Managing Editor for Animal Behaviour journal

Overview

The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) is seeking a Managing Editor for its Society journal Animal Behaviour. This is a full-time role (37.5 hours per week) with starting salary in the range £34,132–38,249; salary will be reviewed annually. ASAB will contribute 10% to a pension. The successful applicant will work from home with 25 days leave per year (plus bank holidays). There will be a 6-month probationary period and a 3-month notice period. The role-holder will be involved in all stages of the publication process and must have a general understanding of the topics that they are reading and copy-editing. Training in the role and the use of the online Editorial Manager system will be provided by the Senior Managing Editor (SME); work will be conducted in collaboration with the SME, Editorial Assistant, the journal Executive Editor and Editors, and external publisher contacts. The post will start from 1st October 2025 (or as soon as possible thereafter). Application deadline is 5pm BST on 31st July 2025.

Summary of Managing Editor responsibilities:

1. Ensuring new submissions comply with submission criteria and ethical standards; considering whether content fits the remit of the journal.
2. Liaising with the Editorial Assistant when submissions need to go to the Ethical Committee.
3. Checking preliminarily accepted submissions for adherence to house style requirements after peer review; generating lists of formatting requirements for authors of accepted papers.
4. Working with the Senior Managing Editor (SME) and authors to copy-edit accepted papers, improve manuscript content and maintain publication quality.
5. Working with the SME, authors and publisher to check and correct proofs.
6. Liaising with the SME and publisher to monitor the progress of accepted papers through to publication.
7. Management of the paper process through the online Editorial Manager system.
8. Replying to queries from Editors and authors.
9. Liaising with the Executive Editor on matters relating to individual papers and the journal more generally.
10. Liaising with relevant parties to update the Guide for Authors and Guidelines for the Ethical Treatment of Nonhuman Animals in Behavioural Research and Teaching.
11. Liaising with relevant parties to update the Editors and Society pages in the journal.
12. Keeping a list of authors and papers for the journal’s best paper awards.
13. Attending editorial and journal meetings as required.

Role requirements

1. A degree in the life sciences, ideally in animal behaviour or a related area. A post-graduate degree in one of these areas is preferred.
2. Experience of scientific publishing and online publishing systems as an author.
3. Excellent knowledge of English.
4. Strong attention to detail.
5. Strong writing and editing skills.
6. Ability to manage one own’s time, with multiple priorities, and to keep to deadlines.
7. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
8. Good communication skills.
9. A post-graduate degree in animal behaviour or a related area.
10. Experience of scientific publishing and online publishing systems in an editorial capacity.

Information about Animal Behaviour

Animal Behaviour is published for the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour in collaboration with the Animal Behavior Society. The current publishers are Elsevier.

First appearing in 1953, Animal Behaviour is a leading international publication with wide appeal, containing research articles (primary research, methods and data set papers), critical reviews, commentaries and book reviews. Special Issues are commissioned on occasion. The journal publishes fundamental and applied empirical work, as well as theory, focused on the behaviour of any animals, including humans.

From January 2025, Animal Behaviour publishes online only, with papers appearing with an article number and DOI once proofs are approved. Papers are also collated into monthly collections with Editors’ choices.

Each year, prizes are awarded for papers published by students, early-career researchers and authors from institutes in a Low- or Middle-income country in the World Bank’s classification.

Animal Behaviour considers any paper where there is a core behaviour focus. Topics of interest include (this is not an exhaustive list): animal welfare, behavioural ecology, cognition, conservation, development of behaviour, ethology, evolution of behaviour, global change biology, neuroethology, physiology, population biology, psychology, sensory biology and sociobiology.

Information about ASAB

ASAB was founded in 1936 to promote the study of animal behaviour. Membership is open to all who share our interests. There are now around 1000 members, the majority drawn from Britain and Europe. Many members are professional biologists who work in universities, research institutes and schools.

ASAB is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community, and aims to ensure fair and equitable representation and participation throughout all of ASAB’s activities and in the wider animal behaviour research community, irrespective of characteristics including but not limited to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality.

ASAB promotes (a) the study of animal behaviour by holding conferences and funding research; (b) the publication of animal behaviour research through its Society journal Animal Behaviour; (c) the ethical treatment and conservation of animals through our Ethical Committee; and (d) the teaching of animal behaviour in schools through our Education Committee.

Further information and applications

If you would like to discuss the role, please contact the Executive Editor, Prof. Andy Radford (andy.radford@bristol.ac.uk).

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter, including the names and details of two referees, to the Executive Editor by 5pm BST on 31st July 2025.

More info and details: https://www.asab.org/opportunities