Job Overview

Job Title:  Head of Publishing Programmes

Contract: Full-time / permanent 

Salary: £90,000–£106,000, depending on experience

Location: 90 Whitfield Street, London W1T 4EZ (Hybrid)

Application Closing Date: 2nd July 2025

The Head of Publishing Programmes plays a critical role in driving the profitability of BMJ’s largest revenue stream while maintaining the quality and reputation of our brand.

This is a role for someone with a proven track record of delivering results. You will bring a strong understanding of the academic publishing landscape, sharp commercial instincts, and a relentless focus on performance. You will be a confident and strategic leader who can unite teams behind common goals, act decisively to maximise return on investment, and manage relationships with key partners.

Reporting to the Director of Customers and Markets Publishing and Events, you will:

1. Strategic Portfolio Management

• Manage BMJ’s portfolio of 60+ speciality journals, ensuring commercial performance is continuously assessed and improved.

• Make data-driven decisions on resource allocation, prioritising activities and titles with the highest return on investment.

• Define and implement KPIs in collaboration with Editorial, Operations, and Growth teams to maintain quality and profitability.

• Introduce a programmatic approach to journal development to boost visibility and impact within key Therapy Areas.

• Ensure all publishing contracts are streamlined, and negotiate and renew existing contracts with a view to optimising margins

2. Editorial and Operational Effectiveness

• Collaborate with internal Editorial and external editorial boards to develop and refine high-impact content strategies.

• Partner with Marketing and Growth teams to attract top-tier submissions and build a strong content pipeline.

• Monitor turnaround times and drive improvements through operational alignment.

• Set clear expectations for reduced complexity in the portfolio (e.g. standardised workflows and article types/lengths).

3. Partnerships and External Engagement

• Drive a culture of proactive, strategic relationship management to ensure contract renewals and deepen external partnerships (e.g. societies, institutions).

• Develop and execute a partnership engagement strategy with the Director of Partnerships to expand collaboration across BMJ’s wider publishing and events portfolio.

• Represent BMJ at industry events, staying ahead of market developments and emerging opportunities.

• Build trusted relationships with Editors and editorial boards to ensure alignment with business objectives.

4. Commercial and Financial Leadership

• Set and deliver financial targets for the publishing portfolio; regularly monitor journal performance and mitigate risks early.

• Conduct deep dives into underperforming titles to identify root causes and apply successful models from high-performing journals.

• Lead cost control and revenue optimisation efforts without compromising on quality or service.

• Balance requests for custom solutions with the need for portfolio standardisation while providing excellent service and ensuring renewal. 

5. Team Leadership and Organisational Alignment

• Lead a high-performing team of Publishers, fostering a culture of ownership, accountability, and commercial impact.

• Establish clear expectations and metrics for editorial board development, author retention, article growth, and editor succession planning.

• Ensure the operating model and team structure are fit for the portfolio’s strategic and financial goals.

• Ensure robust partnership and alignment with all relevant internal stakeholders (Growth team, Marketing, Product management, Commercial, Operations) 

Key Competencies and Experience

• Portfolio Management: Proven ability to take ownership of a large and complex product portfolio, with strong operational agility. Skilled in setting priorities, solving problems, and driving initiatives through to completion
• Revenue Strategy: Strong track record in identifying and unlocking growth opportunities, including driving submissions, increasing visibility, and improving the financial health of individual journals
• Journal Development: Experience launching or revitalising journals, with the ability to lead structured development plans aligned to business goals
• Deep Industry Knowledge: A thorough understanding of the STM sector, including its trends, challenges, and opportunities.
• Financial Acumen: Strong financial management skills, including the ability to optimise margins, manage budgets, and make data-driven financial decisions.
• Leadership Skills: Strong leadership and management abilities, including team building, talent development, and the ability to guide cross-functional teams.
• Negotiation & Relationship Building: Expertise in negotiating commercial and strategic partnerships, with a collaborative approach to sustaining long-term relationships.
• Global Perspective: Awareness of global academic publishing trends and the ability to operate in a global market.

Why work for us

Help us create a healthier world. We are a global healthcare knowledge provider. We publish The BMJ, one of the world’s most impactful medical journals and over 70 influential speciality journals. We offer digital tools to help health professionals worldwide tackle critical healthcare challenges. Find out more about us here.

Flexible Work and Workplace Perks

• Flexible work available to all employees: Remote first; Core hours; 9-day fortnight

• Discounted onsite gym and fitness classes 

Generous benefits

• Generous double-matching employer pension contribution, up to 12%

• Discounted dental and travel insurance

• Seven x salary life assurance cover and a generous income protection package

• Discounted gym membership, cycle-to-work and season ticket loan

• Discounts for retail and leisure products through yourReward 

Work-life balance and wellbeing

• Twenty-five days holiday + bank holidays + a BMJ Day off.

• Additional holiday through long service; buy up to 5 additional days 

• Leave for moving house, volunteering or getting married

• Concierge service Seniorcare by Lottie

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are not buzzwords to us, but fundamental company priorities

• We believe that a diverse workforce brings unique strengths and insights, enabling us to better serve our customers and drive positive change in our industry. 

• If you are from an under-represented or historically marginalised community, we are particularly interested in hearing from you. 

• Join our employee-led networks focusing on Gender, Race and Cultural Diversity, Sexual Orientation, Mental Health and Well-being, Parents and Carers and Age.

• Disability Confident Committed employer

Learning & Development

• Personal development plan 

• Mentoring scheme

• Career Coaching

• Opportunities to pursue professional development

• Strengths-based development