BMJ is looking for an ambitious and dynamic Editor-in-Chief to lead BMJ Global Health, one of the world’s foremost journals in global health.
The candidate should be an active researcher in a relevant field. Specialists in any field of global health are welcome to apply. The Editor-in-Chief will act as an ambassador for the journal and a champion for global health, upholding ethical standards and editorial policies, as well as actively promoting and developing the journal. They will be able to utilise their extensive international network of contacts to target areas of growth in global health research and introduce new types of content or emerging subject areas to the journal.
Applicants should have a PhD (or similar qualification) and should be able to demonstrate their status and impact in the field. The ideal candidate(s) will have editorial experience handling manuscripts, critical appraisal skills, a commitment to academic excellence, and strong leadership and interpersonal qualities.
We welcome joint applications and applications from anywhere in the world. The successful candidate(s) will be expected to assemble a senior team of deputy/associate editors to ensure the journal can cover the breadth of global health issues.
This is an independent contractor position and the proposed term of office is five years. The Editor has responsibility for implementing the editorial strategy and accountability for the content of the journal, with support from their appointed editorial team and BMJ. Editorial training and technical support will be provided, together with strategic guidance. An annual honorarium and other benefits are provided, as well as experienced editorial office support. The time commitment is estimated at the equivalent of two days per week, but will depend on the structure and size of the editorial team.
Main responsibilities
The Editor-in-Chief will be responsible for all content published in the journal, and will:
- Provide high quality and engaging content for a broad audience
- Establish and lead a diverse and supportive team of highly qualified international colleagues to serve as members of the editorial team
- Maintain and ensure the integrity of the peer review process and publishing ethics, providing guidance to authors and reviewers as appropriate
- Implement effective triage and peer review of articles, working closely with the editorial team to ensure timely responses to authors
- Supervise the journal’s response to appeals, complaints, suggestions from readers and ethical queries regarding published work
- Add value by commissioning editorials, reviews and online content, and seeking opportunities to publish themed issues and supplements
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with affiliated organisations and events to advance the journal’s international reputation and profile
- Coordinate with editors of related BMJ journals (e.g. the BMJ, BMJ Public Health)
About BMJ Global Health
BMJ Global Health publishes a mix of cutting-edge academic research across the spectrum of global health, analysis, practice papers, commentaries and editorials. It also publishes regular collections showcasing major projects from international funders.
There is an active social media presence on X and Facebook and a regular blog.
The journal has established a reputation for publishing impactful and challenging research, while demonstrating thought leadership through insightful and relevant analysis and commentary.
BMJ Global Health is indexed in all major databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed Central, Web of Science and Scopus. It has a Journal Impact Factor of 8.1 and a CiteScore of 9.1. In 2023 BMJ Global Health articles received over 1.2m views.
Being an Editor with BMJ
As Editor of BMJ Global Health you will benefit from:
- The chance to shape the field and play a role in the development of the specialty
- An annual honorarium
- Networking events, in-person and virtual, with other BMJ journal editors
- Training and support
- Opportunities to interact with global health researchers around the world
Application process
To be considered for the role, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your interest and relevant experience, along with an analysis of the journal (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats). Applications and any queries regarding the role should be sent to Richard Sands, Head of Portfolio, at rsands@bmj.com. Interviews will be held via video conference.
Application deadline: 19 May 2024
Start date: anticipated Q3 2024 but negotiable.