Associate Publisher or Publisher

Job Title: Associate Publisher/ Publisher

Location(s): Milan/ Paris

Application Deadline: Friday, 27th February 2026

About Springer Nature  

Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit about.springernature.com and @SpringerNature. 

About the Role

We are delighted to offer an opportunity to join our hybrid publishing team at Springer Nature as an Associate Publisher/ Publisher. In this role, you will report to an Executive Publisher and take responsibility for a portfolio of journals within the Life Science group mainly in the Evolutionary Biology, Entomology, Animal & Veterinary Science disciplines. You will play a key role in driving the strategic development and growth of this portfolio through proactive journal management and targeted acquisitions.

To succeed, you will bring creativity, initiative and a data-informed approach to devising and executing journal development plans. As the primary publishing contact for your journals, you will collaborate with leading academics, policymakers, and colleagues across the organization. Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships are essential to ensuring the smooth operation and continued success of the portfolio.

This position offers a valuable opportunity to gain broad exposure to all aspects of academic journal publishing and to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of high-quality research in Life Sciences.

Responsibilities

1. Drive the editorial and publishing development of a portfolio of journals

• Drive the maintenance, growth and development of a group of journals as part of the strategically defined overall portfolio within the Journals group.

• Grow journals by tracking key performance metrics and driving strategic improvements as needed.

• Understand, manage and meet the annual targets for journal submission, publication as well as target turnaround times.

• Develop journals to deliver a best-in-class author experience and foster maximum engagement from the Societies, Editors-in-Chief and Editorial Board. 

• Ensure that KPIs are regularly monitored, reported on, and met, taking appropriate action as needed.

• Develop strong working relationships with colleagues in Production, Group Publishing Operations, Marketing and other departments to ensure that any problems encountered with your journals, and particularly by authors, editors and peer reviewers, can be swiftly and effectively resolved

• Resolve pre- and post-publication issues raised by staff, Editorial Board Members (EBMs) and readers (e.g. authorship, scope, ethics and consent, misconduct, policies). 

• Manage annual Journal Development Plans and oversee their implementation and successful conclusion.

2. Understand and engage regularly with the research communities and third-party partners that your journals serve

• Attend external meetings (in-person or virtual) to build close working relationships with external EiCs, EBMs, society partners, and the wider research community.

• Build and maintain close working relationships with external Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board Members, society partners and the wider research community, acting as their key point of contact for publishing matters.

• Develop an understanding of the trends and changes in the research communities you serve to ensure that the portfolio best reflects current and future research trends, including potentially starting or acquiring new journals

3. Contribute to the wider Springer Nature Journals group

• Develop an understanding of the key strategic goals of the division, and be able to advance explain these to internal and external partners

• Occasionally take part in cross-departmental projects and/or company-wide task forces, pilots and working groups.

• Under guidance of colleagues, take responsibility for timely resolution of research integrity/publication misconduct issues that arise in any of your journals, working with the Springer Nature Research Integrity Group (SNRIG) and Editors-in-Chief or their equivalents as appropriate.

• Review new journal and commercial opportunities in consultation with the Executive Publisher and contribute to journal proposals

• Represent the team in projects with Production, Sales, Marketing, Finance and other Publishing colleagues

Experience, Skills and Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to bachelor’s degree level, preferably with a scientific background

• Previous experience within academic publishing

• Proven knowledge of publishing process and related matters

• Experience of developing and maintaining productive and friendly relations/partnerships with academic and industry-based researchers 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English

• Excellent influencing skills, problem-solving and analytical skills

• Demonstrate diplomacy and assertiveness

• Strong time management and organizational skills

• Positive and proactive approach to problem solving, taking ownership to drive and complete tasks 

• Proven ability to meet deadlines

• Ability to adapt quickly to change

• Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues at all levels and as part of a team

• Ability to work on your own initiative and independently within a global (virtual) team environment 

• IT systems-literate

• Ability to travel when necessary

Desirable

• Demonstrated experience working with high profile stakeholders

• Previous experience or demonstrated interest in the portfolio’s subject matter

• Be flexible, able to work in a multi-cultural environment and show a commercial/entrepreneurial spirit

At Springer Nature we value the diversity of our teams. We recognise the many benefits of a diverse workforce with equitable opportunities for everyone. We strive for an inclusive workplace that empowers all our colleagues to thrive. Our search for the best talent fully encompasses and embraces these values and principles. Springer Nature was awarded Diversity Team of the Year at the 2022 British Diversity Awards. Find out more about our DEI work here:

https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/taking-responsibility/diversity-equity-inclusion

For more information about career opportunities in Springer Nature please visit https://springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SpringerNatureCareers

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