Assistant Editor (PhD holder) - Photonics

To strengthen our Editorial team, we are looking for recent PhD graduates who are eager to stay connected to scientific research by helping researchers worldwide publish their latest results. The position of Assistant Editor is a full-time and permanent position based in our city centre office in Manchester, UK.

This is a full-time in office role. The office is located next to Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester.

As Assistant Editor you will:

• 
  
• Support the editorial process for academic research journals in your domain of expertise
  
• Organise peer review process for submitted manuscripts and coordinate editorial decisions
  
• Handle email communication between the parties involved in the publication process
  
• Collaborate with other members of the editorial team and production team
  
• Ensure that scholarly articles are accurately edited and published according to tight deadlines with a high degree of consistency
  

• 
  
• A PhD degree in a field related to photonics (e.g., Photonics, Optics, Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Physical Chemistry, Electrochemistry, etc.).
  
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.
  
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  
• Team player with the capability to work in a dynamic, international environment.
  
• Detail oriented with the capacity to see the big picture.
  
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
  
• Very good communication and coordination skills.
  

The career trajectory of this role includes work at conferences, visiting scholars, and marketing events work so applicants should be interested in working face-to-face with the scholarly community and be passionate about promoting open access.

As a successful candidate, you will receive full training in editorial work, working closely with Managing Editors and learning how to process research articles from submission to publication. Training supervised by an assigned tutor will take place on the job during the first six months. Depending on your background, you will be assigned to work on journals related to your field of study or research. No previous editorial experience is required; however, a familiarity with the academic editorial process is an advantage. This is a great opportunity to start a first job in a dynamic multinational company which offers a range of career development options to talented, enthusiastic, and hard‑working people.

If you are interested in this position, we look forward to receiving your application. We look forward to welcoming you to our Manchester office.

• 
  
• A competitive salary, including our quarterly bonus scheme, which rewards high-performing editors.
  
• 10% pay rise after passing the six‑month probation period (for PhD holders, 5% for Master’s holders).
  
• Focused support from your group leader, who is your first point of contact for any issues.
  

• 
  
• Flexible Working Times
  You are able to start work anytime between 7‑9am, and finish between 3‑6pm.
  
• Special Days Off
  Getting married or moving house? No need to use up your holidays, MDPI offer paid time off for such occasions.
  
• Our Culture
  A friendly working environment with monthly lunch parties, office snacks and seasonal events.
  
• Bonus Incentives
  Depending on your role, you may be eligible for one of our bonus schemes which rewards high-performing employees.
  
• Perkbox
  You will have access to our benefit platform called “Perkbox.” This will provide you with a range of discounts and benefits across various retailers, including savings on food, drinks, tech, travel, and more.
  
• Health Cash Plan
  After passing probation, employees are enrolled into our private health membership with Bupa. You can claim money back on dental, doctors, and prescriptions amongst many other health services.
  
• Modern City Centre Office
  Located next to Piccadilly Gardens, our office is a 10 minute walk from both Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road train stations. There are also tram stops outside of the building.
  
• Cyclescheme
  Save between 25‑39% on a bike and accessories.
  
• Techscheme
  Save up to 10% on tax when purchasing tech equipment from places such as Ikea and Currys.