Recruiting for Editor-in-Chief

Cybernetics and Systems

Deadline
31 January 2024

About the role

After many years of service, the Editor-in-Chief Prof. Robert Trappl is stepping down and the Journal is currently recruiting for a new Editor-in-Chief. This role is a great opportunity for an academic with a strong research background in the field of Cybernetics. The new Editor-in-Chief must have the commitment, drive and ability to develop and grow the journal.

As part of this role, you will be responsible for the oversight and administration of a rigorous and proper peer review process that delivers an agreed amount of content of suitable scope and quality within an agreed publication timeframe through use of the Journal’s online submission and peer review system, in accordance with the Taylor & Francis Editor Code of Conduct, with particular reference to Editorial ethics.

The Editor in Chief is responsible for the following activities:

  • Regular and confident use of an online peer review management system.
  • Taking initial decisions on whether each submitted article is within the Journal’s scope and is appropriate for further independent peer review.
  • Ensuring all Associate Editors and members of the Editorial Board register for, and use, the online peer review management system.
  • Encouraging independent experts to register for and use the online peer review management system in a reviewer capacity.
  • Ensuring all submitted manuscripts are considered in a prompt, consistent and professional manner.
  • Managing Associate Editors and/or reviewers when needed to ensure timely publication decisions.
  • Monitoring performance to ensure fair and prompt processing of submitted papers.
  • Reviewing suitability of referees.
  • Ensuring that authors, members of the Editorial Board, and referees/reviewers adhere to the Journal’s Guidelines on Publishing Ethics to assure the integrity and reputation of the Journal is maintained.
  • Reading and summarizing reviewer feedback, and making decisions about acceptance, rejection, or revision on referees’ reports, to ensure high quality peer review feedback is provided to authors as well as communicating this in writing to authors in a professional manner and within a reasonable period.
  • Requesting further reports for subsequently revised papers, communicating as necessary authors’ responses and arguments.
  • Liaising with Associate Editors (where applicable) to ensure workload is divided fairly, that their role and responsibility is understood and that expectations around turnaround and quality have been defined.
  • Communicating promptly, consistently and professionally with authors during the peer review and publication process.
  • Liaising promptly with Taylor & Francis staff and suppliers to implement necessary processes and improvements to the online peer review management system.

Alongside management of the peer review process, other responsibilities of the Journal Editor include:

  • Proactively and effectively managing the Journal’s Editorial Board, including refreshing its membership periodically to ensure appropriate expertise and diversity, providing members with updates, and arranging and leading Editorial Board meetings.
  • Acting proactively on any expressions of concern or allegations of research misconduct received about content published in the Journal, assisting and working with Taylor & Francis to resolve these according to the Journal’s Guidelines on Publishing Ethics.
  • Being actively involved in subject communities, identifying emerging research trends, and awareness and understanding of major developments in the publishing industry, such as open research and Open Access.
  • Taking part in a regular review of the Journal’s performance with Taylor & Francis to set strategic development and development goals, including the Journal’s Aims & Scope.
  • Being an ambassador to the journal, e.g by reaching out to Early Career Researchers to encourage and support authors in developing their work and submitting it to the Journal.
  • Planning and commissioning Article Collections for the Journal.

Becoming the editor of a journal is a rewarding and fulfilling experience where you have the opportunity to expand your network, shape the direction of the research in your field, promoting the most interesting findings, and be recognized as a leading figure within the academic community.

About the journal

Cover image - Cybernetics and Systems

Cybernetics and Systems aims to share the latest developments in cybernetics and systems to a global audience of academics working or interested in these areas. We bring together scientists from diverse disciplines and update them in important cybernetic and systems methods, while drawing attention to novel useful applications of these methods to problems from all areas of research, in the humanities, in the sciences and the technical disciplines. Showing a direct or likely benefit of the result(s) of the paper to humankind is welcome but not a prerequisite.

We welcome original research that:

  • Improves methods of cybernetics, systems theory and systems research
  • Improves methods in complexity research
  • Shows novel useful applications of cybernetics and/or systems methods to problems in one or more areas in the humanities
  • Shows novel useful applications of cybernetics and/or systems methods to problems in one or more scientific disciplines
  • Shows novel useful applications of cybernetics and/or systems methods to technical problems
  • Shows novel applications in the arts

The journal has an Impact Factor of 1.7 (Q4) and a CiteScore of 4.3 (Q2).

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Key Skills and Attributes

Ready to apply? Here are the essential skills and attributes we are looking for in a successful applicant:

  • Experience in academic publishing and familiarity with all stages of the process.
  • The capacity to devote time each week to the role, and to attend Editorial Board meetings and training sessions throughout each year as needed.
  • A willingness to proactively lead the journal’s Editorial Board, to include arranging and leading Editorial Board meetings.
  • The ability to ensure all submitted manuscripts are considered in a prompt, consistent and professional manner.
  • The ability to confidently use an online peer review management system and ensure members of the editorial team do the same.
  • Experience with working effectively with independent peer reviewers.
  • The ability to read, summarize, and make decisions based on independent reviewer reports.
  • A commitment to communicating promptly, consistently, and professionally with authors during the peer review process.
  • A commitment to engaging promptly and efficiently with Taylor & Francis staff and suppliers to implement necessary processes and improvements.
  • A strong commitment to ethical rigour as well as knowledge of the COPE guidelines and commitment to ensure that the journal adheres to strict ethical standards at all times.
  • A proven track record as a key opinion leader and known figure within your academic discipline.
  • Actively involved in growing and developing your academic networks through conference attendance and experience of networking through social media.
  • Knowledge of and commitment to the open access publishing environment.
  • A vision and enthusiasm for the continuous development of the journal.

Application Instructions

If you would like to apply for the position, please submit your CV, covering letter and vision statement for the journal via the link below by 31 January 2024.

Your Vision Statement should be no longer than 2 pages and include:

  1. Where you believe the field is going, and the Journal’s place within it,
  2. Your vision for the Journal in the next 3-5 years,
  3. How you would help maintain and increase the quality of submissions,
  4. Any changes you would wish to make to the Editorial Board and Aims and Scope.

For further information on the role, please contact Ishtiaque Shams ([email protected])

Apply

The journal is committed to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion within its editorial team and decision making processes. All applications will be treated as strictly confidential, and each will be judged on its merits without bias for seniority of institutional affiliation. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or protected veteran status, citizenship, or other protected characteristics.