Term: January 2027–December 2029
How to Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume to oha@oralhistory.org
Application Deadline: September 15, 2026
The Managing Editor role is a part-time, remote position that includes a $4,000 annual stipend and generally includes travel support to attend the OHA annual meeting.
Job Description
The managing editor is the senior operations leader of the Oral History Review (OHR), the scholarly
journal of the Oral History Association, a publication that serves as the journal of record for the field of oral
history in the U.S. with an increasingly significant international presence and reputation. As the primary
coordinator of the journal’s editorial and production team, the managing editor reports to and works
collaboratively with the editor while managing the copy and review editors and acting as the primary contact
with the publisher. In short, the managing editor oversees the day-to-day operations of the journal, while
also actively participating in its development. Because the Oral History Review is published biannually, the
volume of editorial work varies throughout the publication cycle. The managing editor’s role is an ongoing
commitment that requires sustained engagement with the journal throughout the year.
Duties of the Managing Editor:
- Runs the journal’s operations; manages editorial workflow and deadlines; manages the editorial
team’s Trello site - Supervises copyeditor, book review and media review editors; works (as necessary) with the review
editors on final edit of reviews - Meets regularly with the editor to review submissions, editorial decisions, production schedules,
staffing, and other matters affecting the journal - Organizes monthly staff meetings
- Uses the publisher’s manuscript management platforms, ScholarOne and Central Article Tracking
System (CATS), to move article submissions through the phases of peer review, editing, and
production; collaborates with other members of the team as necessary to ensure articles move
through the process promptly - Coordinates with the publisher regarding production schedules, issue assembly, publication
timelines, and proofs - Ensures that the OHR has a relevant cover image/design for each issue, and that the cover design
meets the specs for publication; ensures the Inside Front Cover (IFC) information is correct for
each issue (masthead, captions and photo credits for cover images); writes up and sends the Table
of Contents (TOC) to copyeditor - Handles primary administrative communication with authors; responds to queries regarding
submission procedures & publication timelines, and provides guidance on journal formatting - Works with editor on manuscripts; co-conducts initial vetting of article submissions; undertakes
developmental editing of articles that are accepted for publication with the Editor, including guiding
authors in necessary revisions that result from the peer review process; co-manages peer review
process - Attends the OHA annual meeting in October; works with publisher and OHA Executive Office to
ensure that the OHR has a table and that copies of the print issue are available. - Acts as the liaison with OHA Council as necessary
- The managing editor may also, alongside the editor: solicit work to be published in the journal;
develop special issues and sections; attend virtual meetings with editorial board (up to three times a
year), and help constitute the board; compile, write & present the Semi-Annual Reports for OHA
Qualifications & Skills:
- Thorough knowledge of and demonstrated passion for the field of oral history
- Excellent editorial skills, with strong attention to clarity, accuracy, consistency, and detail
- Outstanding interpersonal, organizational, and managerial skills, with the ability to manage the
many activities, deadlines, and constituencies of a scholarly journal - Ability to work independently while also taking direction, collaborating effectively, and providing
leadership as part of a team - Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build productive working
relationships with editors, authors, reviewers, the publisher, and members of the broader oral
history community - Technological proficiency and adaptability for both computer software & web-based applications