Senior Peer Review Associate

The Senior Peer Review Associate (SPRA) independently leads initiatives to strengthen the reviewer selection process, improve journal health, and enhance the overall quality and efficiency of peer review workflows. This role manages reviewer selection for assigned journals, ensuring timely availability of qualified reviewers while maintaining adherence to research integrity standards. The SPRA also contributes to process improvements, supports training of new personnel, maintains KPIs, and serves as a point of contact for team members.

Key Accountabilities

The scope of work includes, but is not limited to:

1. Journal Management

• Lead and manage peer review processes for assigned journals to ensure efficiency, quality, and journal health.

• Build strong relationships with stakeholders, fostering effective communication and collaboration.

• Select and invite suitable reviewers for manuscripts until the required number of high‑quality reviews (typically two) is obtained to support decision‑making.

• Assess reviewer suitability by identifying and mitigating potential conflicts of interest.

• Implement quality‑enhancement and integrity‑driven measures throughout the reviewer selection process.

2. Project Management

• Lead and complete assigned projects and initiatives, demonstrating strong ownership and execution capability.

• Identify process gaps and improvement opportunities; propose and implement process enhancements.

3. Collaboration

• Proactively identify and address deviations, inefficiencies, and bottlenecks in peer review workflows.

• Communicate concerns promptly to relevant stakeholders and collaborate closely with editors to enhance review quality.

• Support editors in upholding research integrity standards and in addressing potential biases.

• Implement strategies to streamline workflows and strengthen manuscript evaluation processes.

Job Functions & Responsibilities

1. Conduct targeted reviewer searches in accordance with journal-specific workflows.

2. Follow up with editors, associate editors (where applicable), and reviewers on pending tasks; grant extensions as needed.

3. Maintain daily trackers for all assigned activities.

4. Assist editors and staff with reports or email template updates related to reviewer selection tasks.

5. Manage submission volumes aligned with the yearly WAP after successful completion of phased training.

6. Update monthly MIS reports and ensure all KPIs are consistently met.

7. Respond to emails from editors, associate editors, reviewers, and internal teams within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) with clear, well‑articulated communication.

8. Follow workflow guides for assigned journals and ensure they remain up to date at all times.

9. Serve as the point of contact for at least one team member annually and meet all documented expectations.

10. Support reviewer selection training for new EAs/PRAs, including developing training modules.

11. Assist the supervisor in creating documents, reports, and presentations outlining challenges, efficiencies, and improvement opportunities.

12. Troubleshoot issues related to journals and Sage Track as needed.

13. Escalate tense or sensitive communication from editors/reviewers to the supervisor; share positive feedback received as well.

Other Responsibilities

• Contribute ideas and feedback concisely and productively.

• Support peer review team members on selected journals as directed by the supervisor.

• Participate in departmental projects, committees, or task forces.

• Contribute to team success by collaborating effectively and avoiding unproductive conflict.

• Demonstrate professionalism, courtesy, discipline, and effective communication at all times.

• Maintain regular attendance, adhere to office timings, and follow proper leave‑reporting processes.

• Perform any additional activities required to achieve company and departmental goals.

Skills, Qualifications & Experience

1. Mandatory: Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences.

2. Mandatory: 2–4 years of experience working with a journal, publisher, or publishing service provider.

3. Strong understanding of peer review processes within the publishing industry.

4. Ability to use online tools to identify suitable reviewers for assigned manuscripts.

5. Project management skills with the ability to lead and complete assignments independently.

6. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

7. Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail.

8. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; working knowledge of Power BI is preferred.

9. Ability to learn and follow departmental procedures with accuracy and efficiency.