BioMed Central is the leading open access publisher of STM (Science, Technology and Medicine) research. Since it was founded in 2000, BioMed Central has successfully pioneered the open access publishing model and brought open access to the mainstream. With offices in London, North America and Asia, the company employs over 290 people across a range of operations including editorial, production, IT and business. BioMed Central is a vibrant and innovative company. It operates in a fast-paced and high-energy environment, hiring talented people who are passionate about science, technology, medicine and open access.

The assistant editor will be responsible for progressing the content of a wide group of journals within the BMC series. This includes assessment of manuscripts for adherence to editorial policies, finding and inviting appropriate peer reviewers, making decisions on manuscripts in conjunction with the Executive Editor and suggesting potential new members of the Editorial Board.

Excellent time management and broad scientific competence is a key part of this role, as you will need to balance the needs of a variety of journals from the BMC series, and be confident to identify and invite reviewers across a wide spectrum of biomedical disciplines.

Main Duties
• Assessing manuscripts or adherence to our editorial policies and resolving questions with authors when required
• Manuscript consultation (for example, step in to act as external Editors in terms of reviewer inviting, straightforward decision-making, assisting external Editors on individual manuscript problems as requested)
• Occasionally handle manuscripts through the review process
• Identify manuscripts where difficulties have arisen or where there are difficulties in reaching a straightforward editorial decision and escalate to the Executive Editor for the relevant journal
• Highlight problems or improvements to process to Executive Editors
• Proactively suggest to Executive Editors areas where additional Associate Editors or Section Editors would be beneficial
• Identify potential new members for the Editorial Board for Executive Editors’ consideration

Person specification
Essential:
• Educated to Masters level (or equivalent), in a biomedical field
• An interest in open access publishing
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent organisational ability and time-management skills
• Analytical/critical appraisal skills
• A high level of computer literacy (including MS Office, Outlook and internet browsers)
• Pleasant and tactful telephone manner
• Self-starter with a positive, can-do approach to problem-solving
• Ability to complete allocated tasks and work to (often competing) deadlines
• Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues at all levels and as part of a team

Desirable
• Experience in an online environment
• Scientific editorial/publishing experience
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