Editorial Assistant

Job Description Summary:

The Editorial Assistant provides administrative support for the processing and peer review of standard manuscript submissions. Handles routine phone and email inquiries from authors and reviewers. Works closely with the journal’s editorial board to facilitate the peer review process for articles submitted to PNAS. Reports to the Assistant Managing Editor or Senior Editorial Coordinator and keeps them informed about problem papers.

Job Description:

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES 

• Responsible for overseeing all aspects of peer review coordination from submission to transmittal for research articles (Direct Submission and Brief Reports) 

• Complete quality control checks for incoming research articles 

• Correspond with authors, editors, and reviewers about needed items, deadline extensions, pending submissions, and status inquiries  

• Notify authors of manuscript decisions 

• Screen revisions for plagiarism and escalate to editorial ethics manager as needed 

• Monitor updates to the online submission systems and ensure requisite changes are made to the Information for Authors  

• Merge or update reviewer records with current information to maintain an up-to-date database/reviewer pool 

• Transmits manuscripts to production vendor 

• Act as the point of contact for production queries received from the production vendor 

• Contribute input for enhancements to the submission system 

• Perform a variety of clerical and administrative tasks such as answering general queries sent to the editorial inbox and answering the telephone  

• Special projects and additional tasks as assigned  

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Excellent written communication skills. Highly organized and detail-oriented. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel. Ability to work effectively as a collegial member of a team. Ability to read and comprehend complex material. Ability to solve intellectual problems using established rules, procedures, and precedents. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

Preferred Education/Training: High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent knowledge.

Preferred Experience: One year of related experience.

Preferred Physical Capabilities: Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time.

Required Licenses, Certification or Registration: None.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Controls: Reports to the Assistant Managing Editor or Senior Editorial Coordinator and keeps them informed about problem papers. 

Work Environment: This role has been approved for 100% remote status, with occasional travel between National Academies’ facilities and to off-site meeting/sponsor locations. Please note that any remote work arrangement will need to be reviewed and approved

Compensation & Benefits: An estimated compensation range for this position is $19.18 - $23.98 per hour, plus potential overtime. Compensation offered to the selected candidate will be based on the candidate’s relevant knowledge, skills, and work experience, commensurate with compensation of current employees in comparable positions with similar knowledge, skills, and work experience, and subject to budget parameters. Note it is not typical for a candidate to be hired at the higher end of the range.  This is a benefits-eligible position.  Our Benefits Plan offers competitive and comprehensive benefit options, including medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement and savings benefits, leave benefits such as paid holidays and paid personal leave, transportation subsidies, and education assistance.  For more information, please click here.

Any qualification to be considered equivalent, in lieu of stated minimum, requires the prior approval of the Office of Human Resources.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Some functions in this description may be specific to a particular unit of the National Academies and not applicable to other units

Equal Opportunity Employer:

It is the policy of the National Academies to recruit, hire, transfer, compensate, and promote people in all job categories and to administer all other personnel actions, terms and conditions of employment in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. It is also the institution's policy to recruit, hire, promote, and provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and covered veterans who are otherwise qualified

Job Family:

PUBL

Employee Type:

Employee

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

37.5

City/State:

Remote, Pennsylvania