Associate Editor/Senior Editor, Publication Ethics

*This position is fully remote/home based. Applications will be accepted from candidates based in the UK and the following US states: FL, GA, IL, MA, MD, NY, PA, TX, VA, VT   *This is a union represented position as part of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, Local 39521 of the NewsGuild-Communication Workers of America.   PLOS is a non-profit organization on a mission to drive open science forward with measurable, meaningful change in research publishing, policy, and practice. We believe in a better future where science is open to all, for all.  

Role Summary

The PLOS Publication Ethics team works to uphold the integrity and reliability of PLOS publications and supports PLOS journals in publication ethics-related issues and policy development. The team also engages with external parties and organizations in publication ethics-related discussions and initiatives.

We are hiring a Senior Editor, Publication Ethics, who will work within our megacase management group to detect, prevent, investigate, and resolve large-scale integrity issues. You may also be asked to handle other types of publication ethics cases (e.g., post-publication concerns about image or data integrity, research ethics, or compliance with PLOS policies). In addition, you will provide publication ethics support to PLOS journal teams and contribute to team-level initiatives and projects that address ethics and integrity issues at PLOS.

 

Supervisory Responsibilities

• none

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the Pub Ethics team’s efforts to detect, prevent, investigate, and resolve large-scale integrity issues.
• Resolve publication ethics cases efficiently and prevent reputational damage to PLOS journals as feasible.
• Contribute as requested to tasks, cases, documentation, and other processes needed to support the team’s casework and other objectives.
• Contribute to team-level initiatives and projects that address ethics and integrity issues at PLOS. (e.g., development of workflows or policy updates; development, trials, and/or implementation of approaches to improve detection, prevention, and/or resolution of publication ethics cases)
• Support journal staff editors in resolving publication ethics issues that arise during manuscript handling, peer review, or post-publication.
• Communicate rapidly and effectively about ethics cases with involved/affected stakeholders, including the journal’s editorial leads, Editorial Board members, authors, members of other PLOS teams, and any external consultants involved in supporting publication ethics case work.
• Contribute to internal discussions about publication ethics, research integrity, and related issues in team-level and interdepartmental/cross-team forums.
• Maintain an awareness of cross-industry issues and initiatives and attend COPE Forums that fall within your working hours.
• You may be asked to represent PLOS Publication Ethics at meetings, workshops, and/or other forums relevant to publication ethics and research integrity, or to contribute to outward-facing communications about publication ethics issues. You may also be asked to represent PLOS on an external project or working group related to publication ethics work.
• Help with recruitment and onboarding for vacant team positions and help to train staff on other PLOS teams in publication ethics case management and standards.
• Uphold high standards of professionalism in all internal and external communications about publication ethics issues.

Knowledge and Skills

Required:

• Familiarity with peer review, publishing, editorial decision-making, and publication ethics issues and standards
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and oral
• Excellent analytical skills
• Organized and efficient with a strong problem-solving ability and an eye for detail

 

Preferred:

• Knowledge of large-scale integrity threats impacting scholarly publishing
• Knowledge of Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) standards and guidance
• Reporting and data analytics skills

Qualifications

Required

• A Master’s degree or PhD in a scientific discipline
• At least 2 years of experience in an editorial or publication ethics role in science, technical, and medical (STM) publishing
• First-hand experience resolving publication ethics cases in STM publishing
• A demonstrated