The Managing Editor is responsible for management of the submission, peer review, and publication of original research articles and other articles submitted to Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. This role serves as primary administrative support to the Editor in Chief and Editorial Board and works to ensure top-quality customer service to authors and readers. This individual does NOT supervise other staff and reports to the Executive Director.

Term of position       

This is a full time at-will employee of ASRA Pain Medicine.

Primary Responsibilities

Manage new and revised submission traffic in Scholar One

• Provide initial review of new submissions for clinical trial registration.
• Assign articles to handling editors.

Work with editors to oversee peer-review process from submission through final decision, final editing, and release to the publisher. In addition to article assignment and review upon submission:

• Run reports on editor assignments, ensuring timely completion of tasks.
• Assist Editor in Chief with management of assigned submissions (eg, check for requisite number of reviewers, contact late reviewers).
• As needed, assign reviewers based on editor recommendation.
• Reply to e-mails from authors, editors, and reviewers.

Manage issue content.

• Create article outline for each issue, based on page budget, priorities, balance of content, and accepted submissions.
• Serve as quality assurance of all accepted submissions in collaboration with publisher.
• Facilitate English language editing for select submissions, as directed by Editor in Chief or requested by authors.
• Direct creation of cover art.
• Write cover lines.

Proofread all accepted submissions in page layout (production proofs).

Maintain reviewer database in ScholarOne.

• Periodically update database of editors and consultant reviewers.
• Register new reviewers per editor request.
• Oversee standards of peer review and training materials.

With Editor in Chief, devise and implement systems to protect the journal from unethical behavior (eg, duplicate submissions, fraud, plagiarism). 

Periodically update Instructions for Authors (IFA).

• Edit for clarity.
• Update instructions based on new systems and features of Editorial Manager.
• Update IFA to reflect editorial changes (eg, new submission category).
• Edit to reflect current industry standards and trends (eg, reporting guidelines).
• Helps to create standard templates using Microsoft Word that authors can use when submitting manuscript

Direct updates to the RAPM website including

• “Getting to Know You” article monthly and archive past month to the collection
• ASRA Pain Medicine news/advertising
• Editorial Board lists
• Periodic checks to ensure all links functioning properly

Assign all solicited commentary as directed by Editor in Chief.

• Invited Replies (letters)
• Editorials

Work with Editor in Chief, designers, and Social Media editors to oversee development of infographics.

Work with Editor in Chief, authors, and podcast producer to schedule, create, and distribute monthly RAPM Focus podcast.

Work with Editor in Chief and Social Media editors to promote content through social media (Twitter) and podcasts.

Ensure production of annual ESRA and ASRA Pain Medicine Abstract publication (online).

Works with Editor in Chief to produce Special Editions of the Journal such as soliciting authors and organizing content

Maintain knowledge of trends in scientific and scholarly publishing, and editorial office best practices through travel to conferences, webinars, and reading.

Coordinate biannual Editorial Board meetings at ASRA Pain Medicine spring and fall meetings and create presentations supporting these meetings.

Oversee annual budget with input from EIC and Publisher; ensure timely payments and receipt of payments.

Organize and execute annual call for editor nominations process. Work with Editor in Chief and Executive Editor Selection Committee to identify, invite, and orient new members and to retire and recognize retiring members.

Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least five years’ experience in a similar role within an association or society
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and oral
• Well versed in social media with an understanding of the difference between personal and corporate social media presences
• Ability to prioritize; plan and carry out responsibilities independently or as part of a team.
• Diplomacy, discretion, independent judgment
• Ability to build collaborative, working relationships with volunteers from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to travel, work overtime, and lift up to 50 pounds, as necessary.

About American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

Our mission is to advance the science and practice of regional anesthesia and pain medicine to improve patient outcomes through research, education, and advocacy. The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA Pain Medicine) is one of the largest subspecialty medical societies in anesthesiology with more than 5,000 members in 66 countries on 6 continents. We accomplish our mission and vision by addressing the clinical and professional educational needs of physicians and scientists, ensuring excellence in patient care utilizing regional anesthesia and pain medicine, and investigating the scientific basis of the specialty.

Connections working at American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine