Peer Review Associate

Job Description

Job Title: Peer Review Associate

Department: Peer Review Global Services Division

Reports To: Peer Review Supervisor, Global Services Division – SAGE India

Job Purpose

The Peer Review Associate supports the journal peer review process by managing manuscript submissions, reviewer assignments, and communications across SAGE Track. The role ensures timely and efficient movement of manuscripts through the review process and prepares accepted manuscripts for production.

Key Responsibilities

Manuscript Management

• Review and process incoming manuscripts via SAGE Track, ensuring they meet submission criteria and are ready for peer review.
• Invite and assign reviewers; support them throughout the review process.
• Monitor pending tasks for editors, associate editors (if applicable), reviewers, and authors, and send timely follow-up reminders.

Post-Acceptance Checks

• Ensure authors of accepted manuscripts complete and submit contributor forms via SAGE Track.
• Review accepted manuscripts for completeness and readiness for production (e.g., author contact info, editable file formats, permissions, and reference style compliance).
• Export completed manuscripts to the SAGE Production Editor in alignment with article deadlines.

Communication & Support

• Respond promptly (within 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays) to queries from journal editors, associate editors, authors, reviewers, and SAGE staff.
• Maintain and update email templates in SAGE Track according to journal-specific needs.
• Coordinate with ScholarOne support for any technical issues encountered on SAGE Track.

Journal Oversight & Relationship Management

• For journals supported by Editorial Assistants, oversee peer review health by:

• Troubleshooting site issues

• Managing editor relationships
• Guiding Editorial Assistants

• Serving as their first point of escalation

• Act as the primary liaison between SAGE and journal editors, communicating key updates and ensuring smooth collaboration.

• Share Editorial Board updates with relevant Global Publishing Editors and Production Editors.

Reporting & Monitoring

• Maintain a Daily Tracker to record ongoing tasks and activities.
• Submit weekly user performance reports to the Peer Review Supervisor and US Manager.
• Populate the weekly Overdue Task Report with updated journal comments.
• Run and share reports from SAGE Track periodically as requested.

System & Site Maintenance

• Troubleshoot functionality issues on SAGE Track.
• Ensure journal sites remain current and aligned with global standards and initiatives.
• Collaborate with US and UK teams to implement peer review systems for new journals or migrate existing ones.

Productivity Standards

• Manage a manuscript workload in alignment with the annual Work Allocation Plan (WAP) post-training.
• Provide timely, professional, and solution-oriented responses to all stakeholders.
• Support journal editors and internal teams with special projects and initiatives, as needed.
• Adhere to journal-specific editorial guidelines and processes outlined in the Journal Editor's Guide.

Teamwork & Collaboration

• Contribute ideas and feedback constructively to improve team operations.
• Assist fellow team members on designated journals when needed.
• Participate in departmental projects, committees, or task forces.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful, and positive team environment.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet tight deadlines
• Problem-solving mindset with a proactive approach
• Team-oriented, cooperative, and respectful demeanor
• Adaptable to new systems, processes, and priorities

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree (required)
• 1–2 years of relevant experience in the publishing industry, preferably in peer review or editorial support