Job Title: Assistant Editor, RCOG Journals

JOB DESCRIPTION Job title: Assistant Editor, RCOG Journals Directorate: Journals and E-Publishing, External Affairs Grade: 4 Post holder: Vacant – new post Responsible to: Managing Editor, RCOG Journals Hours: 35

The Department

The RCOG Journals team is responsible for the publication of two journals; BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG) and The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG). Both journals are peer-reviewed, editorially independent, owned by the College, and published by Wiley on behalf of the RCOG.

BJOG is published monthly plus one themed issue in January each year and is international in scope in both readership and authorship. BJOG publishes original research in all areas of both clinical work and basic science, including maternal and fetal medicine, urogynaecology, reproductive medicine, epidemiology, oncology and women’s health medicine. Its aim is to publish the highest quality medical research in women’s health worldwide. BJOG is available to all RCOG fellows and members as part of their membership package.

TOG is a quarterly journal for continuing professional development and life-long education. The journal aims to provide all health professionals working within the field of obstetrics and gynaecology with an up-to-date, peer-reviewed information resource delivered through a range of current, educational articles. It is the only journal offering questions officially recognised for the RCOG’s CPD programme and provides up to 20 personal CPD credits per volume. The journal is sent to all Fellows, Members, Associates and registered Trainees as part of their membership subscription and is also available on subscription to personal and institutional subscribers.

Each journal has a Content Development Editor and the Journals team report to the Managing Editor, RCOG Journals, who is responsible to the Executive Director, External Affairs. Some editorial activities are outsourced to Editorial Office Ltd.

The Assistant Editor, RCOG Journals is responsible for supporting the RCOG Journals team to provide a high quality service to authors and readers by ensuring the effective processing of manuscripts, facilitating editors, authors, and reviewers, and supporting the Journals team in delivering journal development projects and initiatives. Purpose 1. To support all BJOG and TOG authors and reviewers in the use of the journals’ online peer review systems. 2. To monitor the progress of manuscripts to ensure they are processed within the target turnaround times for each journal, and update authors of delayed papers. 3. To monitor the journals’ peer reviewers. 4. To support the RCOG Journals team in proofreading copy for each journal issue. 5. To maintain the instructions for authors for BJOG and TOG. 6. To ensure that records for all Editorial Board members and Editors are up to date. 7. To coordinate value added content for papers, e.g. mini commentaries, journal club, CPD, BJOG perspectives. 8. To monitor the online availability of BJOG and TOG.

Main duties 1. Assisting authors and reviewers of papers submitted to the RCOG journals via the AllenTrack and Scholar One manuscript submission platforms. 2. Processing TOG article proposals. 3. Monitoring progress of papers to ensure they are processed within target turnaround times for each journals, chasing reviewers and updating authors as necessary. 4. Supporting Editorial Office Ltd. in dealing with CrossCheck reports that show any copyright of novelty concerns. 5. Monitoring the TOG and BJOG email inboxes. 6. Coordinating papers sent for technical editing by Wiley. 7. Coordinating and tracking value added content for each journal. Specifically, mini commentaries, BJOG perspectives, BJOG CPD papers. 8. Ensuring that records for all Editorial Board members are up to date in AllenTrack and Scholar One. 9. Coordinating RCOG house adverts for each issue. 10. Assisting with the proofreading of each journal issue and other copy such as newsletters and marketing materials. 11. Ensuring necessary permissions have been obtained to use materials from other publications. 12. Assisting the Content Development Editor, TOG with figure redrawing as required. 13. Sending letters of congratulations to the authors of top cited and/or downloaded papers. 14. Calculating the journals’ top reviewers annually to acknowledge via email and by sending a list to production; providing CPD certificates to reviewers/editors when requested. 15. Processing BJOG editor payments in liaison with the finance team. 16. Contributing to all editors’ meetings. 17. Contributing to the Editorial Board meetings and Journals Business Development Committee meetings. 18. Taking minutes for Editorial Board meetings. 19. Supporting the Business Administrator with arrangements for Committee meetings. 20. Coordinating and delivering the archive schedule and policy for the RCOG journals team. 21. Deputising for the Content Development Editors as required. 22. Other duties may be given by the Managing Editor, RCOG Journals. Note: This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop, the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the job holder.

PERSON SPECIFICATION Education requirements

Essential criteria Desirable criteria  Educated to degree level or  Educated to degree level with a equivalent scientific or biomedical background

Experience Essential criteria Desirable criteria   Experience of STM (scientific, technical and medical) journal publishing  Experience of online peer review systems  Experience of working with or writing articles/copy for a clinical or academic audience, e.g. using academic papers for study, writing literature reviews

Skills and abilities Essential criteria Desirable criteria  Strong organisational skills and  Analytical skills ability to manage time effectively  Proofreading and work to tight, and often  Adobe Illustrator/InDesign/Photoshop competing, deadlines  A flexible but meticulous and methodical approach to work and a willingness to undertake a wide variety of tasks  Excellent verbal and written communication skills  High level of computer literacy and knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite  Ability to deliver high quality customer service

Other requirements Essential criteria Desirable criteria  Cooperative working with others / team working

Competencies

1. Personal effectiveness  Takes ownership and organises self to deliver results  Is reliable, consistent and demonstrates a positive “can do” attitude  Solves problems by selecting from well-defined procedures

2. Quality  Is skilled and knowledgeable in own functional area  Seeks improvement and takes responsibility for self-development

3. Communication  Communicates courteously, clearly and effectively with colleagues and external customers  Adjusts communication style to suit situation and audience

4. Working together  Builds good working relationships  Contributes to the success of the team  Demonstrates a commitment to equality of opportunity and dignity at work

5. Customer focus  Provides a high quality customer service  Builds rapport with customers and treats them consistently and well

6. Managing change  Adapts to and manages change effectively  Is open-minded and seeks innovation