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INCOSE is building an in-house publications house as a strategic shift from our long-standing partnership with Wiley toward full internal ownership of our publishing portfolio. This is a foundational hire. As Publications Coordinator/Manager, you will work directly with the Director of Products to architect the editorial infrastructure, review systems, and operational processes that will power INCOSE’s next generation of technical publications.

This role sits at the intersection of editorial operations, technical infrastructure, and strategic development. You will coordinate across editors-in-chief, editorial boards, the Academic Council (an advisory board of partnering universities), internal IT, marketing, and creative design teams to stand up new publication lines and ensure existing ones run with rigor and consistency. Because we are in the early stages of this initiative, the ideal candidate thrives under ambiguity, builds systems from scratch, and sees the creation of new processes not as overhead but as the primary deliverable.

This position carries a clear growth trajectory: as the publications house matures and expands its portfolio, this role is designed to evolve into a Managing Editor position with broader editorial authority and operational leadership.

Editorial Operations & Content Pipeline

• Develop and manage end-to-end editorial workflows for submission, peer review, revision, copyediting, and publication across all INCOSE outlets (journals, magazines, newsletters, proceedings, technical products)
• Coordinate between authors, reviewers, editors-in-chief, and editorial boards to maintain publication schedules, quality standards, and transparent communication
• Stand up and administer manuscript management and peer review platforms (e.g., EasyChair, ScholarOne, OpenWater, or equivalent systems), working with IT to configure and maintain infrastructure
• Support the development of new publication lines, including defining editorial scope, reviewer recruitment, and launch planning
• Track and manage the content pipeline from manuscript intake through final publication, ensuring adherence to editorial calendars and capacity plans

Infrastructure & Discoverability

• Manage DOI registration via Crossref, ISBN/ISSN acquisition, and citation metadata to maximize discoverability and indexing
• Implement and monitor strategies to increase impact factor, citation rates, and altmetrics across the publication portfolio
• Coordinate with IT on web hosting, e-commerce platforms (member/non-member access tiers), and digital content delivery systems
• Optimize content for search engine visibility, academic indexing services, and open access compliance requirements
• Track and report on download analytics, usage data, and audience engagement metrics to inform editorial and strategic decisions

Governance, Legal & Contracts

• Manage author licensing agreements, copyright assignments, and rights management (reuse, translation, derivative works)
• Support contract negotiation with authors, co-publishing partners, and other organizations in coordination with INCOSE leadership
• Maintain awareness of open access policies, intellectual property law, and publishing industry standards to ensure organizational compliance
• Support editorial board governance, including appointment processes, terms of reference, and archival obligations

Stakeholder Coordination & Reporting

• Work directly with the Academic Council to align publication strategy with the needs of partnering universities and the broader systems engineering academic community
• Provide regular briefings and reports to INCOSE leadership, points of contact, and advisory bodies on publications house status, metrics, and strategic direction
• Liaise with editors-in-chief across publication lines to ensure editorial vision, standards, and processes are consistently applied
• Coordinate with marketing and creative design teams to maintain cohesive branding, visual identity, and promotional strategy across the portfolio

Process Development & Organizational Build-Out

• Design and document new editorial processes, approval systems, style guides, and standard operating procedures as the publications house scales
• Work with IT to evaluate, procure, and implement publishing technology infrastructure including content management, review management, and distribution platforms
• Identify gaps in current capabilities and propose solutions, whether through process design, technology adoption, or strategic partnerships
• Contribute to revenue model development, including subscription models, open access fee structures, and bundling strategies

• Bachelor’s degree in Publishing, Communications, Library Science, English, or a related field OR equivalent professional experience in scholarly or technical publishing
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in publishing operations, editorial coordination, or journal/magazine management, preferably in a scholarly, technical, or professional society context
• Demonstrated experience with manuscript management and peer review systems (e.g., ScholarOne, EasyChair, Editorial Manager, or comparable platforms)
• Working knowledge of DOI registration (Crossref), ISBN/ISSN processes, citation indexing, and impact factor mechanics
• Familiarity with copyright law, author licensing agreements, and intellectual property considerations in publishing
• Experience coordinating across editorial boards, reviewers, and cross-functional teams (IT, marketing, design)
• Strong project management capabilities with the ability to manage multiple concurrent publication timelines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; complete fluency in English is essential
• Comfort working in ambiguous, early-stage environments where process creation is a primary responsibility

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience standing up new publication lines, journals, or editorial operations from inception
• Familiarity with open access publishing models, compliance frameworks, and evolving trends in scholarly communication
• Experience with analytics and reporting tools for tracking publication performance, downloads, and citation metrics
• Understanding of SEO, academic indexing services, and content discoverability strategies
• Cross-cultural communication experience and comfort working with geographically dispersed, international teams
• Interest in systems engineering or a willingness to develop domain fluency
• Proficiency in additional languages beyond English is advantageous

About International Council On Systems Engineering

The International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) is a not-for-profit membership organization founded to develop and disseminate the transdisciplinary principles and practices that enable the realization of successful systems. INCOSE is designed to connect systems engineering professionals with educational, networking, and career-advancement opportunities in the interest of developing the global community of systems engineers and systems approaches to problems. We are also focused on producing state-of-the-artwork products that support and enhance this discipline’s visibility in the world.

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