Peer Review & Vendor Operations Supervisor

This role combines end-to-end peer review operations leadership with vendor governance and operational analytics for HHS GSD – OA.

The position is responsible for supervising internal editorial teams, managing vendor performance and delivery, and driving data-led operational excellence. It ensures efficient and controlled manuscript flow from submission through production by maintaining high quality standards, optimizing turnaround times, enabling proactive stakeholder communication, and continuously strengthening scalable, data-driven workflow performance across internal and vendor-supported operations.

Key Accountabilities

Peer Review Operations & Team Leadership

• Oversee end-to-end peer review workflow from submission through export to production

• Supervise and manage a team of 5–7 team members, ensuring effective workload distribution and adherence to timelines

• Drive daily and weekly planning, performance tracking, and productivity management

• Coach and develop team members, identify skill gaps, and enable capability building

• Escalate operational, workflow, and people-related issues proactively

Vendor Management & Governance

· Act as the primary operational point of contact for external vendors

· Build and maintain strong vendor relationships aligned to quality, SLA/KPI expectations, and timelines

• Monitor vendor performance through scorecards, trackers, and review mechanisms

• Lead performance reviews, feedback discussions, and escalation management

• Identify risks, compliance gaps, and recurring issues; drive corrective actions

Operational Reporting, Analytics & Capacity Planning

• Develop and maintain dashboards, trackers, and reports (Excel / Power BI)

• Monitor throughput, turnaround time, backlog, and utilization across internal and vendor teams

• Analyze workflow data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and capacity constraints

• Support forecasting and resource planning using historical data and submission trends

• Provide actionable insights and recommendations to leadership

Workflow Oversight, Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure smooth execution of peer review workflows across internal and vendor-supported operations

• Identify bottlenecks, delays, and quality issues and drive resolution

• Track recurring issues and implement mitigation and preventive actions

• Lead process optimization, standardization, and turnaround time improvement initiatives

• Maintain and enhance SOPs, workflow documentation, and governance frameworks

Stakeholder & Cross-functional Collaboration

• Maintain strong relationships with editors, authors, reviewers, and internal stakeholders globally

• Collaborate with editorial, production, technology, and operations teams

• Coordinate vendor onboarding, training, transitions, and process changes

• Facilitate communication with global stakeholders, including US/UK teams

Process Governance & Documentation

• Ensure process and training documentation is complete, updated, and accessible

• Evaluate effectiveness of reports and introduce improvements where needed

• Maintain governance trackers, performance reports, and audit-ready documentation

Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field

• Minimum 5+ years of relevant experience across peer review/publishing operations, team leadership, and vendor management

• Proven experience in people management, including team supervision, performance management, and capability development

• Strong operational management experience, with hands-on ownership of workflow oversight, productivity, and turnaround optimization

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and drive data-led operational decisions

• Mandatory proficiency in Excel and Power BI, including building and interpreting dashboards and performance reports

• Good understanding of peer review workflows and academic publishing operations, including vendor-supported delivery models

• Strong stakeholder and vendor management capability, with the ability to build effective working relationships

• Strong planning and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

• High level of ownership, attention to detail, and accountability

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Sage we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that is representative of all sections of society and to sustaining a culture that celebrates difference, encourages authenticity, and creates a deep sense of belonging. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, disability, sex or gender identity, sexual orientation, color, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief as creating value through diversity is what makes us strong.  As a business and as an organization with an increasingly agile workforce, we're open to flexible working arrangements where appropriate.