Associate Scientific Editor

Description

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is an independent scientific organization that collaborates with the world’s leading health and science experts to develop rigorous quality standards for medicines, dietary supplements, and food ingredients. At USP, we believe that scientific excellence is driven by a commitment to fairness, integrity, and global collaboration. This belief is embedded in our core value of Passion for Quality and is demonstrated through the contributions of more than 1,300 professionals across twenty global locations, working to strengthen the supply of safe, high-quality medicines worldwide.

At USP, we value inclusive scientific collaboration and recognize that attracting diverse expertise strengthens our ability to develop trusted public health standards. We foster an organizational culture that supports equitable access to mentorship, professional development, and leadership opportunities. Our partnerships, standards, and research reflect our belief that ensuring broad participation in scientific leadership results in stronger, more impactful outcomes for global health.

USP is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer (EEOE) and is committed to ensuring fair, merit-based selection processes that enable the best scientific minds—regardless of background—to contribute to advancing public health solutions worldwide. We provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and uphold policies that create an inclusive and collaborative work environment.

Brief Job Overview

This is a non-supervisory position responsible for performing high-impact editorial and production functions for the publication of USP documentary standards. The primary role of the Associate Scientific Editor is to complete editorial reviews of USP documents for accuracy, correct structure, style, grammar, syntax, referencing, and readability. The incumbent in this role will regularly collaborate with scientific experts to ensure quality, clarity, and consistency of work. In addition, this role will entail proofreading, XML content review and management, and some internal customer support on USP’s publishing systems. The incumbent contributes to the overall success of the organization by producing high-quality products, on schedule, that meet the needs of the end users.

How will YOU create impact here at USP?

As part of our mission to advance scientific rigor and public health standards, you will play a vital role in increasing global access to high-quality medicines through public standards and related programs. USP prioritizes scientific integrity, regulatory excellence, and evidence-based decision-making to ensure health systems worldwide can rely on strong, tested, and globally relevant quality standards.

Additionally, USP’s People and Culture division, in partnership with the Equity Office, invests in leadership and workforce development to equip all employees with the skills to create high-performing, inclusive teams. This includes training in equitable management practices and tools to promote engaged, collaborative, and results-driven work environments.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Edits scientific materials across various USP publications and is responsible for maintaining high-quality USP documentary standards
• Incorporates corrections and communicates with scientific experts as needed to ensure quality and clarity of content.
• Copyedits content so that it is well-written and complies with USP style.
• Ensures that grammar, syntax, and spelling are correct and prepares documents for transfer to production
• Develops specialized knowledge for assigned publication content and tasks
• Applies XML tagging to scientific content.
• Conducts other editorial reviews, as needed, for USP publications
• Proofreads scientific content for errors, making limited style and formatting changes after various editorial stages
• Maintains the intent of scientific experts by upholding a high-level view of each documentary standard
• Reviews and updates documentation to ensure alignment with current processes
• Reviews, corrects, and validates XML content based on work instructions and USP style guide
• Coordinates within Publications (publications support, editorial, production) and across Science divisions.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Who is USP Looking For?

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated understanding of our mission, commitment to excellence through inclusive and equitable behaviors and practices, ability to quickly build credibility with stakeholders, along with the following competencies and experience:

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a life science or an equivalent combination of training and experience required

Experience:

Minimum of 0-2 years of relevant experience.

Experience in book and/or journal editing and proofreading in electronic formats

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of grammar, spelling, and application of in-house style guides
• Energetic self-starter and quick learner with the ability to work under tight deadlines in a multi-tasking environment.
• Demonstrates creativity and flexibility within a results-oriented, deadline-driven publishing environment.
• Well-developed time management, organizational, and interpersonal communication (written and verbal) skills.
• Strong analytical and technology skills.
• Demonstrated computer skills in a PC environment
• Proficiency in computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat Professional, and an HTML or XML editor, utilizing track changes and reviewing tools in such programs; knowledge of MS Teams and SharePoint required as it will be used daily.
• Experience working with content management systems, electronic file tracking, and workflow procedures
• Proficiency in a virtual environment, with ability to facilitate and participate in virtual meetings, and use of virtual communications software (Outlook, Teams, Jabber, Slack)
• Experience with XML or HTML markup languages beneficial
• Has the ability to
• navigate multi-layered publications systems and processes
• effectively multitask
• work and research problems independently when appropriate and understands when to escalate issues
• establish effective working relationships in a team setting through active participation and receptiveness to feedback
• engage in training/mentoring with senior staff
• Keep abreast of emerging technologies and has an aptitude for learning new technology

Additional Desired Preferences

Desired preferences are to showcase any additional preferred levels of expertise to perform the role. Reminder: any items listed in this section are not requirements nor disqualifies for candidate consideration.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None, this is an individual contributor role.

Benefits

USP provides the benefits to protect yourself and your family today and tomorrow. From company-paid time off and comprehensive healthcare options to retirement savings, you can have peace of mind that your personal and financial well-being is protected.