Cambridge University Press wishes to appoint an editorial team to succeed Peter Dwyer and Sharon Wright as Joint Editors of Social Policy and Society from January 2011. The appointment will be made on the recommendation of the Editorial Board at its meeting in January 2010, and it is hoped that the new editors will work alongside Peter and Sharon from July 2010. The appointment is normally for a period of five years.

 

Social Policy and Society is a distinctive and important journal which is received by all members of the UK Social Policy Association. In addition it has a further 750 individual and institutional subscribers in 46 countries, with many more gaining access through consortia. In recent years it has enhanced its reputation by attracting a range of topical and cutting edge articles from both new and established researchers. The editorship thus represents an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the development of the subject.

 

It is the common experience of both Social Policy and Society and its sister journal, Journal of Social Policy, that the ‘joint editors’ model works well, and that it is not necessary for the joint editors to be based in the same institution. Cambridge provides funds for secretarial support and for a small honorarium for each of the joint editors.

 

The new team will wish to establish its own methods of working, but Peter and Sharon will be on hand to provide advice and support throughout the handover period. In addition, it may be possible to benefit from the existing administrative support arrangements.

 

The central requirement of an editorial team is that between them they have a broad knowledge of the subject area and of the social policy community. In addition, the Editorial Search Committee will be particularly interested to hear from colleagues with a clear commitment to the Association and its goals and values, and/or have successful experience of editing books or other publications. The Search Committee will also seek assurances that applicants would have the support of their institution or department were they to undertake what is now an important and demanding task.

 

 

Formal applications should be submitted to the Chair of the Editorial Board, Professor Alan Deacon, School of Sociology and Social Policy, Leeds LS2 9JT.

Email a.j.deacon@leeds.ac.uk

 

They should take the form of a letter from the prospective editorial team, which sets out how they plan to further develop the journal and pays particular attention to issues of content and strategic direction.  This should be accompanied by full CVs for both parties.