RAND is a not-for-profit research institute with over 30 years of experience in conducting policy research for governments, international organisations, research councils, charitable foundations, and other organisations. We believe that good research helps shape sound answers to pressing societal challenges, ultimately making communities safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous in the future. RAND Europe has approximately 180 staff across offices in Cambridge, Brussels, and the Netherlands.
We wish to recruit a Publications officer to work in our Cambridge office to work alongside the Head of Design and Production to produce high-quality publications that showcase RAND Europe's research. This role involves coordinating the entire process of creating our publications, ensuring that content meets client needs and aligns with our communication goals and brand guidelines. The Publications Officer collaborates with researchers, designers, and other stakeholders to maintain editorial standards and ensure deadlines are met. This position is crucial for enhancing the visibility of our research and effectively communicating key messages to our target audiences.
Key responsibilities
Coordination of the publications process
* Collaborate with researchers to plan and schedule forthcoming publications.
* Develop and oversees detailed production schedules, monitoring changes and assessing their impact on deadlines.
* Maintain an up-to-date publications tracker to ensure a clear and transparent workflow.
* Manage the editorial processes, including proofreading, copy-editing, and securing necessary approvals.
* Coordinate the collection of all required approvals and documentation prior to publication.
Quality assurance of publications
* Perform thorough quality checks on reports to ensure accuracy, consistency, and a professional standard across RAND Europe’s publications.
* Ensure all outputs comply with RAND Europe’s brand guidelines, style guide, and relevant academic conventions.
* Prepare final documents for publication, including embedding PDFs and conducting final formatting checks.
Content management and reporting
* Coordinate with the RAND US web team to post publications and related content on the RAND Europe website.
* Collaborate closely with researchers to develop and manage engaging content for research project pages, ensuring accuracy and alignment with broader strategic objectives.
* Maintain and update RAND Europe's intranet with key publications information.
* Regularly update and maintain RAND Europe publication templates.
* Register external publications in the RAND publication database.
* Produce management reports on the publications pipeline as required.
Compliance
* Ensures compliance with all company policies, including RAND Europe Management Systems and IMS standards.
Requirements
* Experience with content management systems (CMS) to upload, update, and manage website content, ensuring accuracy and adherence to brand guidelines.
* Ability to develop and manage schedules, coordinate workflows, and meet tight deadlines while handling multiple projects simultaneously.
* Strong interpersonal skills for working with researchers, stakeholders, and wider teams.
* Knowledge of how to apply brand guidelines, style guides, and academic conventions to maintain consistent and professional outputs.
* Familiarity with publishing tools (e.g., Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Office) and basic knowledge of formatting documents for digital and print publication.
* Meticulous approach to ensure the quality, consistency, and professionalism of publications.
* Experience in preparing documents for online publication.
* Experience in producing management reports to track publication pipelines and assess output performance.
* Familiarity with the academic or research environment, understanding publication processes, and managing sensitive data or approvals where necessary.
Qualifications
* Degree-level education with professional experience in publications or academia.
Salary
£28,000 - £32,000 Depending on experience
Benefits
* Pension - 8% Employer contribution;
* 33 days holiday allowance, including the Bank Holidays;
* Annual salary review;
* BUPA medical insurance;
* Generous company sick pay;
* Enhanced family friendly policies;
* Group income protection scheme;
* Group life assurance;
* Compassionate leave;
* Flexible working arrangements;
* Learning and development opportunities;
* Employee wellbeing training and support;
* Fresh fruit every day;
* Free on-site parking;
* Cycle to work scheme;
* Access to company bikes;
* Service awards.
How to Apply
If you believe you are suited to the above role, please submit an application comprising of a CV and covering letter. The closing date for applications is Sunday 12th January 2025, however applications will be reviewed as received and interviews may be conducted before the closing date.
If you have not been contacted within 30 days of application deadline, please assume your application has not been successful.