Editorial Director (Books)

Job Title: Editorial Director (Books), Clinical Medicine, Biomedicine & Life Sciences (Asia)

Location: Beijing/Singapore/Tokyo

About Springer Nature Group

Springer Nature opens the doors to discovery for researchers, educators, clinicians and other professionals. Every day, around the globe, our imprints, books, journals, platforms and technology solutions reach millions of people. For over 180 years our brands and imprints have been a trusted source of knowledge to these communities and today, more than ever, we see it as our responsibility to ensure that fundamental knowledge can be found, verified, understood and used by our communities – enabling them to improve outcomes, make progress, and benefit the generations that follow.

Position Overview

Responsible for managing the overall performance of part of the Medicine books group: a group of Asia-based editors within the team as well as the publishing programs they work on. Responsibilities include long-term planning for growth and development of the book program (including Open Access books), developing and executing ideas for new products and product lines within publishing and the management of editors. In addition, responsible for increasing company profitability via acquisitions that are consistent with Springer’s reputation as a high-quality, high-level professional and academic publisher.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Planning:

• Assesses overall trends in the medicine, biomedicine and life science research landscape and translates these into Springer product (including new products and new product lines when applicable).
• Prepares long-term planning documents and strategic goals as requested.
• Evaluates strategies, strengths and weaknesses of competitors.
• Maintains communication with US, European and Asia-based editorial counterparts about specific immediate questions as well as long-term strategy questions.

Management:

• Coordinates the overall direction of the group he or she is responsible for, including frequent contact with team members via phone, email and in person, general supervision of activities, performance monitoring, and representing the group as appropriate in dealing with other departments and branches of Springer Nature.
• Responsible for the publication and planning of both titles published and signings in the group.
• Prepares, reviews, and manages the T&E budget for his or her group.
• Works with each acquisitions editor in ensuring signings and in-production goals are met or surpassed.
• Maintains communication with US, European and Asia-based editorial counterparts about specific immediate questions as well as long-term strategy questions.
• Assesses training and development needs for staff.

Editorial:

• Next to the duties described above, the Editorial Director can manage a small publication program.
• The ED can pursue an active and efficient acquisitions policy through correspondence, meetings/trips, telephone, consultations with advisors, etc.
• Prepares and executes publishing contracts.
• Maintains and develops a circle of reviewers and advisors and evaluates their judgments.
• Performs related duties as required.

MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

• Manages 4-6 acquisitions editors, some of whom in turn have one or two direct reports of their own. Supervises a total staff of fifteen to eighteen Springer employees (acquisitions editors).
• MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITY includes responsibility for hiring, termination, performance counseling and SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY includes responsibility for work distribution, scheduling, training.

CONTACTS (nature and frequency of internal/external communications):

• Extensive in-house contacts with all departments, especially production, finance, and sales/marketing on a regular basis. Responsible for overall coordination of the publishing program.
• Contact with key authors, series editors, and scientific leaders in the program when necessary.
• Extensive contact with external reviewers, advisors, potential authors and the general IT community.

REQUIRED BACKGROUND (minimum level of knowledge/skill [education/experience] needed to perform job):

• College degree required, (advanced) degree in medicine, biology or the life sciences is strongly preferred.
• The candidate has an interest in the field of medicine and biology and follows trends and development in this field closely.
• Substantial publishing experience required, preferably in scholarly, academic, and professional publishing.
• Has supervisory experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills as well as strong initiative and independent functioning required.
• Must be willing and able to travel internationally (20%-30%).

The position is offered on a full-time, permanent basis and can be located in our Beijing, Singapore and Tokyo (Hybrid Working) offices. Other Springer Nature offices will also be considered on a case-by-case basis. Internal applicants from other locations may also apply.

At Springer Nature, we value the diversity of our teams and work to build an inclusive culture, where people are treated fairly and can bring their differences to work and thrive. We empower our colleagues and value their diverse perspectives as we strive to attract, nurture and develop the very best talent.

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