cgnjob17001

SSRN
Publishing Director

SSRN, a pre-print social-networking platform serving a broad range of academic disciplines, is seeking a Publishing Director to expand its disciplinary coverage and better serve the SSRN editorial, classification and advisory communities.

- The role is based in Rochester, New York, though applicants near to Elsevier offices will also be considered, including New York City; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- The role reports to SSRN's Managing Director.
- The role has one direct report. The report is responsible for coordinating a group of independent classifiers, who review submitted content and classify them in relevant SSRN journals.
- The Publishing Director will need to travel approximately 25%. Occasionally travel over a weekend will be required.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS: As an applicant your profile will include:
- Academic standing:  You will be recognized by SSRN constituents as having academic experience, and being vested in advancing research. You will have academic credentials (such as a PhD), first-hand experience in the publishing process, and knowledge of academic career progression.
- Scholarly communication background: You will have worked in academic publishing in some form. Potentially you will come with publishing experience, editorial experience, community engagement, and product development experience. You will be aware of the trends in academic publishing, and will understand the potential of SSRN as a social networking platform.
- Open Access: You will be well versed in open access trends, communities and initiatives.  You will recognize the value that SSRN delivers as a platform where users are free to upload and download.
- Management: You will have a track record of managing teams, and executing projects across large stakeholder groups. You will have experience in rolling out initiatives to many people, while still ensuring you cater to individual needs.
- Market-facing presence: As the role will require you to be an external representative of SSRN, you will need experience in presenting to large groups, and leading stakeholder discussions to actionable conclusions. You will be able listen to constituent needs, incorporate constituent feedback and speak with authority to SSRN's editorial community, classifier community and advisory board network.
- Analytical capabilities: You will have proficiency in running analyses to inform decision making and action. You will be able to segment groups based on quantitative and qualitative information, and compile and report on evidence in a structured manner.
- Business experience:  You will understand how your role contributes towards the SSRN business and community goals. You will identify Key Performance Indicators (KPI) that link your performance to overall business success, you will monitor your KPI performance and take mitigating actions to achieve and exceed KPI targets.

KEY RESULT AREAS:
- Classifier recruitment
- Classifier performance
- Classifier productivity
- Editor recruitment
- Advisory board recruitment
- Advisory board management
- New journal launches
- Sponsored journal launches
- Network introduction and growth

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.Engage External Stakeholders: The role will be one of the most externally facing roles at SSRN, and will have the lead role in managing and nurturing the following groups:
a. Editorial network: SSRN has over 200 active editors. The Director will serve as the point person to this editor community, regularly onboarding new editors, updating editors, SSRN directions and providing oversight of the editorial role and performance.
b. Classifier Community: SSRN's classifier community plays a key role in classifying author submissions into appropriate journals and networks. The Director and supporting report will document new classification guidelines, identify and train new classifiers, understand classifier workflows, and, in participation with the product team, implement productivity improvements to classifier workflows.
c. Advisory board: The Director will be responsible for forming an SSRN advisory board. He or she will work with the Managing Director to identify and enlist board members. The board will be updated quarterly, and convene annually. The Director will, with an advisory chair, lead these meetings, and regularly engage the board on the direction of SSRN.

2. Launching New Networks and Journals. The Publishing Director will be responsible for launching networks and journals to expand SSRN's discipline and content base. In launching new networks and journals the Publishing Director will need to conduct market research, build consensus on network and journal potential and oversee the launch and growth of new networks and journals.

3. KPI Achievement and Business Growth. On an annual basis, and in collaboration with the Managing Director, the Publishing Director will establish KPIs that support content and business growth, with corresponding actions to achieve that growth. Throughout the year the Director will deliver on agreed actions. In addition to content targets the Publishing Director will contribute to top line sales targets by obtaining third party sponsorships to foster research discussion through launch of networks and journals, as well as meeting budget targets while supporting SSRN stakeholder communities.

EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE:
- PhD or advanced degree (e.g. M.Sc, MBA, MLS)
- 7+ years of relevant experience in some or multiple aspects of the publishing process
- Proven success in managing large groups
- Proven success in achieving content acquisition goals
- People management experience
- Track record of communicating and working with senior management and stakeholders

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:
- Customer/Market focus
- Strategic planning
- Budget expertise
- Ability to work in matrixed environment
- Excel experience
- Strong leadership skills including change management, risk taking and management, negotiation, communication, mentoring

ELSEVIER COMPETENCIES FRAMEWORK:
- Connects the group to the outside world
- Displays high integrity and honesty
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Establishes stretch goals
- Champions Change

ABOUT SSRN AND ELSEVIER: SSRN is a scholarly platform devoted to the rapid worldwide dissemination of social science research and is composed of a number of specialized research networks. SSRN was launched as the Social Science Research Network in 1994 by founders Michael Jensen and Wayne Marr. In May 2016, SSRN was acquired by Elsevier. As part of Elsevier, SSRN operates as a leading social networking platform with operations out of Rochester, New York.

Elsevier is the world's leading provider of scientific, technical and medical (STM) information, tools and resources. A global company based in Amsterdam, Elsevier partners with scientists, researchers, healthcare providers, educators and decision-makers in academic institutions, governments and corporations to help them find, evaluate and use information. Our breadth of content is unparalleled, spanning virtually every STM field in the world and includes such distinguished brands as Gray's Anatomy, The Lancet and Cell. Using innovative technology, we deliver our content through tools that help our customers be more productive and successful in their work. ScienceDirect delivers the worlds' leading journals electronically to over 11 million readers in 200 countries. And physicians in 95 percent of teaching hospitals rely on ClinicalKey to get critical information that can save lives. Elsevier employs over 7,000 people in more than 70 offices worldwide. We are an employer of choice, attracting and developing talented and creative people who thrive in a challenging and fast-paced environment. We offer an excellent compensation and benefits package as well as a real opportunity for career growth in a growing organization. Elsevier is an equal opportunity employer: qualified applicants are considered for and treated during employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, disability status, protected veteran status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. If a qualified individual with a disability or disabled veteran needs a reasonable accommodation to use or access our online system, that individual should please contact 1.877.734.1938 or accommodations@relx.com.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: To apply, please go to: https://careers.relx.com/careersection/15/jobdetail.ftl?job=AG%200008H&lang=en

Posted: 17 Mar 2017