Jobs@PLoS

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit advocacy and publishing organization located in the China Basin area of San Francisco, California. We publish a growing collection of Open Access scientific and medical journals whose complete contents are freely available online. Our long-term goals are to create an online "public library of science" containing every scientific and medical paper ever published, and to develop the information technologies needed to maximize the value of this resource. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

The Public Library of Science and its publications continue to expand. Currently, we are seeking talented candidates for the following positions:

Production Coordinator

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is headquartered in San Francisco and committed to making the world’s scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of 80, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS’ distinguished board of directors is led by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. In under six years, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is an open-access publisher and advocacy organization with offices in San Francisco, California, and Cambridge, United Kingdom, whose mission is to make scientific and medical literature a public resource.

Production Coordinator

We are currently seeking a Production Coordinator to format, manage, and provide quality control for electronic manuscript files and graphics accepted for publication. You will perform light copyediting tasks, prepare files for composition and will be responsible for tracking files in multiple stages of production. In addition, you will work with authors to ensure that all submissions are complete and that files are usable, and with the Lead Production Coordinator to execute timely publication of articles. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, highly organized, and able to work well with the other members on the team.

Specific responsibilities include:

  • Performing quality control and light copyediting on text files and article metadata
  • Ensuring that figures and tables meet publication requirements
  • Checking proofs and web files before final publication

Qualifications and experience required:

  • Organizational skills (strong ability to manage deadlines and coordinate tasks)
  • Graphics experience (proficiency with Adobe software, understanding of basic digital media concepts such as resolution and file types, ability to manipulate images and files comfortably)
  • Good communication skills
  • Language ability (knowledge of grammar and attention to detail in proofreading)
  • Ability to learn and enforce style and formatting rules
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and basic knowledge of XML or HTML
  • Experience with scientific and medical publications and/or other publishing preferred

PLoS offers a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program. If interested, please send a resume and cover letter to: jobs@plos.org and use "Production Coordinator PLoS ONE" as the subject line of your e-mail. Please indicate in your cover letter your earliest available starting date. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only – email from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

Application Specialist Contractor

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is headquartered in San Francisco and committed to making the world’s scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of 80, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is led by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. In under six years, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

PLoS is an open-access publisher and advocacy organization with offices in San Francisco, California, and Cambridge, United Kingdom, whose mission is to make scientific and medical literature a public resource.

Description

This role will report to the Publishing Systems Analyst. The Application Specialist will train in the journal management system (JMS) used by PLoS to provide first level support to internal staff, perform data cleanup on the existing system, assist with report creation and modification, and create documentation for the use of the software.

Responsibilities

  • Support
    • Work directly with internal staff to troubleshoot and resolve issues with and related to the JMS
    • Track common issues and communicate systemic problems
    • Identify and escalate critical system issues
  • Data Cleanup
    • Perform data cleanup on existing projects
    • Verify data validity through spot checking and running verification reports
    • Analyze data sets and identify/propose additional data cleanup projects
  • Reporting
    • Modify existing SQL queries as necessary to meet organizational reporting needs
    • Create new reports to validate data cleanup projects
  • Documentation
    • Record common system issues and develop documentation to provide staff with best practices to resolve
    • Update existing documentation as processes change
    • Create historical record of project decisions

Skills Desired

  • Ability to write new and interpret existing SQL database queries (e.g. select statements, inner and outer joins)
  • Basic knowledge of HTML
  • Experience in programming concepts/data structures (PHP and Perl experience a plus)
  • Proficient in Windows and MS Office products
  • Works well with users (friendly and patient) to solve complex problems
  • Self motivated, creative problem solver who is able to work to a deadline and cares highly about the quality of his or her work
  • Proven writing skills, demonstrating the ability to communicate complex material clearly and logically

This is a contract job. If interested, please send a resume and cover letter to: jobs@plos.org and use "Application Specialist Contractor" as the subject line of your e-mail. Please indicate in your cover letter your earliest available starting date. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only—email from recruiters will be ignored.

Java Web Programmer

Do want to join a revolution? Do you believe in Open Source and the Open Access movement? Do you want to blow open the doors to scientific communication? If you have Java and Web 2.0 development skills under your belt, then we want YOU!

About the Public Library of Science

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is headquartered in San Francisco and committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of 80, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is led by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. Over the last several years, we have launched a number of prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is an open-access publisher and advocacy organization with offices in San Francisco, California, and Cambridge, United Kingdom, whose mission is to make scientific and medical literature a public resource.

What will I do?

We are seeking an Agile Java Web Developer to implement front end functionality for our new collaborative research application using a variety of technologies. You will participate in daily scrums as part of our agile development approach and work directly with our architect to implement the new application. This is a great opportunity to work with senior developers and learn how to build a product from the ground up. You will get your hands into design, implementation and technical support. All of this in support of the revolution of scientific communication.

What skills are required?

  • 3 - 5 years of professional Java programming experience.
  • Strong OO design skills and an understanding of Design Patterns.
  • Web development using a variety of frameworks for presentation and persistence.
  • SQL skills.
  • Must have an aptitude for learning unfamiliar technologies.
  • Excellent communication (written and verbal) and organizational skills.
  • Works well both in a team and individually.
  • Intellectual curiosity, positive attitude and dedication to the job.

What other skills would help?

  • Understanding of Struts, Spring, AJAX, Hibernate.
  • Active in an Open Source software project.
  • Experience working with Java Portlets.

Education

  • BS/MS degree in Computer Science or equivalent.

Application Procedure

PLoS offers a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program. If interested, please send a resume and cover letter to: jobs@plos.org and use the job title as the subject line of your e-mail. Only local candidates accepted. (San Francisco Bay Area) - no relocation provided. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only - e-mail from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

PLoS Hubs Community Manager

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a mission driven non-profit headquartered in San Francisco. It is committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of around 80, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is led by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. Since 2003, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

Description

PLoS Hubs will be a community managed platform that facilitates the aggregation of research papers, data and analysis tools, and other content. The product is still in the early stages of development with a pilot to be launched Q3 of this year. The PLoS Hubs Community Manager will be expected to help establish the best way to build community among scientists and develop community guidelines that best meet the needs of both PLoS and the users.

The PLoS Hubs Community Manager is part of the PLoS Product Management team and is responsible for the oversight and community development aspects of the Hubs, and is the primary PLoS contact for the editors and users of the Hubs. The Community Manager works with user communities to help set up, maintain, and engage their members. The Community Manager will work across all Hubs on the Platform.

Specific responsibilities

  • Supporting the Hub members, to ensure that the Hub fulfills the needs of their community as far as possible. This entails working with Hubs Curators, Steering Committees and Hubs members.
  • Encouraging participation by the Hubs members, and providing support.
  • Identifying and analyzing issues, patterns and trends in member request.
  • Representing PLoS across and within the various Hubs.
  • Exploring online community activity beyond the Hub, and identifying ways to link the Hub to new activity.
  • Keeping abreast of new developments and helping to prioritize feature development for PLoS Hubs.
  • Developing Community Guidelines. Ensuring that Hubs information pages are accurate and up to date.
  • Developing and hosting opportunities for Hubs members to meet and collaborate online and in the real world.
  • Working with other PLoS staff as needed to navigate the occasional troubled waters (ie, abuse mitigation).

Required skills and experience

  • 5+ years experience managing and moderating online communities, preferably where scientists are the primary user group.
  • 3+ years experience working with a team developing web-based communities or social software.
  • A proactive and creative approach to problem solving, an interest in scholarly publishing and/or scientific research.
  • A college degree is required, a background in science is highly preferred.
  • Superb communication skills.
  • Broad knowledge of web2.0 technology and services.
  • Has maintained a weblog or other online personal site.
  • An understanding of web development and web functionality, to be able to explain processes to user and understand bug reports.
  • Sound judgment.

Application Procedure

PLoS offers competitive salaries, a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program. If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@plos.org and use the job title "Community Manager" as the subject of your e-mail. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only - e-mail from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

PLoS Project Manager

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a mission driven non-profit headquartered in San Francisco. It is committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of around 80, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is led by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. Since 2003, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

Description

In order to successfully complete specific project goals and objectives and to facilitate better communication across our Organization, the Public Library of Science has identified the need to hire an experienced Project Manager.

The PLoS Project Manager is part of the Product Management team and owns the task of internally communicating project reports across the Organization and is also responsible for managing a wide array of specific projects according to established project processes.

Specific responsibilities

  • Establish project plans for existing and new projects, creating timelines, identifying key milestones and deliverables.
  • Facilitate project team meetings, communicate changes to scope and direction, and keep individuals aware of their commitments and timelines.
  • Refine project management processes to organize, track and manage existing and new projects.
  • Maintain management level project "dashboard" report that 1) identifies all the projects currently underway and 2) describes the overall status of these projects including schedule, cost, and scope while highlighting potential risks and/or issues.
  • Facilitate the project approval process to filter and report on project proposals based on priority, alignment with strategic organizational objectives, return on investment; resources needs.
  • Develop project deliverables including documentation, project plans, and identify risks and the success factors of the individual projects consistent with project methodology to ensure on-time and on-budget implementations.
  • Provide monthly level executive summary of project activity.
  • Act as centralized repository for cross-organizational information (i.e. features.
  • Coordinate agenda and facilitate key regular internal meetings for the purpose of information sharing and status reports.

Required skills and experience

  • 5+ years experience in project management.
  • 3+ years experience working with a team developing web-based products.
  • A proactive and creative approach to problem solving, deep understanding of project management principles, tools and methodologies.
  • Superb communication skills.
  • A familiarity with Agile software development methodologies.
  • Sense of humor.

Application Procedure

PLoS offers competitive salaries, a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program. If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@plos.org and use the job title "Project Manager" as the subject of your e-mail. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only - e-mail from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

Publications Assistant - PLoS ONE

The Public Library of Science currently seeks an energetic and committed person for the entry-level position of Publications Assistant for the open access academic journal PLoS ONE (currently the largest academic journal in the world and undergoing rapid growth) . This full-time position in our San Francisco office provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the changing publishing environment and contribute to a dynamic and mission-driven not-for-profit organization that is part of the free-knowledge/free-culture movement.

As a member of the editorial team, the Publications Assistant is organized and conscientious, handling day to day tasks to ensure the smooth running of the journal. Key tasks include assisting authors and reviewers with the submission system and supporting the professional editors working for the journal.

PLoS ONE is one of seven journals published by the Public Library of Science (PLoS), an open-access publisher and advocacy organization with offices in San Francisco, California, and Cambridge, United Kingdom. Our mission is to make the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to read, download, copy, and distribute.

PLoS has a team of 100, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is led by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. Since the Fall of 2003 PLoS has launched prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

Responsibilities include:

  • Operating our online peer-review software to facilitate the peer review process for the journal.
  • Assisting authors, reviewers, and academic editors by answering queries by email and phone, uploading files, ensuring a timely peer review process.
  • Supporting the editors in the San Francisco and Cambridge offices.
  • Communicating issues raised by our production team to authors.
  • Fielding questions from scientists, members of the public and the press about the journal.

Required experience and skills:

  • Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
  • Organizational skills (especially the ability to prioritize and multitask).
  • Technical proficiencies (especially knowledge of Excel, Word, file types, and file conversions).
  • A hardworking and conscientious approach with close attention to detail.
  • Ability to work as part of a team.
  • A university degree (preferably in a scientific discipline).
  • An interest in science, medicine and publication ethics.
  • This is not a writing job.

Starting salary is around $30K (depending on qualifications and experience).

PLoS offers a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program. If interested, please send a resume and cover letter to: jobs@plos.org and use "Publications Assistant - PLoS ONE" as the subject line of your e-mail. Please indicate your earliest available starting date in your cover letter. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only - e-mail from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/ and for PLOS ONE visit http://www.plosone.org.