Antiquity Journal Reviews Editor

Job Title:         Antiquity Journal Reviews Editor
Department:         Archaeology
Grade: Grade 7 
Salary range:        £35,333 - £42,155 pro rata
Working arrangements: 0.4FTE, working pattern flexible and arranged with line manager on appointment
Closing date: 12 October 2022 at Midnight
   
The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.  
Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here  

The Role and Department

Applications are invited for the post of Antiquity Reviews Editor. Antiquity (www.antiquity.ac.uk ) is a world archaeology journal publishing archaeological research on all periods, regions, theories and methods. Alongside original research articles, the journal publishes a substantial number of book reviews each year (150+). The primary purpose of the role is to manage Antiquity’s book reviews section and, more broadly, to contribute to the overall running of the journal. The successful applicant must possess broad archaeological knowledge and demonstrate the ability to quickly acquire understanding of new specialist areas. The role demands attention to detail and the exercise of diplomacy and judgment in the handling of sensitive materials and situations, especially when dealing with external stakeholders.

The Reviews Editor is responsible for liaising with publishing companies to identify the latest books for review and for the planning, commissioning and editing of the reviews section for each issue (six per year). In addition, each issue features an extended review of a selection of books (New Book Chronicle) authored by the Reviews Editor.

The Reviews Editor plays a key role in the editorial team, alongside the Editor and Associate Editor, in ensuring the maintenance of the highest academic and professional standards. The Reviews Editor reports to the Editor of Antiquity and will, if necessary, be able to deputise in the absence of the Editor, including the making of editorial decisions, and other tasks essential for the timely publication of the journal.

Antiquity is owned by the Antiquity Trust, a registered charity, and is produced by Antiquity Publications Ltd in partnership with Cambridge University Press. The editorial office is based in the Department of Archaeology at Durham University and is solely responsible for the academic standards, production, development and management of the journal. Each year, the Antiquity office edits and publishes approximately 2000 pages of print and digital content digital output, serving the global archaeology community.

Antiquity is currently based in Durham University’s Department of Archaeology. Durham is one of the UK’s top Departments of Archaeology with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. We are regularly ranked as one of the top three Archaeology departments in the UK (e.g. Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, The Guardian University Guide 2022, and one of the top five globally (World University QS rankings 2022). Our expertise covers a broad chronological and geographical span, from the Palaeolithic to the present-day, and from South Asia to the Mediterranean, Europe and the British Isles, We have a strong research presence in the Middle East that embraces fieldwork, visual and material culture studies and bioarchaeology. We have a range of cutting-edge laboratories, including well-developed facilities for isotope and aDNA research, extensive commercial infrastructure, and an established network with the heritage sector. The Department of Archaeology works closely with staff in two Durham University museums: the Oriental Museum and the Museum of Archaeology. These house some outstanding archaeological collections, including East Asian and Middle and Near Eastern material. For further information on our current projects, research and teaching, see www.dur.ac.uk/archaeology .

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Working at Durham 

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits: 

•    30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year.  
•    The University closes between Christmas and New Year. 
•    We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled  into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
•    No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
•    There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities. 
•    Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
•    On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays.
•    Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
•    The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community
•    Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions. 
•    A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits. 
•    If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools.  If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role.  Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. 

Where a criteria has an asterix* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.  Your application should cover the following criteria:

Essential Criteria  

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience of book reviewing and/or publishing
2. Knowledge of peer review and peer-review submission systems
3. Experience of working with a peer-reviewed journal
4. Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition

How to Apply   

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.  Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.   
  
Submitting your application 

We prefer to receive applications online.   We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.
  
What you need to submit   

•    A CV: and   
•    A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification.    
 

Contact details   
  
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact the Editor, Dr Robert Witcher, at [email protected].

Typical Role Requirements
Service Delivery

• Liaise with external scholarly and professional contacts around the world to plan the book reviews section for publication in each issue of the journal.
• Solicit and commission reviews of approximately 150 books each year, identifying specialist reviewers and ensuring reviews are robust and fair.
• Commission, evaluate and edit material of a specialist or technical nature and ensure its accessibility for the wider archaeological community through publication in the journal.
• Author a review article feature (New Book Chronicle) of approximately 3000 words for each issue (six per year).
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Contribute to development of operational service activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience. 
• Provide management for stakeholder service areas and/or processes ensuring a high-quality and timely service to all stakeholders, including staff, authors, the editorial team, and Antiquity Publications Ltd.  
• Ensure the review and improvement of systems and procedures in line with University, department and publishing industry standards. 
• Distribute service information and provide advice to stakeholders regarding compliance and regulations. 
• Ensure regulations and procedures are updated to take account of internal and external changes. 

Planning and Organisation

•    Implement changes to the design and development of service processes, techniques and deliverables for one or more service areas.
•    Collect and analyse stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements and the design and planning of services. 
•    Analyse service data and provide reports to the Editor and external bodies, including the journal's owner and publishers, making recommendations for improvement as appropriate. 

Teamwork

•    Contribute to operational leadership teams and decision making to identify content for press and promotional activities. 

Communications and Networking

•    Internal and external relationship development and partnership working, networking and participation to engage and influence future services and the University reputation, including representing the journal at major international conferences. 
•    Deliver training, teaching and/or development delivery for stakeholders. 
•    Contribute to and lead business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at departmental and operational service levels. 
•    Provide proactive and comprehensive input and support to the Editor to achieve strategic and operational priorities. 
•    Provide advice to stakeholders in relation to the journal's policy, procedures and regulations. 
•    Coordinate and oversee committee working and deal with complaints. 
•    Provide training and/or instruction to stakeholders, including publication workships to academic and non academic audiences at conferences. 

Knowledge and Experience

•    Recognised professional practitioner and service specialist. 
•    Provide specialist expertise and support with complexity of data and information sources, interpretation and analysis. 
•    Identify and design activities to meet learning objectives and outcomes. 
•    Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access, and provision of advice using specialist knowledge. 
•    Awareness of the external publishing environment and sector best practice to support high quality services.   

•    Any other reasonable duties.   
Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.   

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds that are applicable to some visas.