Electronic Publishing Specialist

Department

Press Journals Publishing Technology

About the Department

The University of Chicago Press Journals Division publishes more than 90 scholarly journals that span a wide range of disciplines, from the humanities and the social sciences to the life and physical sciences. The Publishing Technology department manages software and processes used in all phases of journal publishing, including peer review, copyediting, production, and online publication.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Electronic Publishing Technology Manager, the Electronic Publishing Specialist will use commercial and custom software to support journal offices in the use of Aries Systems’ Editorial Manager for peer review of journal article submissions. The specialist will also support in-house copy editors in the use of Arbortext Editor, an XML-based text processing application that the Press has extensively customized. Other duties may be assigned according to the specialist’s particular skills. We seek candidates with interest or experience in scholarly publishing, interest in learning new technologies, excellent written communication skills, and a knack for problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Analyze journal office workflows and configure new Editorial Manager sites for Press journals.
• Train journal office staff to use Editorial Manager.
• Provide front-line tech support for journals using Editorial Manager, referring problems to Aries Systems when necessary.
• Research and write detailed bug reports for Aries to address problems experienced by Press users.
• Install and support Arbortext Editor software for in-house copy editors.
• Work with copy editors and Pubtech senior staff to modify existing customizations to Arbortext Editor or develop new ones.
• Maintains complex system and network administration functions. Works with moderate guidance to administer simple systems and assists in the administration of larger systems.
• Ensures integrity by implementing appropriate routine software and hardware solutions. Conducts routine hardware and software audits of workstations, backing up all information.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree.

Experience:

• 2 years of experience in publishing or tech support.

Technical Knowledge or Skills

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel).
• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Acrobat).
• Any web-based peer-review system (Editorial Manager, ScholarOne, eJournalPress, Open Journal Systems, Scholastica).
• Running Unix shell scripts and Perl scripts.
• XML markup in general, JATS in particular.
• Arbortext Editor, Arbortext Command Language.
• Jira issue-tracking system.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent written communication skills: be able to explain technical concepts clearly for a non-technical audience, and write emails worthy of a leading scholarly publisher.
• Approachable and helpful demeanor: be able to help colleagues who are frustrated with technology or who need help to meet a publishing deadline.
• Interest in technology: be motivated to explore new technologies; be able to find solutions for new, unexpected problems.
• Organization and self-motivation: be able to manage concurrent tasks and keep colleagues updated on your progress.

Working Conditions

• Press offices are on the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus.
• A hybrid in-office and from-home work schedule is permitted. Fully remote may be possible only for experienced staff.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

Job Family

Information Technology

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$54,000.00 - $70,400.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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