Public Library of Science
Vendor Manager, Publishing Operations
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This position is fully remote/home based. Applications will be accepted from candidates based in the UK and the following US states: FL, IL, MA, MD, NY, PA, TX, VA.
Role Summary
PLOS is a nonprofit, Open Access publisher empowering researchers to accelerate progress in science and medicine by leading a transformation in research communication.
As the Publishing Operations Vendor Manager, you will play a critical role in ensuring PLOS’s publishing workflows are supported by a diverse, high-performing network of external partners. You will lead vendor strategy across the publishing lifecycle, ensuring supplier capabilities align with organizational needs. With a focus on quality, scalability, and continuous improvement, you will foster strong partnerships, oversee procurement and contracting processes, drive best practices in vendor management, and support long-term operational resilience.
Supervisory Responsibilities
N/A- This role will involve management of vendors but will be on the individual contributor track and will not have direct line reports.
Responsibilities
- Oversight of Vendor Use: Ensure a joined-up and efficient approach in end-to-end workflows, removing departmental silos and promoting cross-functional vendor scoping.
- Risk Management: Limit risk by ensuring a healthy diversity in suppliers, maintaining awareness of supplier strengths, and developing risk-reward scenarios for changing suppliers.
- Contract Management: Serve as primary contact for vendor contract renewals and RFP processes, working with internal stakeholders and legal to review, update, and negotiate contracts.
- Vendor Onboarding: Establish onboarding best practices, including a rollout plan and communications templates.
- Quality Assurance: Work with internal teams to establish KPIs, SLAs, and auditing frameworks, and support remediation efforts where service falls below expected standards.
- Culture of Excellence: Develop, maintain, and share resources and best practices for vendor management, and lead training sessions for PLOS staff.
- Capacity Planning: Regularly review the number of tasks sent to suppliers, confirm vendor-side headcount, and maintain awareness of new supplier-side tools and technologies.
- Cross-functional Collaboration: Liaise with Digital teams and support demonstrations of potentially useful tools to PLOS teams.
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Knowledge and Skills
- Vendor Procurement and Relationship Management: Experience in sourcing vendors, managing RFI/RFP processes, developing and maintaining long-term vendor relationships, drafting and enforcing SLAs, and managing budgets.
- Publishing Workflow Knowledge: Understanding of end-to-end publishing workflows, familiarity with publishing standards, ethical publishing guidelines, and compliance issues.
- Technology and Systems Proficiency: Familiarity with manuscript tracking systems, production platforms, content management systems, and tools for data tracking and reporting.
- Cross-functional and Cross-cultural Collaboration: Proven ability to collaborate with editorial, production, product, and legal teams, and skilled in working across cultures and time zones.
- Communication and Reporting: Clear, professional communication style, strong documentation and reporting skills.
Qualifications
- Extensive experience in developing and maintaining productive relationships with editorial and/or publishing services providers.
- Advanced degree or certifications in a relevant field (e.g., in procurement, operations, or project management) a plus.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
- Prolonged periods stationary at a desk and working on a computer.
- Some national and international travel will be required.
- Some flexibility to work across time zones.
Salary
- The base salary range we’ve established for these positions is (US): $75,000 - $83,000 or (UK) £50,000- £54,000.
BENEFITS
US
- 401k with employer match
- Employee sponsored health, dental and vision insurance (Dental and Vision 100% employer paid)
- Paid Vacation, 11 public holidays and sick leave
- Parental leave
- Birthday and three winter holidays days off
- Short term and long term disability insurance
- 2 days paid time off for volunteering per year
- Fully remote work environment with stipend on joining for home office
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UK
- Private medical insurance
- Life assurance
- Income protection
- Personal accident insurance
- Pension with up to 10% employer match
- 25 days holidays, market competitive Maternity and Paternity leave
- Birthday and three winter holidays days off
- 2 days paid time off for volunteering per year
- Fully remote work environment with stipend on joining for home office
About PLOS
Building on a strong legacy of pioneering innovation, PLOS continues to be a catalyst in open science, reimagining models to meet open science principles, removing barriers and promoting inclusion in knowledge creation and sharing, and publishing research outputs that enable everyone to learn from, reuse and build upon scientific knowledge.
Our work is supported by a highly skilled global in-house team, partnerships with local scholarly organizations, and the valued contributions of a diverse, international community of scientific researchers.
We’re committed to equal opportunity
We’re working to create a more equitable system of scientific knowledge and understanding. Removing barriers to inclusion and facilitating broad participation of voices is core to our success, inside and out.
Beyond accepting distinct perspectives, we seek and support divergent backgrounds among our staff because we know differences strengthen our teams, our work, and our communities. We strongly encourage applicants of all identities to join us as we work towards a future where science is open to all, for all.
Visit plos.org/careers to learn more.
To learn more about how PLOS protects your privacy, see our Employee Privacy Notice.
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