Springer Nature
Deputy Editor (Life or Health Sciences), Scientific Reports
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Deputy Editor (Life or Health Sciences), Scientific Reports
Location: London – Hybrid working Application Deadline: 5th July 2026 (early applications encouraged)
About Springer Nature Group
Springer Nature opens the doors to discovery for researchers, educators, clinicians, and other professionals. Every day, our imprints—including books, journals, platforms, and technology solutions—reach millions worldwide. For over 180 years, our brands and imprints have been a trusted source of knowledge, ensuring that fundamental knowledge is:
- Findable
- Verifiable
- Understandable
- Usable
This allows our communities to improve outcomes, drive progress, and benefit future generations.
Visit group.springernature.com or follow @SpringerNature / @SpringerNatureGroup.
About the Brand: Nature Portfolio
The Nature Portfolio delivers high-quality journals and services across the life, physical, chemical, and applied sciences, propelling science and society forward.
Key offerings under Nature Portfolio include:
- The leading weekly international journal of science, Nature (founded in 1869)
- Nature research and Nature Reviews journals
- Open-access multidisciplinary journal, Nature Communications
- Other open-access journals, including Scientific Reports
- Online content, including:
- Original news and comment from Nature journals
- A leading scientific jobs board: Nature Careers
- Resources and researcher services (e.g., online and in-person training)
Online, nature.com attracts over nine million unique visitors per month.
About the Role: Deputy Editor (Scientific Reports)
Scientific Reports is a primary research journal from the publishers of Nature, covering all areas of the natural and clinical sciences. The journal is online and fully open access, publishing high volumes of scientifically valid, original research papers with no barriers to access.
With support from external Editorial Board Members (EBMs), papers undergo rapid peer-review to ensure technical soundness.
Key Responsibilities
As the Deputy Editor of Scientific Reports, you will:
- Lead a team of Associate and Senior Editors
- Support the Chief Editor in overseeing:
- Publishing teams and editorial workflows
- Peer-review processes
- Post-publication cases
- Editorial board management
- Content development and acquisition
- Editorial decision-making as required
- Champion performance metrics, focusing on:
- Rapid publication
- Sound peer-review practices
- High levels of service to authors, staff, and Editorial Board Members
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Day-to-Day Responsibilities
Your role will include:
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Training and line management of Associate/Senior Editor(s)
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Overseeing the journal workflow, ensuring:
- Rapid, constructive peer-review and publication decisions
- Acting as the handling editor on manuscripts as needed
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Responding to stakeholders in a timely manner, including:
- Authors
- Reviewers
- Editorial Board Members (EBMs)
- Senior EBMs
- Readers of Scientific Reports
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Collaborating with the publishing team in:
- Manuscript allocation to EBMs
- Ongoing engagement to follow up on peer review and final decisions
- Ensuring editorial decision policies are adhered to by EBMs
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Resolving editorial issues, including:
- Pre- and post-publication concerns (authorship disputes, scope, ethics and consent, misconduct)
- Communication with authors, EBMs, and stakeholders
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Contributing to policy development initiatives and implementing relevant editorial policies
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Building and maintaining relationships with EBMs, including:
- Planning and hosting in-person meetings and editorial board gatherings
- Initiatives to improve engagement
- Recruiting and training of new EBMs
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Identifying leadership opportunities to represent Scientific Reports at:
- National/international conferences
- Institutional visits
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Actively participating in the Springer Nature editorial community by:
- Engaging with editorial colleagues in other journals
- Driving collaborative projects
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Signed-off social media and marketing content for Scientific Reports
Requirements & Qualifications
Key criteria for this role include:
- PhD-level research experience (or equivalent) in life or health sciences
- Demonstrable experience in:
- Coordinating peer review
- Making independent manuscript decisions
- Working within a world-class STM publishing company
- Substantial experience in:
- Organising and leading outreach events
- Interacting with senior academic stakeholders
- Promoting a journal or portfolio of journals
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Specialised knowledge, including:
- Editorial ethics and misconduct issues
- In-depth understanding of scientific publishing workflows
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with:
- Effective written and spoken English
- Abilities to influence, organise, and work both independently and collaboratively
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Key personal traits:
- Self-motivated, resourceful, and achievement-oriented
- Adaptable and flexible in fast-paced environments
- Highly organised with excellent workload management skills
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Industry-specific knowledge:
- Thorough understanding of the scientific community's needs
- Broad interest in science in general
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Additional considerations:
- Willingness to travel as required
Benefits
Joining Springer Nature gives you the opportunity to be part of an ambitious, dynamic organisation that:
- Is home to leading names in research publishing
- Advocates for progressive change in academia and science
- Provides growth opportunities and curiosity-driven collaborations
- Offers an environment where individual contributions are valued
Career opportunities with Springer Nature support inclusivity, encouraging diverse perspectives, ideas, and innovation.
- Accommodation adaptations can be made for candidates with disabilities, neurodivergences, or chronic conditions
- More on our **Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)** efforts is available here
For all career opportunities, visit Springer Nature Careers.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit:
- A curriculum vitae (CV)
- A cover letter outlining their key ambitions for the role, including motivations for their application
Job Reference: #LI-KN1
Note: The posting remains open until 6th July 2026.
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