Associate Commissioning Editor

Job Purpose

Sages portfolio of medical and health sciences journals

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Implementation & Business Development

• Drive the expansion of Sages medical journals portfolio in line with global growth plans.
  
• Develop and execute a robust commissioning strategy for Sage India with measurable outcomes.
  
• Identify, evaluate, and acquire journals that align with Sage’s editorial and commercial priorities (including core and Spectrum services portfolios).
  
• Maintain and update stakeholder engagement records, ensuring systematic follow-up.
  

Market Engagement & Brand Building

• Represent Sage at national and international conferences, workshops, and institutional meetings to enhance visibility and generate acquisition leads.
  
• Build and maintain relationships with editors, academic societies, research institutions, and thought leaders.
  
• Monitor market trends, competitor activities, and emerging opportunities to inform strategy.
  
• Deliver impactful presentations and workshops to promote Sage’s journals and author services.
  

Editorial & Commercial Evaluation

• Prepare Journal Summaries for internal evaluation in line with Sage’s global publishing policies.
  
• Conduct in-depth editorial and market assessments, including competitive analysis, society/editor credentials, and commercial viability.
  
• Develop profit and loss (P&L) projections and define appropriate pricing strategies.
  

Contracting & Internal Coordination

• Manage the end-to-end contracting process from proposal to execution.
  
• Collaborate with internal teams (Sales, Production, Peer Review, Marketing, Customer Service, Finance) to ensure seamless journal onboarding.
  
• Maintain accurate documentation of contracts and acquisition paperwork, ensuring proper handover to editorial and production teams.
  

Skills & Competencies

• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
  
• Proven track record in

  medical publishing or commissioning

  with deep knowledge of the academic market.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
  
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with the ability to assess journal performance.
  
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and market insights.
  
• Effective project and time management skills; ability to manage multiple priorities.
  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
  
• Collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable in a multicultural, fast-paced environment.
  
• Willingness to travel frequently for business development and engagement.
  

Qualifications & Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in medicine, dentistry, life sciences, or related fields.
  
• Alternatively, a strong graduate qualification with significant relevant experience.
  

Experience (Essential):

• Minimum 2 years in medical journal publishing, commissioning, or business development.
  
• Experience in client engagement, lead generation, contract negotiation, and academic partnerships.
  

Experience (Desirable):

• Familiarity with Sage’s journal programmes.
  
• Exposure to international and cross-functional publishing environments.
  

Key Behaviors

• Proactive and self-motivated
  
• Passionate about academic publishing and commissioning
  
• Detail-oriented and organized
  
• Persuasive and confident in negotiations
  
• Flexible and adaptable to change
  
• Accountable and results-driven
  
• Collaborative team player
  
• Open to frequent travel