Assistant Editor – Royal Irish Academy

Contract type: Specific purpose

Duration: Until April 2028

Reports to: Managing Editor, Publications

Applications are invited for the position of Assistant Editor – Publications based at the Royal Irish Academy. The Royal Irish Academy is a predominantly publicly funded institution established for the promotion of learning in the sciences and humanities across the island of Ireland. The Academy’s latest strategic plan for 2024–2028 is available here: https://www.ria.ie/2024/09/16/strategic-plan-2024-28/

The purpose of the role is to ensure the Royal Irish Academy’s publications (particularly books and policy and corporate documents) are developed and published on time, in line with the house style, the standards expected by the RIA, and the requirements of relevant stakeholders. The Assistant Editor – Publications will manage and ensure production of a variety of publications, including individual monographs, book series, academic journals, policy documents and the Royal Irish Academy’s corporate documents.

The Assistant Editor – Publications responsibilities are:

• Managing and overseeing the production of academic and corporate publications of the Royal Irish Academy: from submission through peer review, driving scheduling and production in particular, to print and online publication, launch and marketing
• Editing and proofreading the full range of the RIA’s publications
• Supporting authors through the publication process
• Working with the in-house Publications Office team and also coordinating, organising and managing external freelancers and suppliers
• Developing the RIA’s publications, working with colleagues across the organisation, the RIA membership and a range of external partners, editorial boards, funding organisations, etc.
• Representing the Publications Office and the Royal Irish Academy at national and international publishing and related conferences and other industry events
• Other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Managing Editor.

Note: To qualify candidates must be eligible by the date of any job offer. This job description is a guide to broad areas of responsibility and accountability and should not be regarded as a comprehensive listing. The job description may be subject to review in the view of new structures and / or the changing needs of the Academy.

Essential qualifications

• A relevant third level degree in an appropriate discipline
• Minimum of three years’ experience in publishing, including copy-editing, rights and production experience
• Evidence of strong organisational/project management skills, including demonstrable experience of team management and of managing several competing projects simultaneously
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and time-management skills
• Experience in setting production schedules and ability to work to tight deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and demonstrable abilities in networking and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders and across governance structures
• Ability to create a collegial working atmosphere and a willingness both to mentor colleagues and to guide authors through the academic publishing process
• Keen attention to detail and commitment to excellence
• A sound knowledge of and experience in using relevant software packages for editing and publishing

• Post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline
• Ability to edit in Irish
• Knowledge of academic/scientific publishing or of commercial publishing

Salary: Salary is on the Assistant Editor Scale €41,682-59,402. Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum of the scale and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with government pay policy. Candidates should note that different pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is a serving civil or public servant.

Hours of Work: The normal hours of work are 35 hours per week.

Overtime is not paid in respect of excess attendance which, should it arise, is discharged by time off in lieu at times agreed in advance with the Executive Director.

This role is suitable for blended working.

Leave: The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per annum, pro-rata for shorter periods. Entitlement to leave for public holidays is in accordance with the terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. There is a requirement to take up to four days annual leave where the Academy is closed at Easter and Christmas.

Employee Benefits: Examples of some of our current employee benefits include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Family friendly policies
• Blended working policy
• Availability of an optical benefit scheme
• Availability of a cycle to work scheme
• A range of learning and developmental opportunities
• Sick leave scheme
• Paid maternity, adoptive and paternity Leave
• Automatically entered into a pension scheme
• Employee assistance programme

Medical: Staff shall, if required, and at the expense of the Academy, submit to a medical examination by a registered medical practitioner nominated by the Academy and shall authorise such medical practitioner to disclose and to discuss with the Academy the results of the examination and the matters which arise from it so that the Academy can ascertain any matters that they consider might impair a staff member from properly discharging his/her duties.

Pension: Details of the appropriate pension scheme will be provided upon determination of appointee’s status.

Permanent Pension contribution: This appointment is subject to the Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) effective from 1 January 2019.

• Completed applications consisting of one electronic copy (with all documents contained in one Word document) must be submitted to recruitment@ria.ie in the order as set out below:
• A brief cover letter demonstrating how you meet the qualifications and experience for the position (max. 700 words)
• A curriculum vitae summarising your qualifications and relevant experience (max. 4 pages)

Applicants will be shortlisted based on information provided in their application.

Please note: failure to fulfil the application requisites will deem the application invalid.

Closing date: 3pm, 30.04.2025

Late applications will not be considered.

It is anticipated that interviews will be held week commencing 12.05.2025.

Please note this interview will include competency-based interview questions.