Trainee - Peer Review

The Peer Review Trainee will support the peer review and manuscript management process for academic journals using Sage Track. This is an entry-level role designed for individuals interested in scholarly publishing, editorial operations, and stakeholder management. The trainee will assist in ensuring the smooth progression of manuscripts through various stages of peer review while maintaining quality standards and delivering excellent service to authors, reviewers, and editors.

Key Responsibilities

Manuscript & Peer Review Support

• Assist in processing manuscript submissions and ensuring they meet journal requirements.
• Support reviewer invitation and assignment activities under team guidance.
• Monitor manuscript workflows and follow up on pending actions from authors, reviewers, and editors.
• Help maintain timely progression of manuscripts through the peer review process.

Quality Assurance & Post-Acceptance Support

• Verify author details and required documentation for accepted manuscripts.
• Perform basic quality checks on accepted files, references, and supporting materials.
• Support the preparation of accepted manuscripts for handover to production teams.

Stakeholder Communication

• Respond professionally to routine queries from authors, reviewers, editors, and internal teams.
• Maintain journal communication templates and records.
• Escalate technical or workflow-related issues to appropriate support teams.
• Deliver high-quality customer service to all stakeholders.

Reporting & Administration

• Maintain accurate records of manuscript activities and daily tasks.
• Update tracking reports and productivity dashboards.
• Assist in generating routine reports and operational summaries.
• Ensure data accuracy within manuscript management systems.

Team Collaboration

• Work closely with peers and team members to achieve operational targets.
• Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and process improvement initiatives.
• Support cross-functional projects and departmental activities as required.
• Contribute to a positive and collaborative work environment.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Good attention to detail and organizational abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Basic analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Customer-focused mindset with a proactive approach.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, particularly Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team.
• Willingness to learn new systems, processes, and publishing workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in any discipline.
• Fresh graduates or candidates with up to 1 year of experience are encouraged to apply.
• Knowledge of academic publishing, editorial processes, or manuscript management systems is an advantage but not mandatory.
• Strong interest in scholarly publishing and journal operations.

What You'll Gain

• Hands-on experience in academic publishing and peer review operations.
• Exposure to global journal workflows and editorial processes.
• Opportunity to develop stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Training on manuscript management systems and publishing best practices.
• Career growth opportunities within scholarly publishing and journal operations.