Lead Copy-Editor

 

Role Overview

The Lead Copy-Editor coordinates the copy-editing process, which every article and STEM project undergoes before it is published, to ensure the clarity, conciseness, and citation compliance of articles we publish. The Lead Copy-Editor has a key role in making sure that articles that get published are free from spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors, and are accessible to our audience. The Lead Copy-Editor will coordinate assigning articles to Team Members who specialise as Copy-Editors, and work proactively to maintain & continuously improve the quality of copy-editing.

Approximate Time Commitment: 4-5 hours per week

In addition to what’s outlined in our What’s Involved section, in this role, you’ll…

  • Lead the logistics of Copy-Editor specialists, including forward planning team capacity to ensure we make best use of the team and offer our authors the best experience

  • Work collaboratively with relevant Research/Science Communication Editors to ensure scientific accuracy is maintained during the copy-editing process

  • Assign Copy-Editors to articles, based on their skillset and scientific interests

  • Provide guidance to Copy-Editors during tasks

  • Ensure quality of copy-editing is of a high level, and follows all of our copy-editing guidance

  • Provide feedback to Copy-Editors on articles they have copy-edited

  • Provide regular reports to Executive Team on Copy-Editing progress & stats

  • Create both initial and continued skills development for Copy-Editing specialism

  • Ensure all articles are on track to be completed within agreed timescales via weekly checks

Don’t worry if these sounds unfamiliar right now, we’ll give you all the skills development training you need to succeed in the role!

Key Skills & Qualities

If you’ve got a passion for words, and want to use your organisational skills and attention to detail to make a difference, this could be the perfect role for you! We’re looking for a range of skills and qualities in our ideal Lead Copy-Editor…

  • ✅ A passion for communicating the big challenges in our world and their STEM-based solutions

  • ✅ High attention to detail

  • ✅ Organised approach, including forward planning team projects

  • ✅ Able to work on own initiative to make decisions and implement ideas

  • ✅ Clear written communication

  • ✅ Awareness of the importance of the accessibility of science, and how inclusive communication can be used to achieve this

  • ✅ Existing skillset in copy-editing (i.e. identifying and correcting spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors) e.g. through proof reading

  • ✅ Ability to generate ideas or look at things from a different perspective

  • ✅ Enthusiasm for helping others and guiding our authors through the peer-review process

  • ✅ Committed to the development of Copy-Editor specialists, including being able to give others constructive feedback

 

Previous Experience

For this role, we’re looking for someone who has previous experience in:

  • One or more STEM subjects, to help ensure the scientific accuracy of articles we publish. Note that this does not necessarily need to be your current or primary area of study.

  • Leadership experience (in any context) is desirable, but not essential.

If you don’t have experience in these areas yet, joining as a Team Member (which can include specialising as a Copy-Editor) could be a great option for you!

 

Apply Now!

Apply by Wednesday 18th January, 5pm GMT

Other Roles Available

  • Team Member

    A committed team of volunteers who support our authors, using their skills to give youth a platform

  • Operational Lead

    A range of Operational Leads run the day-to-day publication process within the journal

  • Executive Team

    A group of 7-10 Executive Team members develop & deliver the journal’s strategic direction