The essentials …
- Permanent, full-time (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
- £27,000 per year
- Hybrid working with 2 days a week in our Bath office
The Geological Society Publishing House has an exciting opportunity within our publishing team to provide wide-ranging administrative support for editorial development team activities and project work. Utilise Editorial Manager and online content platform systems to support provision of guidelines for contributors and setting up of new titles and collections.
Who are we?
Founded in 1807, we are the oldest geological society in the world. Today, we are a world-leading communicator of Earth science – through publishing, library and information services, cutting-edge scientific conferences, education activities and outreach to the general public. We also provide impartial scientific information and evidence to support policy-making and public debate about the challenges facing humanity.
We have a membership (Fellowship) of c. 12,000, more than 2,000 of whom are based outside the UK. Approximately 3,000 are Chartered Geologists or Chartered Scientists - professionals who have demonstrated a high level of technical competence in their field and a commitment to professional ethics.
We have been a major publisher within the community since 1811. An independent and international publisher, we are dedicated to providing a high-quality service to geoscientists globally and any surplus is invested to support our discipline. We publish a diverse range of books and journals on the Lyell Collection, with over 10,000 pages of new peer-reviewed geoscience literature being made available every year.
Overall responsibilities / requirements …
Editorial development:
Wide-ranging support for staff and activities, to include:
- Support for commissioning processes, to include:
- Research and data collection
- Profiling online sources such as conference schedules, departmental websites …
- Identifying and collecting contact details for potential leads
- Use of bibliographic databases such as Dimensions (for data collection)
- Reporting (data collection and compilation): annual reports, reports for partners, read and publish usage, Top Reviewers, and others
- Support for meetings of Editorial Boards and Publication and Information Committee: coordinating meeting dates, compiling meeting papers and resources, recording meeting minutes
- Gathering feedback from external collaborators, including administration of editor surveys
- Proposal review process for new books and thematic collections: researching and inviting reviewers and collating comments from reviewers and editors
Editorial projects and resources:
- Coordinating the process for contracting new book volumes, in collaboration with Books Commissioning Editor
- Setting up new book volumes and journal thematic collections via Editorial Manager system and Lyell Collection online platform
- Support the provision of editor training on use of EM, in collaboration with Publishing Coordinators and Journal Development Editor / Commissioning Editor
- Support maintenance of online guidelines for editorial contributors via Publishing Support Hub, in collaboration with Pub Hub Advisory Group
- Ad hoc support for copyright permissions process, including liaising with authors towards clearing figure and personal communications, as required
- Market research and data collection for editorial projects. Examples may include AI for publishing, research integrity, tenders and proposals, new partnerships (books)
General:
- Support for Editor and Authors newsletters – coordinating schedule and content, liaising with editorial and marketing colleagues
- Any other tasks that can be reasonably requested
What we’re looking for …
- Educated to A-level or degree level
- Good IT proficiency (particularly spreadsheets) and full familiarity with the normal range of office software
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Excellent administrative, organisational and time management skills
- Some general knowledge of, and interest in, the publishing process would be helpful
The duties and responsibilities highlighted in this Job Description are indicative and may vary over time. As required, post holders are expected to undertake other duties and responsibilities relevant to the nature, level and scope of the post.
A bit about us …
The Geological Society is a registered charity and employs just under 60 staff at its offices in London and Bath. The Society Publishing House is based in Bath, from where we provide a full publishing service to an international geoscience community across a portfolio of books, journals, and associated products.
As an employee conscious company, we invest in our staff by emphasising training, growth and progression in every role. We firmly believe in creating a positive workplace wellbeing culture and offer a range of benefits to our staff including:
- 25 days basic holiday entitlement, increasing up to 30 days with continued service (pro-rated for part-time staff)
- Option to purchase up to 2 days extra holiday days per year
- Contributary pension scheme with 10% employer contribution
- Access to 24/7 online GP with mental health & wellbeing counselling
- Free premium Headspace account for you and 2 members of friends/family
- Discounts and recognitions scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Season Ticket Loan scheme
- Life Assurance and Income Protection schemes
- Free access to Royal Academy exhibitions
- Free Geological Society Fellow membership for qualified staff
The Society is committed to fostering an inclusive culture that promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a harmonious inclusive environment in which the rights and dignity of all its members visitors and staff are respected. We are an equal opportunities employer and the post-holder will be expected to adhere to and support the Society’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.
How to apply …
To apply for this position, please click the 'Apply' button to be re-directed to our website. Please ensure that your cover letter highlights your experience in no more than 500 words.
As part of our inclusive recruitment initiative, we have introduced the concept of anonymous recruiting in order to evaluate applicants solely on their skills and experience. With this in mind, we encourage you to:
- Anonymise your application by stating only your initials in your CV (including your file name) and cover letter
- State your initials only and job title you are applying for in the subject line when sending your application
- Ensure that you have included your contact email and number, as well as dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the indicative timetable
Please let us know if you will require any special provisions to be made should you be called for an interview. We regret that unsuccessful candidates will not be contacted.
All applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
To support Earth scientists, grow interest in the natural world, and connect science, the profession and society.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Role: Head of People
Salary: £55,080 per year
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Bath
Additional information:
- The role will involve occasional evening working, including attending board meetings from time to time.
- Some travel across our South West area of operations will be required as part of the role.
This vacancy will close on 18th May 2026, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to first‑stage interviews on 26th May 2026.
About Julian House:
Julian House is a charity dedicated to making a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society. We run several projects and every year we help thousands of people out of homelessness, into employment, away from domestic abuse, and more.
If you’d like a real sense of job satisfaction, great career prospects and a competitive benefits package, you could be who we’re looking for!
About the Role:
The Head of People is a pivotal role at the heart of Julian House, shaping the organisation through its most important asset, its people. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the Chief Executive, you’ll lead our people strategy, culture, and workforce development, ensuring we have the capability, capacity, and values‑led culture needed to deliver our mission.
This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and compassionate leader who understands how great people practices drive social impact. You’ll provide senior leadership across HR, recruitment, volunteering, organisational development, and culture, helping to build a high‑performing, inclusive organisation where people feel supported, empowered, and able to thrive in a demanding environment.
You’ll play a critical role in embedding Julian House’s values, strengthening leadership capability, and creating a positive workplace where staff and volunteers feel engaged, valued, and proud of the difference they make. This is a rare opportunity to lead meaningful change and help a mission‑driven charity continue to grow and succeed through its people.
Please refer to our application pack and job description for full details around the role.
What you’ll be doing:
- Lead and shape our People Strategy, ensuring it aligns with our organisational goals, values, and long‑term ambitions, and that our people are fully supported to deliver meaningful impact.
- Build leadership capability at every level, designing and embedding leadership and management development programmes that support confident, values‑led leadership across the organisation.
- Oversee recruitment, HR operations, volunteering, and people processes, working closely with the HR Manager and wider People Team to deliver high‑quality, responsive support.
- Champion robust, modern employment policies, ensuring they remain legally compliant, up to date with best practice, and reflective of Julian House’s values and culture.
- Coach and advise leaders, providing trusted guidance that builds confidence, strengthens people‑management skills, and supports teams to thrive in a demanding environment.
Please note: Job descriptions are not exhaustive, and the successful candidate may occasionally be asked to take on other duties that align with the key responsibilities outlined.
What we’re looking for:
- Significant senior‑level experience in People / HR leadership, with a proven track record of overseeing employee relations, people operations, and leading cultural and organisational change.
- Strong knowledge of HR best practice and employment law, alongside experience in organisational development, workforce wellbeing, and using people data and insights to inform decision‑making.
- Strategic and forward‑thinking, with the ability to translate vision into practical, impactful actions that support teams and strengthen organisational performance.
There are many great reasons to join our team!
- Access to our Rewards Platform, which includes an Employee Assistance Programme and Health Cash Plan
- 27 days annual leave, including an extra day off for your birthday, plus bank holidays - increasing up to 30 days after 4 years of continuous employment (pro rata for part-time staff)
- 30% staff discount at Julian House charity shop
- A generous and competitive pension scheme
- A supportive culture where staff feedback is highly valued and regular supervisions with line managers are conducted
- Great opportunities for career development and free monthly training sessions from experienced facilitators
- For all the fantastic and valuable work, you’ll be doing, you’ll be eligible for the Blue Light Card which offers amazing discounts on thousands of brands
Our Ethos
As an Equal Opportunities employer, we have an Equality and Diversity Action plan in place showing our commitment in ensuring continuous improvement in creating an inclusive culture. We also have a committed group of Inclusion & Diversity champions who meet monthly to ensure progress is being made. We invite applications from people from all backgrounds and cultures, especially minority groups that are underrepresented in the workplace. We also welcome applications from those with lived experience. We embrace flexibility and are proud to be a Disability Confident and Mindful employer, as well as an Armed Forces Covenant Supporter.
If you have any special access requirements or other support needs throughout the application process (including interview), please contact us so that we can let you know how we can support you. We accept CVs and applications in all formats.
DBS Checks
We welcome applications from people with lived experience. All applicants working with our clients will be expected to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. A criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent you from becoming an employee, the decision will depend on the type of offence and its relevance to the role. If you would like to discuss any convictions you may have, please contact the person named in the advert. All information will be dealt with according to our Data Protection Policy.
Please note: We reserve the right to close our vacancies once the perfect candidate has been found. We recommend submitting your application as soon as possible so that you don’t miss out!
