Publisher: Scholarly Books

Durbanville, South Africa | Posted on 11/09/2026

AOSIS is a scholarly publisher committed to advancing research, education and knowledge dissemination through high-quality open-access publishing.

We are seeking an experienced and commercially aware Publisher:
Scholarly Books to take accountability for our Scholarly Books publishing programme. The successful candidate will develop the publishing pipeline, evaluate proposals, build strategic scholarly relationships, oversee peer review, make sound editorial decisions and safeguard the quality and integrity of our publications.

This is a senior publishing role requiring independent judgement, programme leadership and the ability to build trusted relationships with authors, volume editors, series editors, universities, research institutions and other scholarly partners.

The Publisher is accountable for the quality, development and sustainability of the Scholarly Books programme and serves as the principal editorial decision-maker for book publications.

You will identify and develop publishing opportunities, evaluate proposals, manage important author and institutional relationships, oversee scholarly peer review and provide final editorial and publication approval. You will work with publishing operations colleagues and specialist contractors to ensure that approved titles progress through production in accordance with AOSIS quality, ethical and publication standards.

The role is suited to an experienced scholarly publishing professional who can combine editorial judgement with relationship development, strategic thinking and personal accountability.

• Develop and maintain a sustainable pipeline of scholarly books, edited volumes and thematic series.
• Identify suitable publishing opportunities aligned with the strategic direction of AOSIS.
• Evaluate book proposals for scholarly quality, programme fit, feasibility and publication potential.
• Commission appropriate new titles and support the development of suitable proposals.
• Build relationships with authors, volume editors, series editors, researchers and scholarly communities.
• Identify opportunities for institutional publishing partnerships and new scholarly series.
• Contribute to annual publishing programme objectives and growth priorities.
• Represent AOSIS in relevant scholarly and publishing networks, conferences and events when required.

• Take editorial ownership of assigned scholarly book projects.
• Guide authors and editors from proposal development through peer review, revision and final editorial approval.
• Define the expertise required from peer reviewers and approve reviewer selections.
• Evaluate manuscripts, peer-review reports and author responses.
• Make or recommend decisions regarding revision, acceptance or rejection.
• Approve manuscripts for progression to production.
• Assess and approve material changes to scholarly content.
• Apply sound, consistent and well-documented editorial judgement.

• Oversee scholarly peer review in accordance with publishing policies and recognised ethical standards.
• Safeguard the independence, integrity and credibility of editorial decision-making.
• Identify and manage conflicts of interest.
• Address authorship concerns, research integrity matters and other publication ethics issues.
• Resolve complex editorial, policy and scholarly disputes.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality throughout proposal evaluation and peer review.
• Support continuous improvement of peer-review and publishing quality policies.

• Serve as a senior publishing contact for authors, volume editors, series…