Senior Content Manager
Academic Content Operations, Journals US and UK
Current situation
We have created a new role in the department to take on more senior responsibilities within the
content team. We want an approach for promotion to this position that was consistent and
achievable for CMs to aspire to for their future career progression.
Objective of Senior Content Manager roles
The objective of this role is two-fold:
•
•
To recognise experience and excellence
To provide developmental opportunities and provide CMs with a broader range of skills and
experience
What will be taken into account when deciding whether to promote someone to Senior Content
Manager?
Decisions to promote will be taken by your line manager, Production Manager and Journals Director,
signed off by the Content Ops Director. This is to ensure a consistent approach across the
department, and also to foster a sense of collective management responsibility in the development
of our future leaders. The line manager will identify team members who they believe are ready for
promotion and put a case together for approval with their Production Manager and then the
Production Director for that move; most likely they will already be discussing this option with you or
you will have raised it ahead of this time and your input will be a part of that case. So that CMs know
what the requirements are for this promotion, can discuss them with their line manager and can
work towards our expectations we have put together the following.
We will review the following when considering whether to promote someone:
Criteria
Content experience
Content excellence
What we’re looking for
• Should be working as a Content Manager or
at similar level (e.g. Production Editor,
Assistant Editor, Project Editor,
Development Editor) at Cambridge
• Demonstrated awareness and knowledge of
the wider publishing industry, especially in
relation to open research publishing
• Meeting performance targets as set in
Goals and Press behaviours (e.g. internal
TATs, schedule maintenance, accurate data
•
•
•
Attitude
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
collection and record keeping) and
resolving content problems efficiently and
effectively, requiring limited support from
their line manager
Wide recognition by peers and stakeholders
that they are performing at a high level.
This could include being referred to by
colleagues for questions frequently,
Superuser/equivalent responsibility,
involvement in mentoring, etc.
Experienced in using all system functionality
to its true potential e.g. in Jarvis linking
records, bespoke reporting and searching.
In OPRS checking article audit trails and
sourcing missing files. In Core admin
resending author access emails and
amending recipients of these emails
Understanding of industry needs and
regulations, especially in relation to subject
matter e.g. use of badges, taxonomies,
PREPs, copyright, GDPR
Demonstrated leadership qualities,
displaying the Press behaviours, and
demonstrating proactivity, engagement,
strategic approach, energy, astuteness,
innovation
Outwardly positive support of departmental
developments and championing these
among the team. Providing constructive
feedback and ideas where appropriate
Demonstrated care for authors and a
thorough understanding of the author
journey when publishing with Cambridge
Using initiative to respond to problems and
to ensure all relevant departments are
included in resolution with demonstrated
awareness of departmental responsibilities
and ability to direct queries to the correct
source
Understanding of the CM’s place in the
business and effect on other departments
and departmental goals
Proven positive working relationships with
their colleagues across the Press, including
effective collaboration with all departments
Demonstrated and have proven evidence of
excellent and unambiguous
communication, both internally and
externally
•
•
Ownership and accountability
•
•
Project or leadership experience
•
•
Demonstrated adaptability and willingness
to be flexible in management of tasks and
responsibilities
Evidence of innovative process
improvement, excellent problem solving
and decision making skills
Demonstrated willingness to take
ownership of problems, projects,
relationships, etc. – not to wait for others to
solve problems or offer solutions
Taking an active responsibility for their own
development in conjunction with their line
manager
Experience of working on or leading a team
for a complex journal/society or
process/departmental improvement
projects
Involved in delivering high-quality training
to colleagues (either for new starters or as
ongoing training)
What additional tasks will the Senior Content Manager take on?
These are outlined in the job description.
How can I be promoted to Senior Content Manager?
SCM promotion can be considered throughout the year and CMs are free to raise this with their
manager at any time. However this will happen generally on a biannual basis, around mid-year and
end of year reviews. The most common scenario will therefore be that your review (April and/or
November) you or your manager will raise this as an option and discuss the feasibility. You will then
work towards a development plan that enables you to meet any missing criteria and be promoted at
the next promotion round or prepare for the following year. If you believe you are ready or
interested in being a SCM now that we have provided this as an option then please speak to your
line manager.
Will promotion to Senior Content Manager only be available for a particular number of people?
No. Any CM who a manager believes is ready for promotion can be promoted if the case is approved
and in line with our budgets and financial considerations. SCMs will not be required to interview and
there can be more than one SCM in a local team or reporting to the same line manager.
Will there be a pay increase with promotion to SCM?
Yes. This will be conveyed to you by local managers.