Deputy Editor

Job Description:

We believe in bold ideas, diverse perspectives, and the drive to transform knowledge into impact. Here, your curiosity fuels progress, your voice shapes innovation, and your ambition helps redefine what’s possible within science and learning. We are a culture that obsesses over impact, challenges, and drives what’s next to power infinite possibilities for our customers, colleagues and society at large.

About the Role:

The Deputy Editor is an Ecology subject matter expert (SME) responsible for managing the end-to-end peer review process for scholarly journal content. This role combines scientific expertise with editorial decision-making, ensuring the quality, integrity, and relevance of published content.

The Deputy Editor works independently with minimal supervision, handles complex editorial cases, contributes to journal strategy, and collaborates with Editors-in-Chief (EiCs), authors, reviewers, and internal teams. The role also includes mentoring junior colleagues, driving commissioning initiatives, and representing the journal within the scientific community.

Key Responsibilities:

Manuscript Handling and Editorial Decisions

• Screen submitted manuscripts for scientific quality, relevance, and alignment with journal scope
• Identify and escalate publication ethics or integrity concerns through appropriate channels
• Make editorial decisions (accept, reject, revise, transfer) in line with journal policies
• Select, invite, and manage peer reviewers
• Evaluate reviewer feedback and determine next steps for manuscripts
• Assess revised submissions for completeness and quality of revisions
• Review author rebuttals and make timely decisions
• Recommend alternative journals for manuscript transfer when applicable

Commissioning and Content Development

• Identify and invite authors for commissioned content (e.g., review articles, special issues)
• Build and maintain relationships with key authors and researchers
• Track and follow up on invited submissions to ensure timely delivery
• Collaborate with EiCs to define and refine journal aims, scope, and editorial strategy
• Recommend and support the appointment of editorial board members
• Contribute to achieving commissioning targets and KPIs

Community Engagement and Representation

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge in the relevant subject area
• Attend and participate in conferences, webinars, and scientific events
• Represent the journal and organization within the academic community
• Build professional networks to enhance journal visibility and submissions

Performance and Process Improvement

• Analyze peer review performance metrics and identify improvement opportunities
• Lead or contribute to projects focused on editorial workflow optimization
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., Editorial Excellence) on process improvements
• Participate in subject-area editorial clusters and knowledge-sharing initiatives

Training and Mentorship

• Provide training and guidance to peers and junior editors
• Mentor team members on editorial processes, decision-making, and best practices
• Support knowledge sharing across editorial teams

Additional Responsibilities

• Manage editorial responsibilities across multiple journals and EiCs
• Handle complex or high-impact editorial cases independently
• Identify opportunities for new products, content areas, or journal development
• Share insights and ideas with relevant internal stakeholders

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• PhD or equivalent advanced degree in Ecology.
• Proven experience in academic publishing, editorial roles, or manuscript handling
• Strong understanding of peer review processes and publication ethics

Skills and Competencies

• Subject matter expertise in a specific research domain
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills
• Ability to manage multiple manuscripts and priorities simultaneously
• Effective stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experience commissioning content and engaging with author communities
• Data-driven mindset with ability to interpret performance metrics

Behavioral Competencies

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Collaborative mindset with mentoring capability
• Proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement

We power infinite possibilities.

For more than 200 years, we've transformed knowledge into discoveries that shape the world. Today, our global team of innovators, creators, and experts is driving what's next in science, education, and publishing—creating impact that reaches everywhere. 

We're not just observers of progress. We're the ones accelerating scientific breakthroughs, advancing learning, and sparking innovation that redefines entire fields and improves lives. 

Here, your talent matters. Your ideas have room to grow. And your work creates breakthroughs that can change everything. 

Wiley is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We evaluate all qualified applicants and treat all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or based on any individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Wiley is also committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants who require accommodation to participate in the job application process may contact tasupport@wiley.com for assistance.

We are proud that our workplace promotes continual learning and internal mobility. Our values support courageous teammates, needle movers, and learning champions all while striving to support the health and well-being of all employees. We offer meeting-free Friday afternoons allowing more time for heads down work and professional development, and through a robust body of employee programing we facilitate a wide range of opportunities to foster community, learn, and grow.

We are committed to fair, transparent pay, and we strive to provide competitive compensation in addition to a comprehensive benefits package. It is anticipated that most qualified candidates will fall within the range, however the ultimate salary offered for this role may be higher or lower and will be set based on a variety of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to, geographic location, skills, and competencies. Wiley proactively displays target base pay range for United Kingdom, Canada and USA based roles.

When applying, please attach your resume/CV to be considered.

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