Jobs@PLoS

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit advocacy and publishing organization located in the China Basin area of San Francisco, California. We publish a growing collection of Open Access scientific and medical journals whose complete contents are freely available online. Our long-term goals are to create an online "public library of science" containing every scientific and medical paper ever published, and to develop the information technologies needed to maximize the value of this resource. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

The Public Library of Science and its publications continue to expand. Currently, we are seeking talented candidates for the following positions:

Software Development Manager

Do you want to play a role in changing the scientific publishing industry? Do you believe in Open Source Software and the Open Access movement? Do you want to work with exciting technologies like RDF, OWL, and the semantic web? The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit advocacy and publishing organization leading the development of Ambra, a semantic publishing application that aims to shift the scientific and medical communities from subscription based journals to an Open Access online commons. Ambra is built on Topaz, an Open Source content modeling and storage software framework that uses the Fedora Service Framework and Mulgara semantic technology as the core engine. We are using the best of Web 2.0 technologies to revolutionize scientific publication!

Job Description

PLoS is seeking a Software Development Manager to manage a small development team in support of the organization’s web-based journals. We are looking for a candidate who likes challenges, wants to work with a highly talented group of people and with cutting edge technologies. Responsibilities will include defining/scheduling/managing development of features for Ambra, overseeing requests for enhancements/fixes to the PLoS journal websites, and assisting in documentation. This individual will be expected to collaborate with other teams at PLoS to help identify and prioritize product requirements and ensure the success of ongoing development activities. Development will be in Java and related web technologies. This position reports directly to the I.T. Director.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Manage a high performance development team.
  • Track/manage project deliverables; communicating status, issues and risks to project stakeholders. Propose solutions and guide projects through lifecycle to final implementation.
  • Work with project stakeholders to gather, define and refine technical, operational and business requirements on new and existing Ambra features.
  • Manage and directly participate in the development and implementation of these new technologies.
  • Ensure that the development team executes upon their deliverables. Keep projects on schedule, within scope and within budget. Obtain final signoff from the project stakeholders.
  • Track support issues and manage the completion of support tickets.
  • Provide leadership and guidance to the development team.
  • Act as a technical point of contact and Open Source champion for the Ambra publishing system.
  • Write documentation to aid the Open Source community involved in Ambra/Topaz.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

  • Experience managing a small development team, development projects and project deliverables.
  • Proven ability to lead a small development team in a demanding, fast-paced environment.
  • Experience managing products based on Java and J2EE technologies.
  • Experience with Unix/Linux.
  • Strong understanding of software design concepts, usability and emerging technologies. Knowledge of ePublishing systems a plus.
  • Extremely capable communicator; able to understand business requirements and create concise project requirements.
  • Proven ability to build effective relationships and trust with management, peers and subordinates.
  • Strong organization and problem solving skills that include the ability to respond to changing needs and shifting priorities.
  • Must be self-motivated, ability to multi-task and have a flexible, positive attitude.
  • Familiarity with Open Source technologies.
  • Experience working with project collaboration applications (MS Project, phpCollab, etc.).

Requirements

  • 5+ years IT experience with an Internet or technical focus and at least 3+ years management experience.
  • B.S. in a technical field or equivalent experience.
  • Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
  • Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills are required.
  • Must have good planning and organizational skills.

About the Public Library of Science

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit advocacy and publishing organization located in the China Basin area of San Francisco, California. We publish a growing collection of "open access" scientific and medical journals whose complete contents are freely available online. Our long-term goals are to create an online "public library of science" containing every scientific and medical paper ever published, and to develop the information technologies needed to maximize the value of this resource. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

This is a full-time, permanent position available immediately at our San Francisco office, and we are looking to fill it as soon as possible. Our salaries are competitive for nonprofit organizations, but less than comparable to salaries in corporate environments. Compensation is dependent on qualifications. PLoS offers a benefits package which includes vacation, 401(k), health, vision and dental coverage.

Application Procedure

Please send a resume, a cover letter and a phone number where you can be contacted to jobs@plos.org and use the job title as the subject of your email.  No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only – email from recruiters will be ignored.

Assistant Production Coordinator

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is headquartered in San Francisco and committed to making the world’s scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of more than 60, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PloS’ distinguished board of directors is lead by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. In under four years, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

The Position

We are currently seeking an Assistant Production Coordinator to format, manage, and provide quality control for electronic manuscript files and graphics accepted for publication. You will perform light copyediting tasks and will be responsible for tracking files in multiple stages of production. In addition, you will work with authors to ensure that all submissions are complete and that files are usable, and with the Production Coordinator to execute timely publication of articles. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, highly organized, and able to work well with the other members on the team. This is a full-time position depending on the candidate.

Specific responsibilities include:

  • Performing quality control and light copyediting on text files and article metadata
  • Ensuring that figures and tables meet publication requirements
  • Checking proofs and web files before final publication

Qualifications and experience required:

  • Organizational skills (strong ability to manage deadlines and coordinate tasks)
  • Graphics experience (proficiency with Adobe software, understanding of basic digital media concepts such as resolution and file types, ability to manipulate images and files comfortably)
  • Good communication skills
  • Language ability (knowledge of grammar and attention to detail in proofreading)
  • Ability to learn and enforce style and formatting rules
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and basic knowledge of XML or HTML
  • Experience with scientific and medical publications and/or other publishing preferred

Application Procedure

PLoS offers competitive salaries, a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program. If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@plos.org and use the job title "Asst Production Coordinator" as the subject of your email. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only - email from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

Publications Assistant

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is headquartered in San Francisco and committed to making the world’s scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of 60, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PloS’ distinguished board of directors is lead by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. In under four years, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is an open-access publisher and advocacy organization with offices in San Francisco, California, and Cambridge, United Kingdom, whose mission is to make scientific and medical literature a public resource.

PLoS currently seeks an energetic and committed person for the entry-level position of Publications Assistant for its peer-reviewed journal, PLoS ONE (the largest Open Access journal in the world). This full-time position in our San Francisco office provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the changing publishing environment and contribute to a dynamic and mission-driven not-for-profit organization that is part of the free-knowledge/free-culture movement.

As a member of the editorial team, the Publications Assistant handles the fast-paced, day-to-day editorial and online production tasks required for the smooth functioning of the journal.

Specific responsibilities include the following:

  • Assisting authors, editors, and reviewers by answering queries, uploading files, ensuring timely submission of reviews
  • Checking quality of submitted files and finished products (PDF, XML)
  • Contacting and supporting editorial board members
  • Assisting in production tasks (checking online files, running stats reports)
  • Fielding questions from scientists, and members of the public about the journal and the organization

Required experience/abilities:

  • Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
  • Organizational skills (strong ability to prioritize, multitask, and work independently)
  • Language ability (knowledge of grammar and attention to detail in proofreading)
  • Technical proficiencies (especially knowledge of excel, word, databases, file types, and file conversions)
  • Graphics experience (proficiency with Adobe software, understanding of basic digital media concepts such as resolution and file types)
  • An interest in science and medicine is preferred

Application Procedure

PLoS offers a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program. If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@plos.org and use the job title "PLoS ONE PA" as the subject of your email. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only – email from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

Assistant Web Producer

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is headquartered in San Francisco and committed to making the world’s scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of more than 60, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is lead by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. In under four years, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

The Position

We are currently seeking an Assistant Web Producer to help our team prepare articles for daily online publication. You will be responsible for tracking and coordinating articles in the end stage of production. You will work with the Web Producers and our publishing vendor to troubleshooting and fix problems. In addition, you will work on special projects requiring production of article XML packages. The ideal candidate will have XML and publishing experience. This is a contract position available immediately at our San Francisco office, and we are looking to fill it as soon as possible.

Specific responsibilities include:

  • Coordinate QC and approval of article XML packages
  • Make corrections to article XML
  • Obtain missing files and corrected files from vendor
  • Prepare articles for final publication
  • Handle formal corrections to published articles
  • Produce article XML packages for two major special projects

Qualifications and experience required:

  • College degree and minimum two years experience, preferably in publishing
  • Organizational skills (effectively manages tasks and workload to meet deadlines)
  • Communication skills (clear and succint writing and speech, communicates well with other members on the team)
  • Critical thinking skills (detail-oriented, logical, asks good questions)
  • XML proficiency (ability to fix existing XML files)
  • UNIX shell proficiency (ability to use the command line to navigate and manipulate files)
  • Graphics profiency (understands graphic file types and resolution, experience using Adobe PhotoShop)

Application Procedure

Please send a resume, a cover letter and a phone number where you can be contacted to jobs@plos.org and use the job title as the subject of your email.  No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only – e-mail from recruiters will be ignored.

Part-Time Clerical Assistant

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is headquartered in San Francisco and committed to making the world’s scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of 75, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is lead by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. In under four years, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

Position: Part-time Clerical Assistant (20 hours per week)

We are seeking a part-time Clerical Assistant for an initial 3 month period.

List of duties:

Accounting/Payroll/Human Resources

  • Maintain close book
  • File non-close journal entries
  • Maintain accounts payable file
  • Maintain admin files for new vendors/independent contractors
  • Maintain personnel files (confidentiality is crucial)
  • File pto reports
  • *Project: integrate original HR files with in-house files (confidentiality is crucial and under direct supervision of human resources)
  • Compilation of monthly corporate credit card statement

Administration/Marketing

  • Purchasing office social supplies and fruit (2x’s/wk)
  • Friday social setup
  • Purchase/maintenance of kitchen supplies as well office candy
  • Collection and delivery mail
  • Maintain postage machine and ensuring that outgoing mail is sent
  • Shipping of packages (includes packages for marketing)
  • Shipping collateral (managing process: processing requests ranging from single items, one-off Editorial meetings, annual care packages)
  • Conference logistics (ordering furniture, electrical, etc., arranging shipping, and packing collateral

Development project:

  • Scanning of all files
  • Establish electronic files for scanned documents
  • Possibly establish links to development software

Education/Skills

  • High school graduate/GED; 1 – 2 Years college or equivalent.
  • Good organizational skills
  • Effective communication skills
  • Solid familiarity with computers

Compensation:

$12 – 14/hour DOE.

*Note* in order to accommodate two special projects, we anticipate the first two weeks of employment to be at 40 hours per week, then reducing to 20 hours per week.

Application Procedure

PLoS offers competitive salaries, a creative and casual work environment. If interested, please send your resume and a cover letter to jobs@plos.org and Clerical Assistant in the subject line of your email. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only – email from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

Publications Assistant, UK office

PLoS is seeking a Publications Assistant for its UK office in central Cambridge. A member of the editorial team with the aim of supporting the PLoS community journals, this person will handle day-to-day editorial and online production tasks required for the smooth functioning of these scholarly journals.

This position is suitable for someone looking to gain their first experience in publishing. Candidates will be educated to degree level, have excellent communication skills, meticulous attention to detail, and be familiar with a variety of IT including email and databases. General knowledge of science would be advantageous but not essential. Salary will be around £15,000 depending on experience.

Specific responsibilities include the following:

  • Assisting authors, editors, and reviewers by answering queries, uploading files, ensuring timely submission of reviews
  • Checking quality of submitted files and finished products (PDF, XML)
  • Contacting and supporting editorial board members
  • Assisting in production tasks (checking online files, running stats reports)
  • Fielding questions from journalists, scientists, and members of the public about the journal and the organization
  • Other duties as assigned by the Publications Manager and/or Managing Editor

To apply, email a cover letter and CV to jobs@plos.org using "PA PLoS UK" as the subject line. For informal enquiries, contact the UK PLoS Office on 01223 463344 or plosuk [at] plos.org. Closing date: December 1, 2008.

Editorial Operations Manager

Job Summary

As the Editorial Operations Manager you will be responsible for the administration of the editorial processes of the Public Library of Science (PLoS), an online open-access publisher of scientific and medical journals.

In this key position, you will manage a substantial team of Publication Assistants in the San Francisco office (currently approx 11 people) of PLoS, who work with internal and external editors to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the peer-review processes on our journals.

The ideal candidate will have 5-7 years experience in the management of substantial groups of staff, in building and enhancing complex administrative processes, and in working with cross-departmental teams. Sound knowledge of academic publishing is desirable, but alternative relevant experience is acceptable.

Key Responsibilities:

Editorial working practices

  • Collaborate with other departments to streamline processes and improve performance while maintaining editorial quality and integrity
  • Reporting on individual and process performance
  • Identifying critical chokepoints and potential resolutions

Staff management

  • Line management of the Publications Assistants based in San Francisco
  • Hiring new staff, and training on the core features of their job
  • Co-ordination of more specialized training of new staff
  • Motivating and inspiring staff

Web sites

  • Oversight of common elements of the Journal Management System and journal web sites

Attributes and experience:

  • 5-7 years experience in staff management, recruitment, mentoring, and coaching
  • Substantial experience of project management
  • Demonstrable achievements in process improvement
  • Great interpersonal skills and an excellent communicator
  • Knowledge of academic publishing
  • Mature and supportive

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is headquartered in San Francisco and committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of 60, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PloS' distinguished board of directors is lead by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. In under four years, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

Application Procedure

PLoS offers competitive salaries, a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program. If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@plos.org and use the job title "Editorial Operations Manager" as the subject of your email. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only – email from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.