Publisher

Job Title: Publisher
Contract: Maternity cover (12 months fixed term contract)
Salary: £55,000 - £60,000
Location: London / Hybrid
Application Closing Date: Wednesday 29th April 2026

The Publisher is responsible for the editorial management, strategic development, financial performance and overall success of a portfolio of journals across disciplines. This involves prioritising journals for development and setting and implementing journal development plans. Communication is a key part of this role, developing and maintaining excellent working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders (editors, authors, reviewers, and societies). The Publisher translates company and team strategy into journal development actions and provides experience and information to help shape the company strategy. You will work with the Head of Portfolio to strategically grow your portfolio, including improving the publishing experience for authors, implementing open science initiatives, hiring editors, diversifying editorial teams, improving profitability, and contributing to design and implementation of new workflows and initiatives (e.g., author engagement initiatives).

Responsibilities

• Ensuring your portfolio meets all contractual commitments, improves profitability, and maintains an excellent reputation within relevant subject communities.
• Cultivating effective relationships to ensure the efficient day-to-day running of journals, in close cooperation with relevant internal staff, e.g. marketing, production, finance, sales
• Building knowledge of the field and the relevant scientific communities to offer market insight, sound advice to identify development opportunities and translate them into actions to maintain a competitive advantage and financial stability. This will involve engaging with external stakeholders and community leaders to obtain their advice.
• Setting and managing annual Journal Development/Improvement Plans and overseeing their implementation and successful conclusion by providing and interpreting data to enable evidence-based decision making for strategic and editorial development including: 1.Bibliometric analysis to understand drivers for impact factor 2.Competitor analysis 3.Emerging trends 4.New journal launches 5.Content growth 6.Financial modelling
• Working collaboratively and productively with other functional groups (especially production, marketing, digital) to deliver an excellent service for all stakeholders
• Working with finance to set and manage costs for the portfolio
• Driving content development discussions using analytics and evidence through regular communication, hosting strategy meetings, and presenting at editorial board meetings
• Monitoring initiatives, including open access, from competitors, funders, institutions and other stakeholders within your portfolio subject area, identifying developments such as new business models and agreements or new OA policies and funds and evaluating their relevance and significance in relation to your portfolio’s business activities
• Ensuring that all KPIs (annual targets for journal submissions, publications and transfer volumes) are regularly monitored, reported and met, and that action is taken as needed
• Working with the Research Integrity team to resolve pre- and post-publication issues
• Meeting portfolio-related objectives with regard to market share, editorial succession, cost per article, operations, and growth
• Reviewing new journal and commercial opportunities in consultation with management and contribute to journal proposals

Skills & Experience

• Experience working in an STM publishing environment with experience of journal development, stakeholder management and journals’ finance
• Organisation and time management
• Strategic development and project management
• Well developed verbal and written communication skills, including excellent presentation skills to a range of audiences
• Commercial acumen
• Negotiation and diplomacy
• Excellent understanding of the key publishing disciplines of sales, marketing, financial management, technology and business development, and a proficient understanding of print and online journal production

Why work for us

Help us create a healthier world. We are a global healthcare knowledge provider. We publish The BMJ, one of the world’s most impactful medical journals and over 70 influential speciality journals. We offer digital tools to help health professionals worldwide tackle critical healthcare challenges. Find out more about us here.

Flexible Work and Workplace Perks

We’re committed to flexible working that supports both your needs and the requirements of the role.

Generous benefits

• Generous double-matching employer pension contribution, up to 12%
• Discounted dental and travel insurance
• Seven x salary life assurance cover and a generous income protection package
• Discounted gym membership, cycle-to-work and season ticket loan
• Discounts for retail and leisure products through yourReward

Work-life balance and wellbeing

• Twenty-five days holiday + bank holidays + a BMJ Day off.
• Additional holiday through long service; buy up to 5 additional days
• Leave for moving house, volunteering or getting married
• Concierge service
• Seniorcare by Lottie

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are not buzzwords to us, but fundamental company priorities We believe that a diverse workforce brings unique strengths and insights, enabling us to better serve our customers and drive positive change in our industry. If you are from an under-represented or historically marginalised community, we are particularly interested in hearing from you. Join our employee-led networks focusing on Gender, Race and Cultural Diversity, Sexual Orientation, Mental Health and Well-being, Parents and Carers and Age.

Disability Confident Committed employer

Learning & Development

Personal development plan
Mentoring scheme
Career Coaching
Opportunities to pursue professional development
Strengths-based development