Must be eligible to work in the United States or the United Kingdom.
KGL is seeking a Senior Managing Editor (SME) to join our remote Editorial team. The SME is in charge of ensuring top-quality editorial service to guarantee customer satisfaction for all accounts under their supervision. The Senior Managing Editor reports to the Director, KGL Editorial or Assistant Director, KGL Editorial.
The Senior Managing Editor (SME) primarily services the assigned KGL Editorial client accounts’ editorial and production services. As a member of KGL Editorial’s leadership team, the SME plays an essential role in furthering the company’s mission to provide the highest level of editorial services to its customers through a combination of sound strategic management and keen attention to the requirements of the partnership.
The SME is in charge of ensuring top-quality editorial service to guarantee customer satisfaction for all accounts under their supervision. This is achieved by maintaining the quality and timeliness of our work and actively and productively engaging with customers.
To support assigned KGL Editorial client accounts, the SME not only will ensure that the high-volume work moves in an accurate and timely manner through established processes to meet the service level agreements but will also offer creative solutions and drive efficiencies as appropriate. This is an inward- and outward-facing role, and our partners expect to interact with a polished professional who demonstrates leadership and oversees the consistent delivery of quality work product, and participates actively as a member of various industry organizations.
- The position supervises a staff that may include but is not limited to managing editors, assistant managing editors, senior editorial associates, and editorial associates in the US or UK, and, under KGL’s matrix organization, oversees similar positions assigned to KGL Editorial customers in India.
- Recruits, interviews, manages, mentors, and trains staff.
- Provides constructive, accurate, and timely performance evaluations.
- Handles discipline and termination of employees in accordance with overall best supervisory practices and specific KGL Human Resource policies.
Primary responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Ensures timely, high-quality performance of assigned editorial and/or production activities as measured by the established key performance indicators and established benchmarks, and consistent, positive feedback from assigned KGL Editorial clients.
- Generates ideas for improving quality, efficiencies, and cost-effectiveness for review by the Directors and shares with assigned KGL Editorial clients, as appropriate.
- Stays current on industry trends and editorial/production best practices related to job performance.
- Contributes to company growth through identification of opportunities with new or existing clients and professional networking.
- Onboards and transitions client accounts as required.
- Oversees operations of the assigned KGL Editorial client accounts to ensure quality service, process efficiency, and cost-effective management of KGL resources.
- Participates in phone calls and meetings with assigned KGL Editorial client account stakeholders, KGL Editorial colleagues, and others.
- Manages all services delivered to assigned KGL Editorial client accounts according to contractual requirements and in accordance with the highest standards of scholarly publishing.
- Ensures ongoing process improvement and implementation of best-practice policies, protocols, and processes across all clients.
- Engages purposefully with both editorial and society leadership on a regular basis to understand customer goals and priorities.
- Compiles data and prepares periodic management reports for distribution to assigned KGL Editorial clients, highlighting productivity and other achievements.
- Supports technological growth and development, as appropriate, to serve the clients and underscore the company’s distinctive competencies.
- Provides expert knowledge of one or more manuscript management systems (e.g. Editorial Manager, ScholarOne, eJournal Press, etc.) and/or other software or applications integral to assigned KGL Editorial client accounts’ workflows and reporting.
- Develops business opportunities as appropriate (eg, research integrity package, reports package, other KGL services).
- Networks and participates in industry events; stays abreast of new developments and trends.
- In conjunction with the Directors, shapes the organizational structure of assigned KGL Editorial client accounts as needs evolve to meet operational and business goals.
- Defines assigned KGL Editorial client accounts’ employee roles and responsibilities, position descriptions, reporting relationships, and compensation in line with business goals and with the approval of the Director.
- Optimizes staff structure and tracks efficient and complete use of staff hours/payroll management.
- Evaluates employee performance in complying with established policies and procedures that contribute to a congenial and productive work culture.
- Proactively trains and supervises direct reports to ensure understanding of, ability and capacity to achieve, and compliance with account objectives and goals to nurture employee development.
- Works to improve performance or instigate disciplinary actions with HR.
- Contractual and Financial Management
- Optimizes revenues and ensures profitability of all assigned accounts.
- Updates customer agreements to reflect any material changes such as in scope or workflows, seeking approval of Director and VP, Consulting and Market Analysis, before negotiating change with client.
- Assists with projections for budgeting and reforecasting and monitor financial performance of assigned accounts as requested.
- Helps develop strategy, advance, secure renewals and contribute to new business proposals and presentations on request.
- Reviews for accuracy and approves invoices for assigned clients.
- Oversees project work at the request of the Director; this may include but is not limited to outreach efforts to drive new business and special projects such as editor transition support, manuscript system configuration, and workflow assessments.
Performs other job-related duties as may be assigned or required.
- Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of progressive management experience in scholarly publishing, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
- Direct experience providing editorial services, including management of large journal accounts or multiple journal titles.
- Previous experience managing and motivating multiple staff members.
- Strong leadership skills such as the ability to prioritize and manage work on time and to specification, to effectively lead staff.
- Technical acumen is of critical importance as many of the workflows as well as staff and task management rely on technical solutions.
- Demonstrated experience in analyzing and re-engineering operations and procedures.
- Ability to communicate and interact with individuals at all levels in publishing and to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Ability to develop and deliver highly professional and effective presentations.
- Ability to manage several projects.
- Flexibility in work schedule to meet (industry-standard) client demands for availability.
- Working knowledge of Word, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint.
- General office environment with intensive computer work and extended use of the computer keyboard and mouse.
- Work is 100% remote.
- Occasional travel to professional meetings or to client meetings may be required.
KGL is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
For immediate consideration, please submit your resume along with a cover letter to humanresources.kwf@kwglobal.com