Journal of Baltic Studies (JBS), the official journal of AABS, is currently recruiting for an Editor.
This role is a great opportunity for an academic with a strong research background in the political, social, economic, and cultural life of the Baltic states and, by extension, the Baltic Sea region, and who also has the commitment, drive and ability to help develop the journal. The role comes with a highly competitive honorarium and involves dedication, energy, and focus. The Editor will be responsible for the oversight and administration of a rigorous and proper peer review process that delivers content of suitable scope and quality within an agreed publication timeframe.
Becoming the Editor of a journal is a rewarding and fulfilling experience where you have the opportunity to draw on and build your own networks, develop and promote the research in the field of Baltic Studies.
Journal of Baltic Studies Editor
This is a joint, co-Editor role, as you will be working alongside current Editor Dr. Mike Loader. The term of office is until the end of 2030 with start date in the first half of 2025. Full training will be provided by Editor Mike Loader and outgoing Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Matthew Kott. The start date must be by June 2025 at the latest, but onboarding would preferably take place as soon as possible after the appointment is made.
This is a part-time position with much of the work taking place out of hours. The role equivalent to approximately 20% of FTE, equivalent to 1 workday a week.
About Journal of Baltic Studies:
The Journal of Baltic Studies (JBS), the official journal of the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS), is a vital source of scholarship for those engaged in Baltic state and Baltic Sea region studies.
JBS is an anonymously peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal published on a quarterly basis that aims at progressing and disseminating knowledge about the political, social, economic, and cultural life – both past and present – of the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), the Kaliningrad Region, and the Baltic Sea region from a macro-perspective. JBS seeks to publish high-quality, original articles and reviews of broad scholarly interest that advance our knowledge of the Baltic states and Baltic Sea region.
All submissions are subject to a rigorous peer review process, based on initial editor screening and double anonymous refereeing by a minimum of two specialist referees.
The Journal’s output has increased from 6–7 articles per issue in 2018 to 10 per issue in 2023, with total production now standing at 40 articles per year. Downloads have increased from 20,000 in 2018 to reach 40,000 in 2024.
The structure of the journal’s editorial team consists of two co-editors, one technical editor, a book reviews editor, and four editorial assistants.
Publication duties:
- At the heart of the Editor’s role is oversight and administration of a rigorous and proper peer review process. The peer review process currently delivers, within the aims & scope of the Journal, 40 accepted items of research content (research articles, review articles, Forum articles) and approximately 16 book reviews per annum
- Regular management of the Journal through use of the ScholarOne online peer review platform, including:
- Ensuring all submitted manuscripts are considered in a prompt, consistent and professional manner
- The desk vetting of submissions, including ensuring that authors and reviewers adhere to the Journal’s publishing ethnics, and using plagiarism checks to assure the integrity and reputation of the Journal is maintained
- The selection and assignment of appropriate peer reviewers, including finding new referees when those approached decline, fail to respond, or respond with insufficient feedback
- Reading, summarising, and basing judgements about acceptance, rejection, or revision on referees’ reports, taking the final decision on submissions, and communicating this in writing to authors in a professional manner and within a reasonable period
- Requesting further reports for subsequently revised papers, communicating as necessary authors’ responses and arguments.
- Communicating promptly, consistently and professionally with authors during the peer review and publication process
- Managing articles through the production process. The workload includes the secondary/tertiary editing of at least 20 articles per annum
- Managing all aspects of Special Issues/Sections in coordination with the guest editor(s)
- Coordination of forthcoming issues of JBS and proofing of the upcoming issue ahead of quarterly publication
Other duties:
- Participation in the journal’s ongoing professionalisation plan including long-term revision and consolidation of the Style Guide for authors and editorial assistants
- Timely management of our email correspondence with authors, prospective authors, JBS affiliates, AABS, etc.
- Providing annual holiday cover for co-editor
- Training of new editorial team members, and liaising with the editorial team to ensure workload is divided fairly, that their role and responsibility is understood and that expectations around turnaround and quality have been defined
- Coordination of the editorial team through the Slack app including distribution through Box platform of manuscripts to editorial assistants for primary editing
- Chairing of editorial meetings
- Liaising with the JBS Book Reviews Editor
- Liaising with Taylor & Francis (the publisher) and the T&F Production Editor
- Liaising with and reporting to the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies Board
- Maintaining awareness and understanding of major developments in the publishing industry, such as Open Access
- Some organisation and hosting of JBS events at relevant conferences (AABS in the United States and CBSE in Europe in alternate years) with JBS-supported travel expenses
Essential qualities:
- A PhD in a relevant discipline
- Fluency in English
- An active research agenda in the field of Baltic Studies
- The capacity to devote time each week to the role, and to remotely attend meetings with the editorial team and AABS Board as required
- Personal characteristics of diligence and attention to detail are paramount, especially regarding matters on language, style, and referencing
- Commitment to academic integrity and fairness in editorial decision-making
- A vision and enthusiasm for the continuous development of the journal
- The ability to work conductively and to proactively lead the journal’s wider editorial team
- The ability to ensure all submitted manuscripts are considered in a prompt, consistent, and professional manner
- The ability to confidently use an online manuscript management system
- The ability to read, summarise, and make final decisions based on independent reviewer reports
- A commitment to communicating promptly, consistently, and professionally with authors during the peer review process
- A commitment to engaging with T&F staff to implement necessary processes
- A strong commitment to ethical rigour and commitment to ensure that the journal always adheres to strict ethical standards
Desired qualities:
- Prior editorial experience and familiarity with all stages of the academic publishing process is not required but is highly desirable
- Prior experience with ScholarOne or similar manuscript management systems
- Regionally-relevant language skills
- Experience developing institutional AI policies
- The possibility of an ‘institutional home’ with institutional support for the Journal for the duration of the editorship
In order to apply:
Submit your application through the online application form.
Applications must include your CV, a cover letter, and a vision statement. Your vision statement should be no longer than one page and include:
- Where you believe the field is going, and the journal’s place within it
- How you would work in partnership with the editorial team
- How you would maintain and increase the quality of submissions
- How you would work with authors
Application deadline: January 31, 2025
Our preference is for the role to formally begin from March 2025, with a handover period with the outgoing Editor-in-Chief until June 2025. Shortlisting and interviews will take place in February.
Questions? Contact us at [email protected]
The journal is committed to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion within its editorial team and decision-making processes. All applications will be treated as strictly confidential, and each will be judged on its merits without any discrimination.