Summary of the Managing Editor (UK) job at Informa Group Plc.

Company Description

Informa is a leading academic publishing, business intelligence, knowledge, and events business, creating unique content and connectivity for customers all over the world. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.

Taylor & Francis is one of the world’s largest publishers of high-quality, peer reviewed scholarly journals, books, e-books and reference works. We empower learners, thinkers and doers with trusted knowledge that advances research and enriches lives. We bring together diverse people, ideas and opinions to validate and publish the experts, theories and truths that matter. And we’ve been doing this in an unbroken arc since 1798.

Our purpose is to foster human progress through knowledge.  We strongly believe that this requires us to encourage and examine different ideas and voices, so that any work that meets our exacting levels of quality deserves to be included in our publications. This requires open minds, the opportunity for robust debate, and the courage to defend perspectives that stand up to scrutiny, even if they conflict with our personal beliefs or values. Because that’s the only way to find the best obtainable version of the truth and, ultimately, foster human progress. If you agree, then we’d love to hear from you.

Job Description

As the architect of day-to-day operations, the Managing Editor orchestrates editorial workflows, manages the editorial budget, and monitors content performance to advance the publication's competitive positioning within the academic community. This role bridges scholarly rigor with engaging, accessible content, balancing traditional peer review with commissioned features, perspectives, and multimedia storytelling that broaden the journal's reach and relevance.

Serving as a key liaison for the editorial board, the Managing Editor cultivates collaborative relationships that strengthen governance and editorial development while identifying emerging trends and growth opportunities. Through data-driven decision-making and proactive stakeholder engagement, this role ensures day-to-day operations consistently advance Philosophical Magazine's strategic aims, enhancing its influence, relevance, and leadership in the field.

As the critical bridge between scholarly excellence and operational efficiency, the Managing Editor translates strategic objectives into actionable initiatives while upholding rigorous quality standards and safeguarding the journal's academic integrity and reputation.

What you'll be doing:

• Strategic Planning & Performance Planning
  • Develop and execute annual editorial plans that balance peer-reviewed research with magazine-style commissioned content, special features, and multimedia initiatives
  • Monitor and analyse diverse performance metrics including submission trends, publication impact, readership engagement, and social media reach to inform strategic decisions
  • Prepare comprehensive performance reports for senior leadership and editorial board stakeholders
  • Identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities to enhance the publication's market position, broaden its audience, and strengthen its academic influence
  •  Lead the strategic integration of magazine elements -including visual storytelling, thematic issues, and accessible commentary -while preserving scholarly standards
• Planning and Delivery of Content
  • Work with Commissioning Editor to identify strategic opportunities for commissioned content that advance the journal's scope and impact, including review articles, commentaries, perspectives, and thematic essays that advance the publication's scope and accessibility 
  • Collaborate with the Commissioning Editor, the Editor-in-Chief, and the journal’s Editorial Board to develop an annual commissioned content strategy that aligns with the journal’s mission and goals
  • Work with the Commissioning Editor to oversee the development of commissioned content from initial proposal through final publication
  • Coordinate peer review or editorial review processes specific to commissioned pieces, ensuring appropriate evaluation
  • Monitor commissioned content pipelines to ensure balanced coverage across themes, formats, and audience segments while maintaining publication schedule integrity
  • Manage commissioned content honoraria budgets and track expenditures against strategic priorities
  • Evaluate the impact and reception of commissioned content through citation metrics, readership data, social media engagement, and community feedback
  • Maintain a dynamic database of potential commissioned authors, including academics, practitioners, and science communicators, tracking their expertise for future opportunities
• Quality Assurance & Standards
  • Maintain rigorous academic and editorial standards across all published content
  • Ensure initial review of manuscripts is completed with regard to editorial quality, clarity, and adherence to journal guidelines
  • Collaborate with Production colleagues to ensure the highest quality standards in copyediting, proofreading, design, and production processes across both traditional and magazine-format content
  • Implement and monitor quality control procedures throughout the publication cycle
• Team Leadership & Coordination
  • As required, lead and mentor editorial assistants, associate editors, and other editorial support staff
  • Coordinate activities of the Editorial Board and Guest Advisors for special issues
  • With the Editor-in-Chief, facilitate and manage Editorial Board meetings and other communications with external stakeholders
  • As required, develop training materials and onboarding processes for new team members
  • Foster a collaborative, innovative editorial environment that embraces both scholarly rigor and creative storytelling
• Strategic & Administrative Functions
  • Support the Editor-in-Chief in developing editorial policies and strategic initiatives
  • Contribute to journal development, including development of the annual editorial calendar, commissioning activities, and special issue planning
  • Prepare reports on journal performance metrics for internal and external stakeholders
  • Manage editorial budgets and resource allocation
  • Liaise with the publisher on production schedules, marketing, and distribution
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders including the academic community, Editorial Board members, authors, reviewers, and the broader readership
  • Represent the journal at academic conferences and professional meetings
  • Respond to inquiries from authors, reviewers, and readers
  • Handle appeals and complaints with professionalism and adherence to policy
  • Promote the publication within relevant scholarly networks, professional communities, and public audiences through strategic outreach and engagement initiatives

Qualifications

What we're looking for:

• Education & Experience
  • Proven operational experience in fast-paced publishing environments, with demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-format editorial workflows
  • Established track record managing peer review processes for academic journals, with deep understanding of scholarly publishing standards Editorial management experience strongly preferred
  • Magazine publishing skills and knowledge highly valued
• Technical Skills
  • Expert knowledge of academic publishing standards, research ethics, and scholarly best practices
  • Strong understanding of peer review processes and publication workflows
  • Familiarity with bibliometric tools, journal impact metrics, and alternative engagement indicators (social media analytics, readership data, etc.)
• Core Competencies
  • Exceptional organizational and project management abilities
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
  • Tact, diplomacy, and the ability to manage strict deadlines while juggling multiple stakeholders.
  • Strong analytical and decision-making capabilities
  • Meticulous attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
  •  Adaptability and innovation mindset, with enthusiasm for exploring new formats and approaches
  • Collaborative leadership style that inspires teams and fosters creative problem-solving
• Success Metrics
  • Manuscript turnaround times and adherence to publication schedules
  • Quality and consistency of published content
  • Author and reviewer satisfaction ratings
  • Editorial team productivity and efficiency
  • Journal impact metrics and citation performance
  • Successful implementation of process improvements
  • Stakeholder feedback and engagement levels
  • Growth in readership diversity and audience reach

Additional Information

What we offer in return:

• An excellent work/life balance with a fantastic, flexible working culture
• 25 days annual leave per year plus a day off for your birthday 
• 3 additional discretionary days off during the holiday season at the end of the year 
• 4 paid volunteering days each year 
• Company funded single cover private medical insurance  
• Employee assistance programme – offering 24/7 well-being support 
• Share Match – Plan that matches every share purchased with two free shares. 
• Pension scheme 
• Life assurance, plus optical and medical care

What you should know:

• Closing Date: Applications will close on 18th August 2026
  • Interviews will be held on a rolling basis. If you are interested in this opportunity, it is encouraged that you submit your application as soon as possible.
• This role is based in the UK and you must have the right to work and live in the UK.
• The successful candidate will be able to utilise our balanced working model. We ask that candidates live within a commutable distance to our Milton Park office to ensure that as a balanced worker they can make it to our office location 3 days per week.  Please note that our Milton Park office will be relocating to Oxford city centre in late 2027 / early 2028, offering an exciting new workplace in the heart of the city.

We want all our candidates to shine in our recruitment process. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to ensure you are able to show us your best self. This could include having the application form in a different format, more time for questions, or anything else – please ask us, we are happy to be flexible! Please contact thomas.barrett@taylorandfrancis.com

Being Yourself at Taylor & Francis 

If you’re excited about working with Taylor & Francis to foster human progress through knowledge, we invite you to apply even if your existing skills and experience don’t fit every item listed above. At Taylor & Francis, we are at our best and most successful when colleagues can be themselves and contribute regardless of their identity or background. As a colleague, you will have the opportunity to further innovate and develop in areas that you are passionate about. Our goal is to empower you with the resources, incentives, and flexibility you need to enjoy success at work and to live a healthy, balanced life. 

Taylor & Francis is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in and value diversity of people and thought, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where all colleagues can learn and succeed as their true selves. Taylor & Francis recruits, develops, and retains colleagues without regard to any protected personal characteristics or other non-merit-based factor. 

If you have a disability, or face another barrier,  and would like to request an adjustment to assist your participation in the hiring process and/or in the advertised position, please contact thomas.barrett@taylorandfrancis.com. Your request will be reviewed and considered in the strictest confidence.

We genuinely care about our colleagues, promoting work-life balance, wellbeing, and flexible working. We believe that the skills and experience you bring to Taylor & Francis are invaluable. We want you to have the opportunity to develop your abilities, and to innovate and develop in areas which you are passionate about. To find out more about our business and the great career opportunities please go to our Careers Site: http://www.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/careers

Or better yet check out our LinkedIn ‘Life’ Page, highlighting our accomplishments, employees, and company culture. It’s also a good way of meeting our recruitment team, who will be happy to advise you on your journey here at T&F. 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/taylor-&-francis-group/life/79e0c27c-afdf-4bbb-84e6-5f8ed5e10bb8/