International Institute for Environment and Development

Human Settlements Group

Job Description

Job Title:Copy/Managing Editor

Responsible to:Editor ofEnvironment and Urbanizationwho is also a Senior Fellow

Main contacts:Internal: Human Settlements Group; other staff members across the Institute

External: Sheridan Bartlett (on editorial board); authors; publishers; printers; translators; graphic designers

Main purpose:To copy edit and manage the publication process for the twice-yearly Journal Environment and Urbanization

Contract:Part-time (18.5 hours), permanent position

Salary:Grade 4 £34,563 - £38,055 per annum pro-rata depending on experience, plus benefits with up to £42,941 for exceptional candidates

Location:Gray’s Inn Road, Central London, UK

Background to the post

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is a policy research organisation that provides expertise and leadership in researching and achieving sustainable development at local, national, regional and global levels. In alliance with others, we are helping to tackle the biggest issues of our times – from climate change and cities to the pressures on natural resources and the forces shaping global markets. With 116 members of staff working with associates and partners around the world, IIED has been at the forefront of policy-making in sustainable development for over 40 years.The Institute has just launched itsnew new five-year strategyfor the period 2014-2019.

The Human Settlements Group (HSG) works to document the multiple dimensions of urban poverty and support grassroots-led initiatives to improve living conditions in urban centres of Latin America, Asia and Africa. It aims to combine this with promoting good governance, more ecologically sustainable patterns of urban development and urban-rural linkages, and resilience to climate change for the most vulnerable groups. HSG’s activitiesspan policy research, evaluation, policy and technical assistance, publications, seminars and training. These are undertaken in partnership with academic institutions and NGOs around the world.

The Group publishes the international journal Environment and Urbanization, books and several working paper series. Now in its 26th year of publication Environment and Urbanization is one of the world’s most read, downloaded and cited urban journals in its field; 3,100 copies of the most recent publication were printed. It is a twice-yearly journal providing researchers, NGO staff and professionals in Africa, Asia and Latin America with the chance to write about their work, present their ideas and debate on issues. Readership includes over more than 2,000 universities, teaching institutions, NGOs and individuals in Africa, Asia and Latin America as well as to more than 1,000 subscribers in high-income nations.

The Human Settlements Group current areas of work include:

1.Achieving socially and environmentally beneficial urbanization, with recognition of the environmental and social potential of urbanization by governments and others, and more actions taken to tap this potential;

2.Supporting the reduction of urban poverty and inequality through understanding their causes and learning about the most effective interventions. This work includes persuading governments and international agencies to give higher priority to poverty reduction in urban areas through, among other things, engagement with and support for collective action and organizations and federations of the urban poor;

3.Providing a better basis for designing and implementing urban climate-change adaptation programmes that build resilience to current and future impacts of climate change, are pro-poor, and complement local development;

  1. Promoting sustainable socio-economic, environmental, political and cultural links between rural and urban people, activities and settlements by identifying and supporting policies and institutions that help create positive synergies. This includes work on mobility and migration, the role of small towns in local economic development and urban food security.

The Group is composed of the following members of staff:

Diane Archer – Researcher

Hannah Bywaters – Senior Coordinator

David Dodman – Senior Researcher, Co-Group Head and Team Leader, Cities and climate change

Gordon McGranahan – Principal Researcher, Team Leader, Urbanisation and urban growth

Diana Mitlin - Principal Researcher (part-time with the University of Manchester)

Stephanie Ray – Senior Coordinator

David Satterthwaite - Senior Fellow / Editor Environment and Urbanizationand Team Leader, Urban poverty

Cecilia Tacoli –Principal Researcher, Co-Group Headand Team Leader, Rural-urban linkages

Anna Walnycki - Researcher

  • Vacancy – Copy/Managing Editor, Environment and Urbanization

Key responsibilities

Ensuring the timely production and publication of the twice-yearly journal Environment and Urbanization, ensuring the smooth process from receipt of articles to final hard copy publication:

  • Managing the production schedule
  • Copy-editing (including checking referencing, graphics, tables, figures, etc.)
  • Formatting and copy editing articles
  • Proof-reading
  • Liaising with the authors and the Journal’s publishers
  • Sourcing photographs, graphics, etc.
  • Organising and managing translations

This job description defines the level of responsibility and areas of involvement of the post, the details of the duties may change over time and do not form part of the contract between IIED and the postholder.

Person specification

Essential skills and experience

  • Degree in development or other social science discipline
  • Excellent written and editing skills in English developed through drafting text, copy-editing, proof reading and editing
  • Substantial experience of editing and producing academic journals or books
  • Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Word
  • Excellent organisation and project management skills
  • Ability to work independently
  • Ability to be adaptable and flexible, prioritise work effectively and balance conflicting demands without close supervision
  • Understanding of environment and development issues
  • Ability to work collaboratively and build relationships with stakeholders from different backgrounds and cultures

Desirable

  • Fluent in Spanish or French
  • Masters’ degree in relevant topic

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