Description
Reporting to the Programme Director, the Senior Editor will be responsible for establishing a coherent strategy for the programme of Evidence Updates (initially in the region of 50-60 per year; eventually in the region of 100 to 150 per year), for recruiting, orienting and performance-managing a network of contributors (including authors and peer reviewers) who will assist in the production of the Evidence Updates and for technical editing of the Evidence Updates once they are in production.
The production strategy will establish:
Commentary commissioning: framework and guidelines
Clear and consistent quality standards for the Evidence Update programme
A comprehensive style guide, including agreed templates for Evidence Update production
Clear direction as to the depth of coverage required
At the operational level, the overarching managerial goals of the role will be to:
Set up the Evidence Update Editorial Team function (recruitment, establish necessary budgets and set up budget monitoring routines, design effective team management routines (team briefings, etc), identify key internal and external stakeholders and develop effective working relationships, etc.)
Lead the business planning process within the function (establish volume and quality targets)
Develop a schedule for Evidence Updates taking into account the timing of Guidance development and Guidance Review process
Communicate schedule to Evidence Hubs
Manage delivery of the Evidence Update team against plan and quality standards
Seek continuous improvement to the output of the function Review Evidence Update Planning/scheduling on a regular basis and inform
Evidence Hubs of changes in planning schedule
Quality assessment and monitoring of the teams work
Participate in on-going Editor/author recruitment/selection, working closely with the clinical leads and with support from the Project Manager and teams engaging guideline development panels
Technical editing of individual Evidence Updates
Work to identify ways to build synergies with work in other areas
Skills Required
Knowledge, training and qualifications:
Postgraduate qualification in the life sciences, clinical or health subject and further specialist training or equivalent level of knowledge acquired through experience and further training/development with considerable exposure to the health sectors
Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of a range of highly specialised publishing-related work procedures and practices, with particular knowledge and understanding of the application of such knowledge in the health and information science sectors
Specialist knowledge over more than one discipline/function acquired over a significant period
An understanding of the social, political, economic and technological context in which the NHS and the Institute operates
An awareness of the extent and nature of the Institutes stakeholder community
An understanding of legislative and statutory requirements, eg Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act
An understanding and commitment to equality and diversity
Experience:
Experience of a senior management role in a complex environment
Experience in a senior managerial role in a specialist (clinical, academic) publishing function or a reputable specialist publishing house
Experience of establishing and managing peer-review processes and procedures in a clinical/academic publishing environment
Experience of taking overall responsibility for a programme of work with minimal supervision
Experience of working with a range of stakeholders in a healthcare setting
Experience of developing effective relationships and working in partnership with senior professionals at a national level
Experience of communicating with a range of audiences at all levels
Line management and training experience
Budget management experience of co-ordinating and managing multiple, complex projects
Experience of preparing reports and providing advice on complex issues at Director or Board level and to specialist committees
Policy and research experience of developing strategies to meet changing organisational needs
Experience of commissioning and managing work by external agencies and individual contributors
Experience of technical editing to a very high standard of complex clinical or scientific output
Skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate highly complex ideas to a range of audiences where there are significant barriers to acceptance which need to be overcome in a hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive atmosphere
Excellent public presentation skills
Ability to communicate confidently and generate trust and confidence in individuals at all levels both within and outside the organisation and across multidisciplinary teams
Ability to engage effectively with a range of colleagues both internally and from external organisations, including at national level
Calm, persuasive and skilled negotiator in a highly pressured and volatile environment
Effective influencer in a political and contentious environment
Skilled problem solver of highly complex issues
Ability to analyse complex issues, to think and act strategically and to exercise sound judgement in the face of conflicting pressures and deadlines
Ability to effectively plan and manage complex projects involving multidisciplinary functions and deliver work of a high standard with conflicting and demanding deadlines
Ability to deploy and manage resources effectively
Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy
Ability to lead on and manage the implementation of change
Ability to develop policies and strategies to meet changing organisational needs
Ability to use standard Microsoft packages (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook) and ability to use the Internet to search for and resource information
Other attributes
Flexible attitude to working environment and ability to work as part of a team
Thorough attention to detail
Discretion in the handling of politically sensitive and confidential information
Calm under pressure
Essential
Commitment to health and safety policies and procedures