Junior Editorial Assistant

Role Description

A well-established company in the medical sector are looking for a Junior Editorial Assistant to support the operational management of medical journals. This is an excellent opportunity for a graduate with an interest in science, ready to take the next step in their career.

Key Relationships for the Junior Editorial Assistant include the Publisher, internal teams (Editorial, Marketing, Production) and external stakeholders (Authors, Reviewers, Editors, Clinicians).

This Junior Editorial Assistant role offers scope to grow, learn, and assume greater responsibility in journal coordination and administration over time.

Key Responsibilities for the Junior Editorial Assistant:

Editorial & Manuscript Management

• Process incoming submissions efficiently using the designated manuscript tracking systems (e.g., Editorial Manager).

• Monitor the submission pipeline, tracking turnaround times and key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure targets are met.

• Ensure the accuracy of all manuscript records in Editorial Manager, including updating templates for author and editor correspondence.

• Draft and manage all correspondence related to submissions, revisions, and resubmissions.

• Assist editors by coordinating reviewer invitations, managing follow-ups, and tracking responses.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date databases for authors, reviewers, and all related editorial activity.

Administrative Support & Strategic Coordination

• Track and process permissions requests, rights clearance, and all essential copyright documentation.

• Generate data-driven reports and gather key statistics for analysis by editors and the Publisher.

• Coordinate simple promotional initiatives (e.g., author videos, content sourcing for newsletters/social media) in close collaboration with the Marketing team.

• Support editor recruitment activities and organize materials required for Editorial Board meetings.

Additional Support

• Provide cover for essential functions during staff absences to maintain operational continuity.

• Participate in occasional external events, such as academic meetings or industry conferences, for professional development (under appropriate supervision and guidance).

Requirements for the Junior Editorial Assistant:

Knowledge

• Demonstrable understanding of editorial and production processes (ideally open access) and how journals serve the research community. (Essential)

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, ideally in the fields of biology, health or life sciences. (Desirable)

Skills and Experience

• Excellent communication and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise work effectively and deal with competing priorities. (Essential)

• Excellent grasp of written and spoken English, spelling and grammar. (Essential)

• 1 year of publishing experience (preferably in STM publishing). (Essential)

• Experience of electronic editorial management systems. (Desirable)

• Experience using MS Office. (Essential)

• An understanding of rights, permissions and publishing ethics. (Desirable)

• Ability to work with physicians for manuscript production, publication, creation of associated filmed interviews. (Desirable)

• Some copywriting experience for marketing comms / page copy creation. (Desirable)

Take the next step in your career by applying for this Junior Editorial Assistant role today. Submit your CV to join a dynamic, collaborative team and make a real impact in supporting the operational management of this fantastic company's educational medical journals.