Why this role matters
HBKU Press advances the region’s academic and literary ecosystem by converting institutional research and editorial vision into credible, widely read outputs. As Academic Publishing Specialist, you will translate proposals into publishable projects and then steward them through commissioning, review, editing, design, production, and dissemination. In practice, that means orchestrating each stage to global standards while maintaining HBKU Press policies, templates, and style frameworks. Because the press directly supports HBKU’s research ambition, your editorial decisions help elevate visibility, impact, and trust in the work of scholars, editors, and translators.
Join HBKU Press as an Academic Publishing Specialist and shape rigorous scholarship into world-class publications. Own schedules end-to-end, guide authors through peer review, and deliver impeccably produced books and journals. This is a quality-driven role for editors who love precision, collaboration, and on-time results.
Key responsibilities
Operate the publishing pipeline with discipline. You will oversee publication schedules, maintain critical paths for multiple titles, and assist active editorial projects. In doing so, you will ensure every milestone—from proposal assessment to digital release—aligns with HBKU Press procedures and quality bars.
Support editorial development. You will commission, plan, and track production across
Evaluate proposals with rigor. You will screen incoming submissions (journals, books, conferences), synthesize peer feedback, surface conflicts of interest, and recommend viable projects for green-lighting. When questions arise, you will coordinate clarifications with authors, reviewers, and internal decision makers.
Guard the reader experience. Throughout copy-editing, design, and prepress, you will enforce style guides, verify permissions, and resolve reference or figure issues. In short, you will protect accuracy, clarity, and consistency at every handoff.
What “great” looks like in the first year
Predictable schedules. Build a consolidated critical path for each title, integrating editorial checkpoints, copy-editing windows, proof cycles, indexing slots, prepress, and print/digital release dates. Document assumptions and escalate risks early.
Editorial quality. Standardize author guidelines, tighten developmental briefs, streamline copy-editing scopes, and ensure clean handovers into design. As a result, authors see faster, clearer revisions and fewer late-stage corrections.
Data-driven decisions. Use P&L models, demand signals, and usage/sales history to propose format, price, and reprint strategies. Translate those insights into practical production and inventory choices.
Frictionless author experience. Reduce “time-to-proof” and “time-to-publication” by clarifying milestones, SLAs, and version ownership. Proactive communication eliminates avoidable delays.
Balanced portfolio. Maintain a healthy mix of peer-reviewed monographs, edited volumes, and journal issues that align with HBKU strengths and national priorities. Record rationale
for each commissioning decision so stakeholders can review the pipeline with confidence.
Candidate profile
Education & background. A degree in publishing, linguistics, communications, or a relevant academic discipline is typically expected, together with hands-on editorial/production experience at a university press, scholarly society, or research-active institution. Experience across monographs, journals, or proceedings—and familiarity with peer-review ethics and workflows—will help you contribute immediately.
Core competencies.
Editorial judgment: Appraise proposals for fit, originality, and scholarly merit; structure peer reviews for actionable outcomes.
Production literacy: Apply Chicago/APA style, markup best practices, and consistent interior/cover specifications; ensure accurate preflight and print-ready files.
Project management: Run parallel schedules, manage dependencies, and coordinate vendors confidently; rely on Gantt/kanban tools for visibility.
Financial awareness: Read title-level P&Ls, connect pricing and format choices to unit economics, and propose reprints or alternative specs accordingly.
Stakeholder communication: Write clear updates for authors, reviewers, and internal teams; escalate issues with options, not just problems.
Desirable tools & systems.
Editorial/production platforms (e.g., OJS/Scholastica for journals; title-management systems for lists).
Manuscript QC toolchains (Track Changes, PDF markup, preflight).
Discoverability stack: ONIX, DOI/Crossref registration, ORCID collection, and clean metadata feeds to retailers and indexes.
Day-to-day: what you might manage
Commissioning & list development. You will host scoping calls, shape proposal briefs, and ensure projects align with editorial priorities and audience need.
Peer review & research integrity. You will invite reviewers, manage timelines, record disclosures, and reconcile divergent reviews into clear next steps for authors.
Editing & design. You will brief editors on scope and tone, review sample pages for consistency, and agree on figure treatment, reference styles, and accessibility conventions.
Production & release. You will own the critical path from acceptance through proofing, indexing, prepress, and print/digital conversion (EPUB/PDF), confirming that files meet technical specifications.
Post-publication. You will coordinate metadata dissemination, repository deposits where applicable, indexing requests, and launch communications—so titles ship on time and get found quickly.
Impact you can deliver
Shorter cycle times. By removing bottlenecks and automating routine steps (templates, checklists, mail-merge notices), you reduce avoidable rework.
Higher consistency. Through strict style governance, permissions control, and robust QC, you elevate reader trust and reviewer satisfaction.
Greater author care. With transparent milestones and timely feedback, authors
Portfolio resilience. By linking format, pricing, and print runs to data, you help the press manage risk while protecting quality.
Working at HBKU Press
HBKU Press is embedded in the wider HBKU ecosystem in Doha, Qatar, collaborating with colleges and research institutes to amplify regional scholarship and cultural output. The press publishes across genres and languages, enabling translators, illustrators, and editors to contribute to distinctive, high-quality lists. The environment rewards rigor, systems thinking, and cross-functional teamwork—qualities that define successful publishing specialists.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online via the official HBKU Careers portal. Prepare a dossier that proves editorial craftsmanship and operational reliability:
CV detailing academic-list experience, schedule ownership, vendor coordination, and metadata fluency (e.g., ONIX, DOI).
Cover letter aligning your portfolio to HBKU Press priorities; quantify cycle-time improvements, P&L-informed decisions, or complex issue recoveries.
Selected samples (for instance, editorial plans, style sheets, or annotated contents) subject to prior-employer permissions.
References who can attest to schedule discipline, QC standards, and author support.
Finally, confirm the closing date on the portal and note any updates posted by HBKU. (Current listing shows Closing Date: 01 Dec 2025 on the careers page.)
Tips to stand out
Show measurable outcomes. Cite reductions in turnaround times, on-time publication percentages, or adoption of revised SOPs that eliminated defects.
Demonstrate financial literacy. Explain how title-level P&Ls influenced format choices, specs, or pricing—and how those decisions improved margins or reader value.
Champion metadata. Describe your approach to ONIX fields, DOI registration, ORCID capture, and index submissions that enhance discoverability.
Highlight author care. Share examples of coaching first-time editors, resolving complex permissions, or navigating sensitive peer-review disputes.
Bring a systems mindset. Mention automations or scalable templates that saved time and maintained quality across a growing list.
Feature Table (for quick reference)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Name | Academic Publishing Specialist — HBKU Press |
| Host Country | Qatar (Doha) |
| Funded By | Hamad Bin Khalifa University |
| Duration | Full-time role (ongoing, contract per HBKU policy) |
| Study Mode | Full-time, on-site; hybrid as per institutional guidelines |
| Eligibility | Degree in publishing/communications or related field; proven editorial/production experience; metadata and schedule ownership |
| Financial Support | Competitive salary and benefits per HBKU policy |
| Fields of Study | Publishing, editorial production, metadata/ONIX, scholarly communications |
| Deadline | 01 DEC 2025 |
| Official Website | Academic-Publishing-Specialist |
Summary & CTA.
This role rewards editors who pair rigorous judgment with scheduling finesse. If you can command the details—style sheets, proofs, and metadata—while communicating clearly with authors and vendors, you will create publications that last. Apply via HBKU Careers and include concrete examples of schedule wins and quality improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions
They manage end-to-end editorial and production workflows, coordinate peer review, enforce style/metadata standards, and deliver books and journals on time and to specification.
They typically seek a relevant degree plus demonstrable editorial and production experience, strong project management, and working knowledge of metadata, ONIX, DOI, and peer-review protocols.
Show rigorous editing, schedule ownership, vendor coordination, P&L awareness, and clear communication with authors, reviewers, and designers across simultaneous projects.
Yes. You invite reviewers, track deadlines, reconcile feedback, ensure ethical compliance, and translate reviewer reports into actionable revision guidance for authors.
You should know OJS or similar journal systems, MS Word with Track Changes, PDF markup, preflight tools, and metadata workflows including ONIX and Crossref DOI registration.
Quantify cycle-time reductions, on-time publication rates, defect reductions, and improvements to metadata completeness, discoverability, and author satisfaction metrics.
Absolutely. You should interpret title-level P&Ls, recommend optimal formats and print runs, and align pricing with demand forecasts and quality requirements.
Include edited samples, style sheets, schedule trackers, launch plans, and brief case studies showing schedule recovery, metadata fixes, or permissions resolutions.
Requirements vary. However, strong English publishing proficiency is essential; additional language skills, including Arabic, can strengthen cross-team collaboration.
