Job Center > Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Singing - National Association of Teachers of Singing

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Singing - National Association of Teachers of Singing

This is a Permanent, Part-time position.

Category: Other
State/Province (or you can select Remote): remote, Remote
Position: Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Singing
Deadline: February 19, 2025
Posted: January 28, 2025

Job Description / Duties

Overview of the Editor-in-Chief Position:

There shall be one Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Singing who shall be selected by the President and approved by the NATS Executive Board in a regular or special meeting (ARTICLE XI: Section 1.) Applications will be vetted by search committee review.

This volunteer opportunity is a three-year renewable appointment. The Editor-in-Chief receives a nominal stipend determined by the Board, as well as a travel budget to attend Board meetings and essential conferences. The Editor-in-Chief reports to the Executive Director and is supported by NATS staff and contracted staff who form the publishing team for the journal.

The main duties of the Editor-in-Chief include:

  • To provide editorial leadership and oversight of the journal, retaining its status as one of the foremost academic journals in the field. The Editor is responsible for upholding the mission and scope of the journal and for selecting content that provides new, original, and important contributions to knowledge.
  • To ensure a high overall quality of the intellectual content of the journal and oversee the review process to ensure it is thorough, fair, and timely.
  • To lead the peer review process: screens and selects papers for review; assigns papers for peer review to the editorial board and oversees the general conduct of the peer review process to ensure a rapid and efficient review of all submitted papers and maintain the flow of accepted papers at a level and on a schedule for regular publication.
  • To select associate editors, editorial board members, reviewers, and any other editorial positions required in developing content for the journal and submit such changes annually to the President of the Association for endorsement by the Board of Directors. The editor is the final arbiter for all material published in the journal.
  • To chair the editorial board meetings, approving minutes and agendas, following up on the board’s action points, and implementing with the agreement of the Executive Director and Board.
  • To articulate and implement an editorial vision and strategy for the journal that is relevant to current developments in academic and practice-based research, as agreed with the Editorial Board, Executive Director, and NATS Board of Directors.
  • To effectively collaborate with various internal and external constituents, and promote and maintain a positive and cooperative team-oriented work environment with a commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity.
  • To make periodic assessments of the editorial board’s processes, and recommend changes when appropriate.
  • To ensure that appropriate technology tools are in place to facilitate the submission, editorial, and subscription processes of the journal and that all editorial board members and staff are oriented and trained relative to their effective use.
  • To retain oversight of the overall editorial quality of images and text, coordinate layout and design with contracted designer, check proofs, and issue final approval for production.
  • To work together with the editorial team, Executive Director, staff, and NATS Board to promote the reputation, academic success and prosperity of the journal.
  • To work with the Executive Director to understand the budget approved by the board associated with the production of the journal and potential impacts of production based decisions on that budget.
  • To act as a spokesperson for the editorial board in public forums such as NATS board meetings and national conferences.
  • To have input into matters of editorial policy and to ensure that wherever possible the journal adheres to best practice guidelines in terms of publication ethics.
  • To understand the use of the web-based workflow management systems used to effectively facilitate the development, production, and management of subscriptions for the Journal. The Journal uses the ScholarOne platform and has also joined Project Muse.

Qualifications / Required Skills

Required Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

  • An excellent track record in the field with a strong record of publication.
  • Recent experience in managing or conducting research of national or international quality.
  • Proven leadership skills with the ability to work collaboratively with individuals and stakeholders.
  • A strong record of contributing to the review and editing of published material in the field.
  • An excellent national and international network amongst researchers.
  • Excellent written communication and interpersonal skills in English.
  • Excellent organizational skills, including an ability to work to tight deadlines and manage multiple competing priorities.

NATS strives to be a welcoming and supportive community of members and students who celebrate the unique identities, varied backgrounds, and experiences of all individuals. We are dedicated to ensuring that all voices are valued and heard in an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.

Additional Information

Application Process
Candidates should submit:

  • Cover letter that sets out: their personal vision for the future of the Journal of Singing
    specific objectives to achieve that vision (over the next five years) strategies to increase output, readership, reputation, and impact their approach to maintaining the quality, accuracy and fairness of the review process, their plans for inclusion, diversity, and equity relative to the journal their experience using and/or implementing the common
    technology systems used in academic journal publishing.
  • Current curriculum vitae
  • List of minimum of five references (two should be external to NATS and able speak specifically to your suitability for this position.)

Applications should be made electronically here: https://www.nats.org/JOS_Editor_in_Chief_Application.html

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The term of the Editor-in-Chief will begin on or around April 1 and the new EIC will produce the Sept/Oct 2025 issue.

Salary: see above

Contact Information

For questions please contact: Allen Henderson, executive director, allen@nats.org

Employer Profile

About Journal of Singing:
Journal of Singing, the official journal of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, providing current information regarding the teaching of singing as well as results of recent research in the field. A refereed journal, it serves as an historical record and is a venue for teachers of singing and other scholars to share the results of their work in areas such as history, diction, voice science, medicine, and especially voice pedagogy. Journal of Singing is published five times annually (Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec, Jan/Feb, March/April, May/June).