Peer Review Systems Assistant

Editorial Assistant (Online Peer Review)  – Permanent- £29k increasing to 31,100k upon completion of probation period 

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:

Sage is 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 to:

• 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 ideas

About our Team:

The Global Peer Review team sits within Journals Editorial and is responsible for ensuring that all our journals follow robust peer review processes. We aim to achieve this by providing a high level of support to our journals and editors and building robust processes to drive quality and uphold research integrity. We are a strategic and global team, and work closely with several departments across the business, as well as key external partners.

Could you be our new Editorial Assistant (Online Peer Review)? Are you?

• Able to demonstrate strong customer support experience?
  
• Interested in academic publishing and aware of the challenges and opportunities the industry faces?
  
• Able to quickly digest large amounts of new and complex information and provide solutions?
  
• Detail-oriented and committed to accuracy?
  
• A confident and effective communicator, able to manage both internal and external relationships?
  
• Able to work well under pressure and show initiative?
  
• Experienced with online systems such as online ticketing or peer-review platforms? (Desirable, but not required—training will be provided.)
  
• Comfortable with IT systems, databases, and Microsoft collaboration tools?

Your new role:

• Assist the Peer-Review Systems Manager in the roll-out of ScholarOne Manuscripts™ and other online peer review platforms to an agreed budgeted number of journals annually.
• Support Journals Editorial Department and Journals Production Department with queries pertaining to our online peer review systems.
• Promptly respond to queries relating to our submission systems from authors and other stakeholders via our online ticketing system to ensure we provide a high-quality service.
• Monitor and report on turnaround times, peer review standards and author/editor survey results as required.
• Provide help and advice to users of the ScholarOne platform
• Attend meetings with external and internal journal editors to demo and advise on proper use of their online peer review platform in person and via web-based training.
• Support department-wide initiatives and projects, as required.

Overview of benefits:

• 25 days holiday excluding bank holidays full-time/pro-rated for part-time roles
• 2 additional ’floating days’ of personal leave, in recognition that each of us has cultural, religious, or family commitments that fall at times when the company is not closed.
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Access to Sage books and journals
• Tuition scheme and support for pursuing professional qualifications
• Hybrid working arrangements - In office a minimum of 20% of contracted hours. We work flexibly and most staff can choose to work from home for up to 80% of their contracted hours.
• Variety of snacks and beverages available in the office
• Home working allowance
• Travel insurance
• Healthy lifestyle reimbursement
• Access to the Company doctor
• Access to Company loans (season ticket loan, rental deposit loan, cycle loan)
• Anniversary trip

If you have a disability and need any support during the application process, please contact [email protected] . We will respond to any requests for support in a timely manner. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

A cover letter is important to us but is not essential for your application.  It   offers the hiring manager valuable insights into how your skill set aligns with the role, what unique contributions you can bring to the team and why you are interested in this position. 

Closing date for applications: Monday 14th July 2025

To ensure we can give each application the attention it deserves, we may consider bringing the closing date forward if we receive a high volume of applications. 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 that is representative of all sections of society and to sustaining a culture that celebrates difference, encourages authenticity, and creates a deep sense of belonging. We welcome 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 creating value through diversity is what makes us strong.  As a business and as an organisation with an increasingly agile workforce, we're open to flexible working arrangements where appropriate.