Circa
Salary - Salary Plan, 38,000.00 GBP Annual
We're seeking a dynamic
Operations Administration Manager, Journals to oversee the administrative operations that support our journal article processing across our publishing portfolio, while delivering an exceptional customer experience at every touchpoint. This is a fixed-term position of up to 12 months covering maternity leave.
You'll manage and inspire a team of Publishing Assistants while overseeing the seamless coordination of both internal operations and external supplier relationships. This role requires an individual who can balance day-to-day operational demands with long-term planning, ensuring our journals maintain the highest standards of quality and customer service while meeting critical editorial and production deadlines.
You'll be at the heart of our publishing process, managing complex workflows from manuscript submission through to publication. You'll work closely with Editorial Managers to align operational capacity with journal strategies, while building strong collaborative relationships across internal teams and external suppliers. Your expertise in systems (ScholarOne and Resource) will be essential as you contribute to system developments and process improvements that maximize efficiency and enhance the author and reviewer experience.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced operations professional to make a significant impact in academic publishing. You'll be responsible for performance management, recruitment and training, while also contributing to strategic planning around outsourcing decisions and process optimisation. We're looking for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, has exceptional relationship-building skills, and is passionate about delivering outstanding service to our global community of researchers, authors, and scientific editors.
At the RSC we embrace flexibility and offer hybrid working, which means our teams come together when they need to collaborate. Although this role is contractually based at our Cambridge office, you will be able to work from home within the UK. During your induction period, you will need to attend the office regularly for onboarding. Once fully onboarded, you will be required to attend the office once a month. If you need flexible working arrangements, please outline this in your application.
Required
What we are looking for:
- General standard of education, to A-level or equivalent. Relevant higher education qualifications (degree level or equivalent) would be an asset.
- Significant administration experience, preferably in a customer-focused environment. Must be efficient and highly competent in the use of software packages associated with PCs such as word processing and spreadsheet analysis, including good knowledge of MS Office.
- Ability to lead and manage a large internal team, and management of external suppliers. Be able to provide effective training and support on technical and non-technical matters.
- Good organisational and time management skills are required together with the ability to work under pressure, prioritise and to meet deadlines.
- Good communication skills in interacting with internal and external contacts are essential.
Desirable
- Previous experience of managing or supervising a team.
- Previous experience of journal publishing and/or supplier management would be an asset.
If you are interested in this role, please apply before the end of the closing date. When applying, you will need to provide an up-to-date CV and as a cover letter (in no more than 500 words) telling us about your relevant knowledge, skills and competencies and why you are applying for this role.
About The RSC
We are a thriving international community of over 60,000 members in 125 countries, an internationally renowned publisher of high quality chemical science knowledge and the professional body for chemists in the UK, with a reputation as an influential champion for the chemical sciences.
As a not-for-profit organisation employing around 600 staff in 6 countries, we reinvest all of our income to achieve our charitable objectives in support of the chemical sciences community and advancing chemistry.
Our purpose is ‘to advance excellence in the chemical sciences’.
Visit our
Work For Us website to learn more about us, our benefits, equal opportunities statement and inclusive culture pledge.
At the RSC, we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds to apply. We particularly encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates.
As a part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we endeavour, where possible, to offer an interview to candidates meeting the essential criteria of the role, who has a substantial physical/mental impairment which impacts their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
We are committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team at
[email protected] or on +44 (0) 1223 432229 and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.
If you have any questions, please contact us at
[email protected] 
