We are the world’s largest university press. That means we serve the academic community as no other publisher can. We work in partnership with institutions and learned societies to bring a world of knowledge to the fingertips of students and researchers worldwide.

The goal is impact. Together with our academic communities, we curate and seamlessly connect together the ideas that push their fields forward, so they can learn from them, add to them, and continue a virtuous cycle of scholarship.

And because we are a part of the academic community and guided in everything we do by our mission, we re-invest in our people, our publishing, and the world-leading research institution of which we are part.

About the Role

As a Publisher in our Journals Editorial team, you will manage and develop a portfolio of society journals in the social sciences and humanities to a degree of excellence that enhances OUP’s standing in the learned society and publishing landscape.  You will renew society contracts with maximum financial contribution to OUP and manage pre-emptive renewals and responses to RFPs to retain contracts for society-owned journals including developing the business plans for approval and writing and presenting detailed proposals, in liaison with the Publishing Director.

Other duties will include:

• Work with the Publishing Director to negotiate successful, consistent contractual terms with society partners that align with OUP strategic priorities and risk appetite, ensuring full compliance with approval processes.
• Ensure adherence to contractual terms for all journals in your portfolio.
• Work collaboratively and productively with other functional groups (especially production, marketing, digital) to deliver an excellent service for society partners.
• Manage a list of journals to ensure journal, departmental, and divisional targets (including revenue, quality, and profitability) are achieved. Collaborate with Editors and journal owners to publish high quality content in maximum suitable volume to increase market share of articles.
• Work with finance and operations colleagues to ensure maximum long- and short-term profitability of the journal list, including management of costs. Initiate remedial actions and negotiations where necessary.
• Lead the transition process for select newly acquired titles ensuring a methodological approach, using project management software to monitor progress and identify risks and delays, collaborating with other departments, and organizing meetings and communications to keep society clients fully informed and engaged.
• Advocate for adoption of best practices through engagement with Society and Editorial teams, providing expertise and guidance.
• Create and present Editorial Development plans to societies and editorial boards as appropriate, providing relevant data to inform editorial decision making.
• Roll out OUP journal policies across the portfolio.

We operate a hybrid working policy that requires a minimum of 2 days per week in the Oxford office. 

About You

Our ideal candidate will be solutions driven and have the ability to work autonomously while balancing multiple priorities in a fast paced environment. You will be knowledgeable about the changing dynamics of the journals’ publishing landscape, including open access, and have experience managing a portfolio of journals.

Skills:

• Publishing or transferable professional experience.
• Understanding of academic publishing, including editorial processes, production processes, marketing, industry trends, systems, competitors, and technology.
• Outstanding communication skills and the ability to influence, persuade, and negotiate with both internal and external parties.
• Analytical and forecasting ability to review trends and align development appropriately.
• Entrepreneurial.

Benefits

We care about work/life balance here at OUP. With this in mind we offer 25 days’ holiday that rises with service, plus bank holidays and Christmas closure (3-days) and a 35-hour working week. We are open to discussing flexibility in respect to working patterns, dependent on role. We also have a great variety of active employee networks and societies. 

We help make your money go further by contributing to your pension up to 12%, offering loans and savings schemes through our partnership with Salary Finance, in addition to travel to work schemes and access to a wide range of local discounts. 

This role comes with the added benefit of a discretionary annual payment.

Please see our Rewards and Recognition page for more information.

Queries

Please contact grace.mcfadyen@oup.com with any queries relating to this role. 

We are committed to supporting diversity in our workforce, and ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek to employ a workforce representative of the markets that we serve and encourage applications from all.