Associate Commissioning Editor

Job Purpose

To grow and strengthen Sages portfolio of medical and health sciences journals in alignment with the companys strategic objectives. The role focuses on acquiring and commissioning high-quality, high-impact journals through proactive market engagement and strong relationship-building with academic institutions, research societies, and other relevant organizations. Success in this role requires a commitment to editorial excellence, global relevance, marketability, and rigorous peer review standards.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Implementation & Business Development

• Drive the expansion of Sages medical journals portfolio in line with global growth plans.
• Develop and execute a robust commissioning strategy for Sage India with measurable outcomes.
• Identify, evaluate, and acquire journals that align with Sage's editorial and commercial priorities (including core and Spectrum services portfolios).
• Maintain and update stakeholder engagement records, ensuring systematic follow-up.

Market Engagement & Brand Building

• Represent Sage at national and international conferences, workshops, and institutional meetings to enhance visibility and generate acquisition leads.
• Build and maintain relationships with editors, academic societies, research institutions, and thought leaders.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activities, and emerging opportunities to inform strategy.
• Deliver impactful presentations and workshops to promote Sage's journals and author services.

Editorial & Commercial Evaluation

• Prepare Journal Summaries for internal evaluation in line with Sage's global publishing policies.
• Conduct in-depth editorial and market assessments, including competitive analysis, society/editor credentials, and commercial viability.
• Develop profit and loss (P&L) projections and define appropriate pricing strategies.

Contracting & Internal Coordination

• Manage the end-to-end contracting process from proposal to execution.
• Collaborate with internal teams (Sales, Production, Peer Review, Marketing, Customer Service, Finance) to ensure seamless journal onboarding.
• Maintain accurate documentation of contracts and acquisition paperwork, ensuring proper handover to editorial and production teams.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Proven track record in medical publishing or commissioning with deep knowledge of the academic market.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with the ability to assess journal performance.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and market insights.
• Effective project and time management skills; ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable in a multicultural, fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel frequently for business development and engagement.

Qualifications & Experience

Education:

• Master's degree in medicine, dentistry, life sciences, or related fields.
• Alternatively, a strong graduate qualification with significant relevant experience.

Experience (Essential):

• Minimum 2 years in medical journal publishing, commissioning, or business development.
• Experience in client engagement, lead generation, contract negotiation, and academic partnerships.

Experience (Desirable):

• Familiarity with Sage's journal programmes.
• Exposure to international and cross-functional publishing environments.

Key Behaviors

• Proactive and self-motivated
• Passionate about academic publishing and commissioning
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Persuasive and confident in negotiations
• Flexible and adaptable to change
• Accountable and results-driven
• Collaborative team player
• Open to frequent travel