Description

International Affairs (IA) is one of the world’s leading international relations journals, with a focus on publishing scholarship of the highest quality that is valued by both academic and practitioner audiences. The journal is published six times a year. Each issue has a mix of subscriber-only and open access articles, as well as a highly regarded book reviews section. IA is published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Chatham House.

The managing editor is the senior staff member within Chatham House responsible for liaison with the journal’s academic co-editors, editorial board and publisher on behalf of the institute. They lead on the editorial production of the journal, and on setting and delivering the journal’s business plan and strategic objectives, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. They manage the in-house editorial team for IA, and oversee the journal’s budget and finances. The managing editor reports to the institute’s head of publishing.

The ideal candidate will have substantial academic journal editorial experience and a deep understanding of the academic journals market. They will have excellent staff and stakeholder management skills, significant experience of communicating at a senior level with internal and external stakeholders, and a good understanding of digital marketing in academic publishing. They will be able to communicate with authority on the academic discipline of international relations, and will have a good understanding of foreign policymaking.

Please note that the managing editor role is not a commissioning editor or a research role.

We are an equal opportunity employer; we value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics. We encourage applications from all backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to improve your experience or support you, please get in touch at HR@Chathamhouse.org.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy

• Manage relationships between the IA co-editors, publisher and editorial board.
• Set and regularly review the IA business plan, maximising income and cost control.
• Work with the journal’s academic co-editors and the institute’s head of publishing on strategy development.
• Support the IA co-editors with the development and implementation of the IA content strategy.
• Oversee the annual marketing and communications strategy for the journal, working with the IA publisher, the institute’s head of digital marketing and the journal’s marketing and communications manager.

• Actively contribute to the delivery of Chatham House’s EDI strategy.

Delivery

• Oversee and manage the editorial production process to ensure publication of IA to the set schedule of six issues a year, ensuring that the high editorial and production standards of the journal are maintained.
• Oversee the contract and relationship with the IA publisher, ensuring all contractual obligations are met in full by both parties.
• Lead on IA budget management, management of revenue and expenditure, driving down costs and maximising income where possible. Provide reports and updates to the institute’s senior management, finance department and governing council as required.
• Lead on implementation of the IA business plan, working with the journal’s academic co-editors, the IA editorial board and Chatham House’s head of publishing to monitor and report on progress.
• Ensure the journal delivers on its business, content and strategic objectives, including on its EDI commitments.
• Oversee delivery of the IA marketing and communications strategy.
• Attend key academic conferences on behalf of the journal and the institute.

People

• Lead the in-house editorial team, setting objectives and work plans to achieve IA’s business objectives.
• Liaise with the journal’s academic co-editors to ensure smooth running of the journal and implementation of IA business plan.
• Manage the relationship with the journal’s publisher.
• Oversee the work of all IA external contractors including freelance editors, proofreaders and typesetters.
• Act as the institute’s senior point of contact for the IA editorial board.
• Build and maintain key relationships at all levels within the institute.

Personal Specification

Skills and Experience

• Substantial experience of working in academic journal publishing.
• A deep understanding of the journals market and evolving academic publishing environment.
• Postgraduate qualification in international relations or a related discipline; and/or a demonstrable ability to communicate with authority on the academic discipline of international relations. (Desirable)
• Strong experience of team and line management.
• Strong communications and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Experience of budgeting and managing contractors.
• Experience of working with standard publishing platforms, databases and tools, along with MS Office applications.
• A good understanding of major marketing platforms and channels.
• Working knowledge of marketing and audience data tools, such as Google Analytics, and experience turning data and analytics into actionable insights.
• Experience and confidence in working to strict deadlines and balancing competing demands.

Benefits 

Benefits include approximately 37 days annual leave (including public holidays and Chatham House closure days), pension salary exchange, employee assistance programme, parental leave, flexible working and other benefits designed to suit your lifestyle. All of this, in a professional, engaging and intellectually stimulating environment.

Salary: £55,000 per year. 

Contract: Full-time, Permanent.

Location: St James's Square, London. This is a hybrid role based in our London office. The successful candidate will be expected to work onsite at least 2 days per week.

Closing Date: Sunday 14 September 2025, 23:59 BST.

Application process:  Please include your CV, a cover letter and answer the application questions. 

In your cover letter, with careful reference to the job as advertised, please tell us why you are the right person, at the right stage in your career, to make a success of the role of managing editor of International Affairs.

Interview dates:

• First stage - 30 September and 1 October
• Second stage - w/c 6 October

Please avoid using AI for your application. We want to hear from you! We can tell the difference between a genuine answer and an AI-generated one. Using AI will run the risk of your application being disqualified.

The Job Description as outlined above will not be available once the closing date has passed. Please ensure you keep a copy for your own record.