Publisher, Optica Publishing Group

Publisher, Optica Publishing Group

Optica is looking for a Publisher, Optica Publishing Group.

The Publisher manages a portfolio of Optica’s journals, focusing on strategies to improve the journals’ reputation in the community, standing in the marketplace, and ultimately their impact on Optica’s finances. The position supports Editors-in-Chief to set strategic priorities and targets and ensure the journals meet those goals, and also works with the senior publishing team on strategic projects and business development opportunities for the journal program as a whole.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Stay connected with the journals’ reader and author constituents in order to work with Chief Publishing Officer, Senior Publisher, and Editors-in-Chief to set the strategic direction for the portfolio journals.
2. Work with staff and Editors-in-Chief to oversee the periodic creation of editorial development plans that communicate the journal’s mission and Editor’s vision as well as review the journal scope, editorial structure, policies, procedures, performance statistics, and author and reader satisfaction.
3. Monitor journal performance statistics and financials to track progress in achieving goals set forth in journal business plans or editorial development plans and identify opportunities for improvement.
4. Oversee monthly conference calls with Editors-in-Chief for journals managed to discuss their current state, review marketing activities, and provide feedback on any issues or problems experienced. 
5. Track developments in the field, including hot and emerging fields in optics and photonics. Work with the Editors-in-Chief on content development and actively solicit authors, invited papers, and feature issue topics as needed.
6. Maintain regular interaction with peer review, and production teams to keep abreast of and provide guidance on journal operations. Suggest changes and amendments to established policies and practices when appropriate.
7. Maintain good knowledge of industry norms and standards in scientific publishing and publication ethics, trends in peer review, new technologies, licensing issues, and emerging business models. Ensure that all journals managed adhere to journal policies and procedures, and coordinate resolution of ethics issues with the Editorial Ethics Subcommittee.
8. Support editors and marketing colleagues in outreach efforts such as email campaigns, website content, social media copy, and publishing and reviewing presentations, providing substantive editing/writing as needed. Approve text for decision letters and other correspondence in Optica’s peer review system. Write/edit non-technical article summaries for papers to be used for promotional purposes, ensuring the content is broadly accessible.
9. Oversee press release process for subset of journals including relationships with external writers.  In conjunction with editors and Optica’s Media Relations staff, select papers for press release coverage and write/edit/distribute press releases. Monitor press activity reports.  
10. Oversee the page charge policy and processes for subset of journals, ensuring updates to publication charges are posted in advance to internal systems and the website.  Administer publication grant funds and prepare annual reports for the fund donors.
11. Assist Senior Publisher with planning for Board of Editors meetings and other board activities.
12. Manage Editor-in-Chief nominating committees for subset of journals managed.
13. As assigned, coordinate with volunteers and/or staff on strategic projects and new business planning.
14. Attend industry conferences as requested.

Education and Experience

1. PhD in engineering or the physical sciences preferred.
2. Minimum of five to eight years prior editorial work experience and/or five to ten years’ experience in association or commercial publishing management; STM journal publishing and business development experience preferred. 
3. Minimum of five years scientific writing experience preferred. Experience may include writing original research articles, topic area reviews, news and views, scientific magazine articles, white papers and/or press releases.

Skills and Abilities

1. Dynamic individual with outstanding analytical and management skills and the ability to take on increased responsibility over time.
2. Ability to see the “Big Picture;” demonstrated ability to develop and lead strategic initiatives
3. Strong interpersonal skills and outstanding ability to establish successful working relationships with a wide range of constituents and stakeholders including scientific and engineering members, editors, and other Optica volunteers; peer review, production, and sales and marketing staff; Optica management; and contacts across other Optica departments as well as within the publishing industry.
4. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to successfully represent Optica Publishing Group to diverse groups and to develop high quality presentation materials. Ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically in electronic, written, and oral formats.
5. Ability to translate scientific content for a broad technical audience.
6. Sound judgment and the ability to prioritize multiple deadline-sensitive projects is a must.
7. Ability to work successfully in a team environment.
8. Ability to travel as needed.
9. Willingness to employ technology to bolster job efficiency.

About Optica

Located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC, Optica offers a competitive salary and benefits. Please send your resume and cover letter with salary requirements to resumes@optica.org.

Optica is an equal employment opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, age, sex, national origin, disability, religion, maritial status, veteran's status, personal appearance, political affiliation, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, or any other basis prohibited by law.