Executive Editor

We're looking for an experienced and visionary Executive Editor to lead the editorial strategy, performance, and growth of a major Open Access megajournal portfolio for a London based publisher. This is a pivotal leadership role shaping the future of broad scope, highvolume scientific publishing.
 
You'll guide editorial direction, oversee peer review quality, drive commissioning priorities, and translate market insight into innovative publishing initiatives. Working closely with internal teams and external editorial boards, you'll ensure the portfolio remains competitive, visible, and trusted by authors and reviewers worldwide.
 
This role also plays a key part in departmental leadership (supporting strategic planning, leading crossfunctional projects, and developing inclusive, high performing editorial teams). You will manage a team of Scientific Editors and Publishing Editors and report into a senior leader within the Open Access division.
 
Key Responsibilities
Editorial Strategy & Portfolio Leadership
·Develop and deliver the editorial strategy for a large Open Access megajournal portfolio, ensuring strong journal quality, visibility, market share, and financial performance.
·Drive portfolio growth through commissioning, peer review oversight, and datainformed editorial decisionmaking.
·Monitor trends in Open Access and STM publishing, turning insights into impactful editorial initiatives.
Team Leadership & Development
·Lead, coach, and develop a crossfunctional team of editors, supporting their professional growth and performance.
·Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and highachieving team culture.
CrossFunctional Collaboration
·Represent the portfolio internally, working with marketing, peer review, technology, and other teams to ensure alignment and prioritisation.
·Collaborate with commissioning and community engagement teams to ensure strategic coherence across publishing programmes.
·Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners, acting as an ambassador within the wider publishing community.
Editorial Governance & Quality
·Oversee peer review processes to ensure timely, ethical, and highquality editorial decisions.
·Act as final decisionmaker on manuscripts where appropriate.
·Maintain strong engagement with external Editorial Boards and support their involvement in journal development.
Strategic Projects & Innovation
·Lead and contribute to crossdepartmental projects aimed at improving editorial workflows, systems, and processes.
·Provide regular updates to senior leadership on portfolio performance and development opportunities.
 
About you:
The ideal candidate will hold an MD or PhD in medical or biomedical sciences and bring extensive experience in scholarly journal publishing, ideally within Open Access or highvolume megajournal environments. They will have a strong track record of shaping and delivering editorial strategy, improving journal quality, reach, and financial performance, and making confident, ethical editorial decisions. Commercial awareness, sound judgement, and a deep understanding of STM and Open Access trends are essential, alongside excellent communication and relationship building skills. You will be a natural people leader, already comfortable managing teams or ready to step into a managerial role) and crossfunctional projects, and proficient with standard office software and digital publishing tools
 

** Inspired Search & Selection are a publishing recruitment specialist who operate an Equal Opportunities policy. We treat all employees and job applicants fairly and equally regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, age, disability or union membership status.