Executive Editor | Journal of Experimental Medicine

Organization Overview

The Rockefeller University Press (RUP) publishes a portfolio of biomedical research journals: The Journal of Cell Biology, The Journal of Experimental Medicine, The Journal of General Physiology, and the newly launched Journal of Human Immunity. RUP also publishes the Life Science Alliance journal in alliance with EMBO Press and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. The RUP portfolio supports both Gold open access and hybrid publishing models to allow as many researchers as possible to find appropriate publication outlets. All editorial decisions are made in conjunction with active academic scientists, and peer-review operations, pre-press production, marketing, and institutional sales are carried out at the RUP offices. We are committed to identifying and publishing the highest-quality research.
Overview

The Executive Editor for The Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM) leads a team of professional staff Scientific Editors working in concert with the journal’s team of Academic Editors to publish high-quality science and ensure the continuing success of this long-established, preeminent journal in the biomedical sciences. JEM was established in 1896 and is a high-impact outlet for publishing novel conceptual insight into immunology, cancer biology, vascular biology, microbial pathogenesis, neuroscience, and stem cell biology.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director of the Rockefeller University Press (RUP), the Executive Editor is responsible for the administration of JEM; maintaining a fair peer review process; selection of all content published in JEM; writing for, commissioning for, and promoting the journal; and ensuring JEM’s continuing development through attendance at meetings and institutional visits. The Executive Editor is responsible for tracking and reporting on journal performance, developing and implementing a strategic plan for the journal, and serving as JEM’s main representative to the scientific community. As a member of the RUP leadership team, the Executive Editor contributes to the advancement of RUP.

 

Key duties of the Executive Editor are as follows:

Strategic and Editorial Leadership:

• Develop and implement a 3- to 5-year strategic plan to further JEM’s importance to biomedical researchers, informed by competitive analysis and bibliometrics; modify journal strategy as needed
• Manage a team of staff Scientific Editors, including recruitment, supervision, training, oversight of editorial decisions, performance evaluation, and providing strategic leadership to ensure high editorial standard and team effectiveness
• Recruit and appoint Academic Editors and members of the Editorial Advisory Board, focusing on appropriate representation
• Collaborate with Executive Editors of other RUP journals to develop and operationalize portfolio-level strategies to ensure strategic alignment across the Press
• Monitor key journal metrics and strategic initiatives, with regular reporting to Scientific Editors, Academic Editors, and journal Editorial Board
• Collaborate across journals in developing and enforcing editorial policies, including journal ethics policies that ensure compliance with international standards (COPE, ICMJE, WAME) for publication ethics and research integrity
• Monitor emerging research integrity challenges (e.g., AI-generated content, image manipulation, papermill activity) and work collaboratively across journals to implement proactive detection strategies
• Work collaboratively with Executive Editor, Life Science Alliance, and Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Human Immunity, to transfer manuscripts to those journals, where appropriate

Community Engagement:

• Serve as the public face and ambassador for JEM within the scientific community by leading outreach initiatives, building relationships with stakeholders, representing the journal at events, identifying emerging research trends, soliciting high-quality submissions, and championing the journal’s values and mission to enhance its visibility, influence, and reputation in the field
• Create and implement a plan to enhance and increase journal recruitment efforts through Editor site visits and meetings, and monitor metrics indicating success of manuscript recruitment efforts regularly to ensure strategic goals are met
• Work with Scientific Editors to use JEM front matter to increase community outreach and engagement and enhance author recruitment, assessing specific strategic goals for front matter and adjusting as needed
• In conjunction with Communications and Marketing, develop strategies to highlight the journal content and policies and increase article usage

Operational Management:

• Manage day-to-day operations of the journal, including peer review processes and other editorial operations
• Manage an editorial budget – including travel, meeting sponsorship, board meetings, and editorial support
• Manage updates related to the manuscript submission and peer review system (eJournalPress), including ongoing training and adherence to best practices
• Work collaboratively with Director of Publishing Technologies, production department, and preflight department to develop and propagate best practices to ensure fast and accurate production of accepted articles

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline
• Experience as an author with a publication record
• Minimum of 4 years of journal editorial experience
• Demonstrated ability to lead editorial teams
• Experience managing journal strategy at journal- and portfolio-level
• Proficiency in oral and written communications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Postdoctoral experience preferred

Work Location and Travel:

 

Rockefeller University Press is located in New York, NY, on the beautiful campus of The Rockefeller University. The Press follows a hybrid work schedule, preferring at least two days a week in person at Press offices. RUP will consider a fully remote work schedule (with regular travel to Press offices) for the ideal candidate.

 

The Executive Editor is expected to travel at least 4–5 times per year, including international travel.

 

The Rockefeller University is an equal opportunity employer – veterans/individuals with disabilities. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to characteristics protected by applicable local, state or federal law, including but not limited to disability and protected veteran status.

 

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on various factors, including but not limited to organizational budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The hiring range provided represents The Rockefeller University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Compensation Range: Min

USD $110,000.00/Yr.
Compensation Range: Max

USD $130,000.00/Yr.

Salary : $110,000 - $130,000