Cactus Communications logo

Freelance Managing Editor: PhD (History)

Cactus Communications

Part-time, Contractor
2-5 years experience
On-site

Key Skills

Editorial Decision-Making
Manuscript Assessment
Peer Review Evaluation
Editorial Standards
Decision Letter Writing
Revision Assessment
Author Correspondence
Journal Publishing
Editorial Management Systems
KPI Reporting
Stakeholder Collaboration
Research

Job Description

One of our prestigious publisher clients is looking for project-based Managing Editors support to ensure timely, high‑quality editorial decisions across a portfolio of journals. In this role, candidates will need to make independent, post–peer review decisions, uphold journal standards, and collaborate closely with internal teams to maintain throughput and quality. Manuscripts will be assigned as required, allowing for flexibility around commitments. We are specifically seeking candidates with a PhD specializing in History, having 3-5 years of research experience, and currently involved in research/academia/practicing clinically. Job Responsibilities Assess the suitability of submitted manuscripts and, following peer review, issue initial revision decisions (minor/major) and final (accept/reject) decisions. Evaluate the quality and relevance of peer-review reports and determine when additional review is warranted for borderline or complex cases. Synthesize reviewer feedback into coherent editorial decisions that uphold the journal’s reputation through rigorous editorial standards. Provide clear, constructive decision letters to authors explaining revision requirements and expectations for resubmissions, whilst maintaining a professional tone in all author correspondence. Issue and evaluate revision requests on original submissions, determining whether author responses adequately address reviewer comments. Ensure consistency in decision-making across original and revised submissions throughout the appointment. Collaborate with the Publisher, Desk Editors, and Reviewer Selection Support primarily via email and other asynchronous channels. Attend scheduled regular check-in meetings with the Publisher to provide updates on manuscript processing and any challenges encountered. Decision turnaround: complete all manuscript decisions within a maximum of 5 business days from assignment. Response times: respond to queries and communications within 2 business days. Provide KPI reporting and periodic performance updates. Participate in reviews to assess delivery against KPIs and implement corrective and preventive actions where needed. Qualifications and Prerequisites PhD in History Active (or very recent) researchers with a minimum of 3-5 publications in the last 5 years. Publications should be primarily in English. Must have at least 2 publications in the last 2 years. Publications should not have a retraction note or expressions of concern related to authorship disputes, plagiarism, or research misconduct. Should be either the first or the last author on the publications. Should have working knowledge of an editorial management system (ScholarOne, EM, SNAPP, REX, etc.) [Preferred] Benefits of the role Flexibility: Set your own work hours to match your lifestyle. If you are among the qualified candidates, one of our recruiters will email you with further details.

Core Responsibilities

Assess manuscripts and peer-review reports, make revision and final publication decisions, and communicate clear, constructive decisions to authors. Collaborate with publishing and editorial teams, meet decision and response deadlines, report on KPIs, and help maintain consistent editorial quality.

Requirements

Requires a PhD in History and active or very recent research experience, with 3–5 publications in the last five years, including at least two in the last two years. Publications must be primarily in English, include first- or last-author work, and have no specified retraction or misconduct concerns; working knowledge of an editorial management system is preferred.

Benefits

  • Flexible Work Hours

About Cactus Communications

Industry: Software Development

Company size: 1,001-5,000 employees

Established in 2002, Cactus Communications (cactusglobal.com) is a leading technology company that specializes in expert services and AI-driven products which improve how research gets funded, published, communicated, and discovered. Its flagship brand Editage offers a comprehensive suite of researcher solutions, including expert services and cutting-edge AI products like Mind the Graph, Paperpal, and R Discovery. With offices in India, Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, the US, and the UK, and a global workforce of over 3,000 experts, CACTUS is a pioneer in workplace best practices and has been consistently recognized as a great place to work.

Added Today