Job Description
About the Role
We are looking for a Peer Review Lead / Senior Editorial Coordinator who can build, run, and scale peer review operations from scratch while also actively managing day-to-day editorial workflows. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong process ownership, stakeholder coordination, and deep understanding of journal/book peer review ecosystems.
Key Responsibilities
Peer Review Operations & Execution
- Coordinate the end-to-end peer review process, including reviewer assignment, reminders, timeline tracking, and quality outcomes using platforms such as ScholarOne, Editorial Manager, or similar systems.
- Monitor manuscript schedules, communicate deadlines to authors, reviewers, and editors, and proactively follow up on delayed submissions or reviews.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for authors, reviewers, editors, and publishersresponding to queries and guiding stakeholders through the editorial and peer review lifecycle.
- Arrange, track, and consolidate reviewer feedback for journal articles and book proposals under consideration.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in manuscript tracking systems, internal databases, spreadsheets, and project management tools.
- Support editorial decision-making by ensuring appropriate reviewer coverage, complete documentation, and adherence to timelines.
- Send out author contracts and respond to contract-related queries in coordination with internal teams.
- Perform final manuscript checks and prepare files for smooth handover to the production team.
- Provide operational support for editorial board meetings, including coordination, agenda preparation, minutes, and follow-ups.
- Assist with ad-hoc tasks such as processing payments, maintaining contributor records, and coordinating with vendors.
- Liaise with internal departments (production, marketing, royalties, finance) to resolve queries and escalate issues when required.
Peer Review Leadership & Process Ownership
- Design, implement, and own the peer review workflow from scratch, ensuring scalability, efficiency, quality, and compliance with publishing ethics.
- Define and document SOPs, best practices, and escalation mechanisms for peer review operations across journals or book programs.
- Lead, mentor, and guide junior peer review/editorial team members, ensuring consistent delivery and quality standards.
- Own and track peer review KPIs such as turnaround time (TAT), reviewer performance, decision cycle efficiency, and author experience.
- Act as the primary escalation point for complex editorial, reviewer, or author issues.
- Configure, optimize, and manage peer review systems (ScholarOne/EM), including workflow setup, user roles, and reporting.
- Conduct regular process audits and quality checks to ensure integrity, transparency, and adherence to ethical publishing standards.
- Build and maintain a strong reviewer database, develop reviewer engagement strategies, and improve reviewer responsiveness and retention.
- Support onboarding of new journals or titles, including peer review setup, team readiness, and go-live support.
- Work closely with Editors, Publishers, and internal leadership to align peer review operations with broader publishing goals.
What You'll Need to Succeed
- Strong administrative, coordination, and process design skills.
- Excellent attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a professional and empathetic tone.
- Proven ability to work independently, take ownership, and drive improvements proactively.
- Advanced working knowledge of MS Office (especially Excel and Outlook).
- Hands-on experience with peer review/manuscript tracking systems such as ScholarOne/Manuscript Central, Editorial Manager.
- A genuine interest in academic publishing, peer review integrity, and journal/book workflows.
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