Executive Editor Global Publishing · London, United Kingdom

Sage Publishing; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading academic publisher in Greater London is seeking an Executive Editor to oversee the editorial strategy for its Open Access Mega journal portfolio. The ideal candidate will hold an MD or PhD in medical or biomedical sciences and have extensive experience in open access publishing. Responsibilities include managing journal quality and financial performance, driving commissioning, and collaborating cross-departmentally. The role offers competitive compensation and a hybrid working model.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Life assurance and travel insurance

Private medical cover

Tuition scheme

Qualifications

• Prior experience in open access and Mega journals publishing.
• Skilled in driving journal quality and financial outcomes.
• Experience leading and mentoring editorial teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the editorial strategy and growth of Open Access Mega journals.
• Manage journal commissioning and peer review processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve journal visibility.

Skills

Collaboration

Editorial strategy development

Financial management

Communication

Education

MD or PhD in medical or biomedical sciences

Job description

Executive Editor - Permanent - £64,850 - £72,964

Join us and be part of a mission-driven, independent publisher. You’ll work with a diverse group of people who share a passion for empowering researchers, educators, and institutions to shape the future.

About Sage:

Sageis a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources with a growing range of technologies to enable discovery, access, and engagement. Believing that research and education are critical in shaping society, Sara Miller McCune founded Sage in 1965. Today, we are controlled by a group of trustees charged with maintaining our independence and mission indefinitely.

Our guaranteed independence means we’re free toh3>

• Do more– supporting an equitable academic future, furthering disciplines that drive social change, and helping social and behavioural science make an impact

• Work together– building lasting relationships, championing diverse perspectives, and co-creating resources to transform teaching and learning

• Think long-term– experimenting, taking risks, and investing in new idea

About our Team:

We’re responsible for shaping the strategic direction, editorial vision, and long-term growth of Sage’s Open Access journals.

We’re an ambitious group with a shared commitment to innovation. We experiment, iterate, and challenge assumptions to ensure our journals remain at the forefront of open research.

We work closely with a range of teams, all united by a mission to deliver exceptional author and reviewer experiences while advancing the future of open science.

Could you be our new Executive Editor? Are you?

• An MD or PhD in medical or biomedical sciences with prior experience in open access, Mega journals publishing.
• Experienced in shaping and delivering editorial strategy for Open Access journals, with evidence of driving growth, innovation, or performance improvement.
• Skilled in driving journal quality, visibility, audience reach, and financial outcomes through commissioning, peer review, and editorial decision-making.
• A natural collaborator and ambassador, able to build strong relationships and represent positively in the wider publishing industry.
• Experience leading people and projects, including supervising and mentoring colleagues and contributing to cross-functional initiatives.
• Aware and remain up to date of STM and Open Access publishing trends, with the ability to turn insight into practical, successful publishing initiatives.
• Committed to developing others, with experience supervising and/or mentoring editorial colleagues to build inclusive, high performing teams.
• Financially astute, with a track record of managing budgets and aligning investment with strategic priorities.
• An excellent communicator, confident in influencing, presenting, and engaging with diverse participants across the publishing community.

Your new role:

The Executive Editor has responsibility for the editorial strategy, performance, and growth of SAGE’s Open Access Mega journal portfolio, which includes the titles Journal of International Medical Research, Science Progress, Sage Open Medicine, and Sage Open Medical Case Reports. This role is central to driving quality, scale, innovation, and commercial sustainability across a group of high-volume, broad-scope STM titles, while ensuring alignment with researcher needs and SAGE’s wider Open Access strategy.

The Executive Editor will lead the development and execution of editorial strategy across the portfolio, working closely with Scientific Editors, Publishing Editors, and cross-functional colleagues to improve journal quality, visibility, impact, and financial performance. The role involves shaping commissioning priorities, overseeing peer review decision-making, and translating market insight into successful publishing initiatives.

In addition, the Executive Editor will play a key leadership role within the Journals Editorial department, contributing to departmental strategy, leading cross-departmental projects, and developing high-performing, inclusive editorial teams.

The Executive Editor will report to the Director (Open Access) and will manage a team of Scientific Editors and Publishing Editors supporting the STM Mega journals portfolio.

As Executive Editor, you will:

• Develop and deliver the editorial strategy for SAGE’s Open Access Mega journals, actively managing journal quality, profile, market share, and financial performance in line with SAGE’s Open Access strategy.
• Drive journal growth through commissioning and peer review decisions, improving content quality, audience reach, visibility, and economic outcomes across a broad-scope, high-volume portfolio.
• Work in close partnership with Scientific Editors, Publishing Editors, marketing, production, and analytics teams to ensure coordinated delivery of editorial and commercial objectives.
• Monitor and analyse market trends in Open Access and STM publishing, translating insight into innovative editorial initiatives that keep journals competitive, relevant, and attractive to authors and reviewers.
• Lead and contribute to cross-departmental projects that improve editorial processes, systems, and ways of working, supporting the delivery of SAGE’s strategic goals.
• Act as a trusted ambassador for the journals and for SAGE, building strong internal relationships and representing the portfolio positively with external editors, reviewers, and the wider publishing community.
• Support, mentor, and develop editorial colleagues, fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.
• Manage editorial and travel budgets effectively, aligning expenditure with strategic priorities and ensuring strong financial stewardship across the portfolio.

Overview of benefits:

• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with 2 additional floating personal days.
• Hybrid working up to 2 days per week in office and a home working allowance.
• Life assurance, income protection, and travel insurance.
• Private medical cover and access to the company doctor.
• Tuition scheme and support for pursuing professional qualifications, including access to Sage books and journals.
• Variety of snacks and beverages available in the office.
• Healthy lifestyle reimbursement and anniversary trips.
• Access to Company loans (season ticket loan, rental deposit loan, cycle loan).

We’re a Disability Confident Employer (Level 1). If you’d like to apply under this scheme, please let us know in your application.

We’re committed to making our recruitment process accessible and inclusive. If you’d like to request reasonable adjustments, please email [e-mail]. Please note we only accept applications via email if an adjustment has been agreed.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 4th January 2026

To ensure we can give each application the attention it deserves, we may consider bringing the closing date forward. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure it is considered.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Sage, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and to sustaining a culture that celebrates diversity, encourages authenticity, and builds a deep sense of belonging. We encourage applications from all members of society irrespective of age, disability, sex or gender identity, sexual orientation, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, or belief as crafting value through diversity is what makes us strong.