American Physical Society
ID: 1429
Location: Remote
Department: Editorial & Publications Operations
Director of Editorial Operations The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world. Position Summary:
The director of editorial operations (DEO) is responsible for optimizing APS's editorial and publishing operations to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with the organization's strategic objectives and oversees a staff of 30+ employees. This role plays a critical part in advancing APS's mission by driving continuous improvement in editorial workflows while maintaining a strong customer focus. This DEO ensures that editorial and operational strategies are integrated, scalable, and adaptable to industry shifts, providing teams with the tools and processes needed to maintain high-performance publishing operations aligned with APS's strategic objectives. APS has a "remote first" concept that promotes equal treatment and equal access within the United States, independent of physical work location, with a majority of staff working primarily from home.APS values diversity and welcomes candidates from a variety of backgrounds.APS offers a dynamic work environment with an outstanding total compensation package, including salary, outstanding benefits, and excellent paid time off. Key Responsibilities:
Operational Leadership & Strategy:
- Lead the editorial operations (EO) team in optimizing end-to-end processes through operational excellence frameworks (e.g. Lean Six Sigma methodologies)
Convert organizational strategy into defined priorities and actionable goals for each functional area.
Track key performance indicators (KPIs) for efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction to drive data-driven decision-making.
Champion process automation, workflow efficiency, and standardization to improve time to publication, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
Ensure alignment of editorial operations strategies with APS's broader strategic goals, fostering cross-functional collaboration.
Other duties as assigned.
Continuous Improvement:
- Identify and implement strategies to enhance the peer review and publishing workflows.
Establish a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging staff engagement in identifying inefficiencies and implementing solutions.
Monitor workflow bottlenecks, resource allocation, and publication times at various stages to streamline operations.
Conduct root cause analysis and corrective action plans with the Process Optimization Manager to resolve workflow issues proactively and prevent recurrence.
Facilitate change management to ensure the effective adoption of new workflows, processes, and tools while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and adaptability.
Partner with cross-functional leadership to uphold portfolio integrity through cohesive operational policies and consistent quality standards.
Team Development & Leadership:
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, data-driven EO team.
- Promote a collaborative, problem-solving culture that empowers staff to contribute to operational improvements.
Provide structured performance management, ensuring individual and team objectives align with APS's strategic goals.
Prioritize skill and capability development to drive informed compensation and promotion decisions, ensuring staff growth, career progression, and retention.
Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Lead and develop teams that support researchers in an evolving publishing landscape, implementing process enhancements that drive operational excellence.
Serve as the primary liaison between the EO team, Publications Team, and APS leadership to align operations with strategic objectives.
Maintain and strengthen relationships with publication partners, editorial boards, and key stakeholders to drive innovation and efficiency.
Represent EO and the Publications Team in relevant APS committee meetings to shape organization-wide strategies, goals, and initiatives.
Lead change efforts by equipping team members with the knowledge, resources, and guidance required to adopt, implement, and sustain workflow enhancements.
Financial & Resource Management:
- Manage department budgets, ensuring cost efficiency while maintaining high standards of service.
Evaluate and optimize vendor partnerships to drive cost-effective and high-quality publishing support.
Implement structured cost-benefit analysis to assess investments in new systems, tools, or process enhancements.
Develop and oversee annual goals, budgets, and departmental expenses, including forecasting and optimizing resource allocation to meet budget adherence and quality standards.
Identify and implement new, innovative features that enhance APS's reputation as a leading scholarly publisher.
Scope & Relationships:
- This role requires close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities for innovation and efficiency. As a key member of the Publications Leadership Team, the DEO will work with the CPO, executive editor, director of publishing and global sales director to foster a culture of transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Internal: Collaborates daily with the CPOand Publications Leadership Team. Oversees the Editorial Operations management team and engages with various other APS departments.
Frequent contact with representatives of APS publication partners, other APS leaders and staff and members of key APS Committees related to publications.
Direct Reports: associate director of editorial and publications operations, manager, and publications partner relations.
Indirect Reports:All staff within the Editorial and Publications Operations team; total team size is approximately 30+ employees.
Qualifications:
Education:
Preferred certifications:
Certification in Six Sigma, Lean Management, Operational Excellence, business process management, continuous improvement (e.g., Shingo, Kaizen), or equivalent methodologies.
Experience:
- Minimum of 8 years experience in an operational management role
Experience within STM publishing, association, or a related industry with a strong emphasis on operations is preferred
A combination of experiences including some or all of the following is preferred:
Demonstrated experience managing operational teams with a focus on continuous improvement
Proven experience with scholarly publications operations and or editorial operations within the academic publishing industry and or similar industries.
Extensive experience with and knowledge of scholarly publication and editorial operation trends, including open access and open research - and other forces currently shaping the publishing and editorial industry
Proven project management and/or leadership.
Proven business planning and profit and loss management experience
Proven change management leadership experience
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate complex workflows, identify inefficiencies, and implement effective solutions.
Demonstrated experience in leading change management, process optimization, and project management.
Proficiency in technology integration, with experience implementing publishing software, workflow automation tools, and digital platforms.
Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across departments and organizational levels.
Ability to clearly articulate complex processes and strategies to audiences at all levels.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a culturally diverse environment and promote inclusivity.
Proficiency in office suites (MS Office, Google Suite).
Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive, innovative work environment.
Travel:
- The position requires travel up to 10% to relevant events and conferences, client sites, representation at key meetings and events, and through leadership activities with like-minded organizations as well as to APS offices located in Long Island, NY and Washington DC, and other offsite locations for periodic meetings, training, and strategy sessions.
Salary:
- The salary range for this position takes into account various factors influencing compensation decisions, such as skill sets, experience, training, and other business and organizational requirements. The salary listed within the specified ranges considers relevant experience. Our compensation philosophy at APS aims to maintain salaries at the midpoint of the market. As a result, we typically hire within the target starting range. Exceptional, rare cases may merit reviews above target starting range for specialized or niche skills aligned with strategic operational goals.
- Hiring Range:$156,000/year - $212,550/year (USD)
- Target Starting Range:$156,000/year - $173,550/year (USD)
Amazing 2025Benefit Offerings:
- Flexible schedules and ability to work remotely
- 8% employer-paid retirement contribution
- Investment advisement services: 100% employer paid
- Medical benefits: PPO or HDHP option
- Employer contribution to FSA or HSA account, eligibility based on medical plan enrollment
- Lifestyle Spending benefit up to $2000.00 (USD) - 100% employer paid
- Dental benefits: individual coverage 100% employer paid
- Vision benefits: individual and dependent coverage 100% employer paid
- Basic Life & Accident insurance: employee coverage 100% employer paid
- Supplemental Life & Accident insurance, including spouse & dependent child(ren) coverage
- Disability insurance: employee coverage 100% employer paid
- Voluntary Accident & Critical Illness insurance
- Healthcare, Commuter & Dependent care flexible spending accounts
- Vacation: 15 days annually
- Generous holiday leave: 17 paid days of significance; includes one week closure at the end of December
- Personal leave: 4 days annually
- Volunteer leave: 1 day annually
- Sick leave: 10 days annually
- Bereavement & Compassion leave: 2 -15 days based on loss
- 12 weeks employer-paid family leave
- College tuition reimbursement plan
- Job related seminar & continuing education
- Professional Certification/Recertification 100% employer paid
- Training and professional development; access to LinkedIn Learning on-demand courses
- Employee Assistance Program
- Mindfulness Meditation: live and on-demand classes
- APS does not offer relocation assistance/costs
The American Physical Society is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of American Physical Society not to discriminate or allow the harassment of employees or applicants on the basis of race, religious creed, immigration status, alienage or citizenship, religion, color, ethnicity, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, protected veteran status, protected military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, ancestry, domestic violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by law with regard to any employment practices, including recruitment, advertising, job application procedures, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, job assignments, benefits and/or other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, provided the individual is qualified, with or without reasonable accommodations, to perform the essential functions of the job. This policy applies to all jobs at APS. The American Physical Society is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact APS Human Resources at hr@aps.org. The "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal'' poster, prepared by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), provides an overview of several laws that protect you from discrimination on the job, and several rights are afforded to you by these laws. The "Pay Transparency Non Discrimination Provision," prepared by the U.S. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), provides an overview of several protections implemented to protect individuals working under federal contracts from discrimination when inquiring about or discussing compensation; these protections apply to all employees and applicants.The APS has a "remote first" concept that promotes equal treatment and equal access, independent of physical work location, with a majority of staff working primarily from remote work locations.
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Please see job description
PI263854716
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American Physical Society
paid time off, sick time, tuition reimbursement, relocation assistance, remote work
Feb 22, 2025