Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Human Behaviour team)

Job title

Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Human Behaviour team)

Locations

Shanghai, Pune or New York (hybrid)

Closing date

20th November, 2026 (candidates will be considered as they apply)

About Springer Nature

Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit about.springernature.com and @SpringerNature.

About The Brand

Nature Portfolio’s high-quality journals and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences help move science and society forward.

Nature Portfolio is home to the leading, international weekly journal of science, Nature – founded in 1869. It is also home to the Nature research and Nature Reviews journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications , and open access journals including Scientific Reports . Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries.

Online, nature.com provides over nine million unique visitors per month with content, including news and comment from the Nature journal, and the leading scientific jobs board, Nature Careers. As part of Springer Nature, Nature Portfolio also offers a range of researcher services, including online and in-person training. For more information, please visit nature.com and follow @NaturePortfolio.

About The Role

Do you love science but feel that a career at the bench isn’t enough to sate your desire to learn more about the natural world? Do you enjoy reading papers outside your chosen area of research? If the answer is ‘yes’ to any or all of these questions, you could be the person we’re looking for to join the editorial team of Nature Communications.

Nature Communications is the leading multidisciplinary Open Access journal, publishing high-quality scientific research. To help us to build on the success of this journal, we’re seeking an editor with a critical eye, a deep understanding of their subject and interests beyond, and who can think on their feet. We are looking for a candidate with expertise in political science, economics, or a closely related discipline, and a research focus on understanding individual behaviour, to join the Human Behaviour team

The responsibilities include

• Handle original research manuscripts, applying critical scientific evaluation to assess quality, novelty, and suitability for publication while managing manuscript selection and peer review processes.

• Drive editorial excellence by delivering high-quality editorial services in accordance with journal standards, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and adherence to publication timelines.

• Collaborate closely with authors and reviewers to ensure a rigorous and transparent review process while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.•

• Serve as a key representative of the journal within the scientific community, engaging with researchers and industry experts to understand emerging trends, priorities, and publishing needs.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of editorial policies, peer review practices, and publishing processes to uphold scientific integrity and enhance the journal's impact and reputation.

• Build trusted partnerships with internal and external stakeholders while managing competing priorities and expectations, applying conflict management and relationship-building skills to drive alignment, resolve challenges, and ensure smooth editorial operations.

• Partner with the Chief Editor to execute the journal’s development strategy, leveraging market intelligence and a strategic mindset to identify growth opportunities, strengthen journal positioning, and support long-term objectives.

• Drive content development by proactively attracting high-quality submissions, commissioning reviews and special collections, and collaborating with the scientific community to advance impactful publishing initiatives and enhance journal influence.

• Develop compelling scientific and academic content to showcase published research, while contributing to a collaborative editorial culture by sharing expertise, supporting colleagues, and driving knowledge exchange across the Nature Portfolio editorial team.

To be considered for the position, you will have

• A PhD (or equivalent) in political science, economics, or a closely related field.

• Additional research experience is valuable but not necessary.

• A thorough understanding of recent trends and developments in the field is essential.

• A passion for science and a thirst to learn more. You must be able to demonstrate the breadth of your interest in scientific research, both within and beyond your speciality.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be fluent in English (written and spoken).

• The ability to read and assess the novelty, context and implications of research submitted to the journal from different areas of this discipline.

• Be eager to travel and meet scientists worldwide, learn more about them and their research, and help them learn more about us and what we are looking for in the papers we seek to publish.

• Editorial experience is not required, although applicants with significant editorial experience are encouraged to apply and will potentially be considered for Senior Editor positions.

This is a permanent position within the Nature Portfolio. The successful candidate will report to a Chief editor in the health and