable priorities.

• Utilize publishing data, financial insights, market intelligence, and insights from the research community to inform decision-making, spot growth and innovation opportunities, and manage risks effectively.

• Set goals, establish priorities, implement accountability measures, and oversee coaching, professional development, succession planning, and performance management for direct reports.

• Create and execute a portfolio-wide publishing strategy along with differentiated value propositions.

• Lead reviews of the portfolio and provide recommendations regarding journal positioning, growth, performance, and future direction.

• Assess and develop new journals, products, services, and publishing models.

• Convert organizational strategy into specific portfolio priorities, objectives, and plans.

• Oversee publishing budgets and forecasts, ensuring responsible allocation of resources.

• Serve as a deputy for the Director of Publishing & Publishing Operations when necessary.

• Foster relationships with editors, researchers, institutions, societies, partner organizations, and cross-functional teams.

• Collaborate with teams across Editorial, Publishing Operations, Sales, Global Publishing Development, Product, Technology, Marketing, Finance, and Research Integrity.

• Support the implementation of effective journal policies, processes, services, and quality standards.

• Enhance journal positioning, audience engagement, portfolio visibility, and demand generation.

• Promote cultural change, cross-functional collaboration, organizational alignment, and responsible change management.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

• A business problem solver who exhibits curiosity to uncover the roots of business challenges, ensuring that solutions are aligned with PLOS’s strategy and mission.

• Significant experience in launching Open Access journals from concept to publication.

• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience in budgeting, forecasting, business planning, and P&L management.

• Extensive experience in STM publishing with progressively increasing levels of responsibility.

• Experience in managing senior publishing professionals or similar portfolio leaders.

• Demonstrated capability to develop and execute strategic plans that yield measurable business and operational results.

• Proven history of leading and developing high-performing teams that are geographically dispersed.

• Outstanding communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills across various cultures, disciplines, and organizational functions.

• Commitment to open access and the transformation of scholarly communication, with a genuine interest in engaging constructively with the scientific community.

• Preferred: Experience in managing high-volume journal portfolios and/or megajournals.

• Ability to remain stationary at a desk for extended periods while working on a computer.

• Occasional national and international travel may be necessary.

• Flexibility to work across time zones may also be required.

🏝️ Benefits

• US: 401k with employer match

• US: Employee-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance (Dental and Vision 100% employer paid)

• US: Paid Vacation, 11 public holidays, and sick leave

• US: Parental leave

• US: Birthday and three winter holidays days off

• US: Short-term and long-term disability insurance

• US: 2 days paid time off for volunteering per year

• US: Fully remote work environment with a stipend provided upon joining for home office setup

• UK: Private medical insurance

• UK: Life assurance

• UK: Income protection

• UK: Personal accident insurance

• UK: Pension with up to 10% employer match

• UK: 25 days of holidays, market competitive Maternity and Paternity leave

• UK: Birthday and three winter holidays days off

• UK: 2 days paid time off for volunteering per year

• UK: Fully remote work environment with a stipend provided upon joining for home office setup