Job Overview

Job Title: Journals Launch Specialist

Contract: Permanent (full-time)

Salary: £54,711 - £60,791 (DOE)

Location: London - Hybrid

Application Closing Date: Friday 9th January 2026

Job Purpose:

The Journal Launch Specialist will support the Launch Excellence Manager in the operational and project management of new journal launches and acquisitions. This new role is focused on the day-to-day project management of individual journal launches and will be a key part of the new Launch team. This position is crucial for supporting the company's growth strategy by ensuring the successful setup and development of new journals from launch through their first year.

Key Tasks:

• Support the launch and acquisition of multiple journals at any one time, ensuring they stay on schedule, within budget, and meet launch KPIs.

• Work closely with the Launch Excellence Manager to oversee and report on the journal launch pipeline.

• Work as part of a matrix with the Publishing team and regularly meet with team managers and attend Publishing team meetings to ensure consistency in journal development and adherence to publishing best practice. 

• Chair journal launch meetings and ensure that all timelines and actions are completed by their deadlines.

• Collaborate with various internal departments, including Digital, Systems, Production, Marketing to ensure the optimal launch and post-launch success of new journals.

• Support proposal generation and the ‘transition in’ of journal contract acquisitions.

• Support the development of business cases for new journals including working with Publishers, and getting buy-in from a wide range of stakeholders.

• Create and implement journal development plans for launches.

• Consult with Publishers to find and recruit Editors-in-Chief and editorial board members for new journals in existing therapy areas. Lead process for new therapy areas.

• Collaborate with Content Development Specialists and Transfer Editors to build a healthy content pipeline and optimize the article cascade journey for new journals.

• Partner with Marketing and Community Managers to build a community of authors and peer reviewers.

• Manage journals up to the first year post-launch to ensure consistent focus on development and growth.

• Financial management of journals in new therapy areas, including reviewing budgets, forecasts and cost control 

• Contribute to the update and iteration of launch and acquisition templates and procedures.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications  

• Educated to degree level, or with equivalent qualification or experience. 

• Experience of working in an STM publishing environment with experience of project management, development and journals’ finance.

• Experience of launching journals is highly desirable.

• Good understanding of the key publishing disciplines of sales, marketing, financial management, technology and business development, and a working knowledge of print and online journal production.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work with people at all levels of seniority.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including good presentation skills to a range of audiences.

• Strong computer literacy and familiarity with online research e.g. citation analysis.

• Excellent organisational skills including the ability to handle multiple projects.

• Self motivated and output oriented.

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

• We’re committed to flexible working that supports both your needs and the requirements of the role.

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