Join our Editorial Team for The Polyphony

The Polyphony (www.thepolyphony.org) is the leading international web platform for medical humanities research, engaging a wide range of readers – academics, health professionals and the general public – in conversations about the latest developments in this interdisciplinary field.

We expect one of the roles will be predominantly focused on book reviews, the other on general content. When applying you can indicate if you prefer reviews or general content or if you wish to be considered for both roles.

Working independently and as part of our editorial team, the Associate Editors will be responsible for pro-actively sourcing content for the site within an agreed area of focus, liaising with contributors and/or publishers, editing, uploading, promoting, and monitoring posts and ensuring that their content is a valuable and vibrant part of the website.

These posts are funded by the Wellcome Trust through a Discretionary Award to the Institute for Medical Humanities (2017-2024). The Associate Editors will report to the founding editor and IMH Deputy Director Prof Angela Woods, and IMH Senior Manager (Research & Engagement) Manager, Evelyn Tehrani. The Associate Editors will also engage with the medical humanities community at Durham and beyond.

The Associate Editors will be formally based in the Institute for Medical Humanities in Durham City but will work remotely.

The post is for approximately (and no more than) 2-3 hours/week with the exact working pattern to be agreed. Appointments will be made for 12 months in the first instance but may be extended. While the Associate Editors can specialise in any aspect of medical humanities, we are keen to hear from applicants who can help to bring in more diverse international perspectives and voices. We would also particularly welcome applications from individuals with demonstrated interests in health inequalities, the expertise of experience, intersectionality, or collaborations with non-academic partners.

For informal questions about this opportunity, you can also contact current Editor in Chief, Chase Ledin (chase.ledin@durham.ac.uk).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

For Reviews Editors

• Assume responsibility for commissioning, editing and publishing book reviews on The Polyphony within an agreed area of focus. These could range from single standalone reviews of monographs or edited collections to fora reflecting on central texts within the field
• Proactively identify books suitable for review on The Polyphony
• Liaise with publishers to secure review copies and advise publishers when reviews have been published
• Identify suitable reviewers from within and beyond the medical humanities, whether through direct solicitation or calls for potential reviewers
• Select and brief reviewers and support them as needed to produce content

For General Editors

• Assume responsibility for commissioning, editing, and uploading posts on The Polyphony within an agreed area of focus, typically publishing at least 2 posts per month
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the field and build relationships which help develop suitable content
• Select and brief contributors, supporting them as needed to produce content

For All Associate Editors

• Edit submissions, giving constructive feedback to authors, and ensuring the accessibility of the content to an interdisciplinary audience
• Publish posts on the website, ensuring they conform to The Polyphony house style and follow the University’s communications guidelines
• Maintain a database of posts, taking active responsibility for ensuring there is a regular flow of content for the site
• Maintain regular contact with the Editor-in-Chief and other colleagues to review progress against agreed objectives, identify opportunities and plan for further development
• Maintain records and produce reports for the IMH management team as required
• Contribute to the ongoing development and promotion of the site

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant field (or equivalent professional experience)
• Demonstrated interest and ability to identify, understand and create opportunities to engage with key ideas and debates within your own area of expertise, as well as within the medical humanities more broadly
• Excellent communication skills, particularly writing for both academic and public audiences
• Able to edit materials to a high standard and within house style guidelines
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to provide constructive and tactful feedback
• Able to build and maintain relationships with contributors and other stakeholders which enhance the research and reputation of the Institute for Medical Humanities
• Excellent organisational, IT and administrative skills
• Able to work independently, take initiative and prioritise own workload without close supervision
• Self-motivated with the drive to carry tasks through to completion
• Ability to work well as part of a team

Desirable

• PhD in a relevant field
• Proficiency in using WordPress
• Proficiency in the use of social media to engage audiences with research
• Experience of using analytics to monitor uptake of online content
• For Reviews Editors: Experience of writing and editing book reviews

HOW TO APPLY

To apply please go to the online application portal and complete the online application process by 08-Nov-2022, 11:59:00 PM UK time.

You will need to provide:

• A brief CV (max 2 pages)
• A covering letter which describes your suitability for the role and outlines what kind of content you are interested in producing/curating
• A short (100 word) response to this task: Select a post on The Polyphony which you feel challenged your thinking in some way and explain why.

Applicants MUST be eligible to work in the UK.

Interviews will be held via video call (Zoom) on Thursday 1st or Friday 2nd December 2022.