The Royal Musical Association invites applications for the post of Assistant Editor for both the Journal of the Royal Musical Association and Royal Musical Association Research Chronicle. You are invited to consult the RMA website for more information about the distinctive nature of the two journals, both of which are published by Cambridge University Press.

• The Journal of the Royal Musical Association (JRMA) is one of the major international refereed journals in the discipline. Founded 150 years ago (as the Association’s Proceedings) to advance ‘the art and science of music’, JRMA maintains a wide-ranging, inclusive interpretation of music studies that encompasses historical, cultural and critical musicology; theory and analysis; ethnomusicology; gender and sexuality; popular music and jazz studies; pedagogy; audiovisual media and practice-led research. Its editorial policy is to disseminate outstanding work across the evolving discipline, to communicate specialist perspectives to a broad readership, and to prompt new scholarly debate. Research articles published in JRMA have undergone rigorous double-anonymous peer review after initial screening by the Editors for quality and fit with the journal’s objectives. Further information about the aims and scope of the journal are available from the RMA website and the JRMA pages of the Cambridge University Press website.
• The Research Chronicle’s aim is to publish submissions from all areas of music research that make extensive use of primary sources such as recordings, digital-borne files, results of ethnographic work, and/or archival materials. The journal is published online, and submissions of any length (with a recommended length of up to 15,000 words), are considered, including short essays, position papers, forums and roundtables, and material in non-written formats such as video and audio. Submissions that make use of extensive apparatus such as indexes, catalogues, inventories and calendars are also welcome and can be in addition to the recommended article length. All articles published in the Research Chronicle undergo rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and refereeing by at least two anonymous referees. Further information about the aims and scope of the journal are available from the RMA website and the RMARC pages of the Cambridge University Press website.

Job Description

The Assistant Editor’s role is to sub-edit all articles, review-articles, reviews and other written content for both journals, following completion of editing. The key responsibilities and duties comprise:

• Copyediting of submissions to ensure they conform to the journals’ style guide and to address any remaining grammatical or expressive issues
• Liaising with authors to raise and resolve queries
• Liaising with the journal’s music setter to arrange processing of music examples and checking set music examples before submission to the publisher
• Liaising with the publisher before, during and after the production process; acting as the main channel of communication between journal and publisher staff
• Checking first proofs, revised proofs and issue proofs
• Liaising with the journal’s proofreader and collating proof corrections received from the proofreader and author

Person Specification

The Assistant Editor will be able to demonstrate the following essential knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications:

• Substantial experience of copyediting academic text, music and illustrative material to a professional standard for a leading academic publisher
• Excellent communication skills and experience in applying such skills in both academic and professional working environments, and with both junior and senior colleagues
• Exceptional command of written and spoken English and of academic writing styles in the English language
• A minimum of a first degree that includes Music
• Broad-ranging knowledge of the discipline of musicology enabling them to engage critically with musicological subjects ranging from the ancient to the contemporary, across all genres and in the context of both Western and non-Western musics
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy and consistency appropriate for the highest standards of academic writing
• Ability to work to tight deadlines
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

The following knowledge, skills and experience are desirable for the post:

• Demonstrable research experience in musicology to postgraduate level
• Good reading knowledge and understanding of one or more languages in addition to English

The Assistant Editor is offered remuneration at £10 per page. While the number of pages published annually within each journal inevitably varies, the current total annual page count across all issues of both journals is approximately 700–750 pages. This is a remote-working post, and we welcome both UK-based and international applicants.  Previous applicants to the post are not required to reapply.

Informal enquiries should be directed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Dr Caroline Rae (rae@cardiff.ac.uk).

Applications should be sent by email to Dr Rae marked Application for Assistant Editor JRMA & RMARC and should include a CV, a covering letter outlining the details of the candidate’s relevant experience in relation to the person specification, and the names and contact details of two referees. The deadline for applications is 23 September 2024.  Interviews will be held online in mid-October.

We particularly encourage applications that reflect the full diversity of music studies and from individuals who self-identify as members of groups that are often under-represented in the RMA and music academia more broadly.