Wanted: Editor-in-Chief for Quality of Life Research

Here's an announcement I thought the readers here might need to know about:

Search for a New Editor-in-Chief for Quality of Life Research

Quality of Life Research (QLR) is the official journal of the International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL), and is one of the key international outlets for research in health-related quality of life and health outcomes. The journal is published 10 times a year by Springer, one of the largest publishers of scientific books and journals. On average, the journal receives approximately 550 manuscript submissions per year, and publishes approximately 130 manuscripts per year.

The journal editorial board is currently composed of an editor-in-chief (EiC), and 12 associate editors (AE’s) representing a broad range of professional disciplines and research areas. The EiC is responsible for overall editorial policy, planning and coordination. The day-to-day responsibilities of the EiC include: (1) initial screening of manuscript submissions for relevance and quality; (2) assignment of manuscripts to members of the editorial board (including him/herself) for further peer review; (3) maintaining close contact with the editorial office at Springer, which coordinates the logistics of the editorial management process; (4) advising the editorial board and the editorial management team on matters arising both of a general policy nature, and regarding specific manuscripts; and (5) serves as a non voting member of the ISOQOL Board. The term is for 3 years with the possibility of one successive 3 year term.

The editorial management process – from initial manuscript submission to final editorial decision – is now fully automated, making use of Editorial Manager, a sophisticated, web-based system. The Springer team provides excellent logistical support to the EiC and the AE’s.

The next EiC will take the lead of an already outstanding and well functioning journal. At the same time, the incoming EiC will be expected to put his/her own imprint on the journal. There will be opportunities to expand or shift the editorial focus of the journal, and to create new journal features. Importantly, the responsibilities and tasks of the EiC are primarily scientific in nature; responsibility for the business and financial management of the journal rest with the publisher and the ISOQOL board and executive management team.

The journal is seeking an EiC with a strong scientific background in the field of health-related
quality of life and health outcomes research, with a keen interest in and commitment to a rigorous but equitable peer-review process, and preferably with previous editorial experience. (S)he should be in a position to commit a substantial and sustained amount of time (minimally, 10 hours per week) to the journal. Although the EiC and the AE’s receive a small annual honorarium, all positions on the editorial board of QLR are essentially voluntary in nature.

The current planning is to have the new EiC take over the helm of the journal in June of 2009.

Applications for the EiC position should be sent to: Laura Degnon via email (Laura@degnon.org) by February 1, 2009. The application should include a cover letter describing the applicants’ interest in the position, outlining his/her ideas for the future of the journal, names of two references relevant to the position, and a curriculum vita.

Search and Select Committee
David Cella (Chair), Ron Hays, Carol Moinpour,
Luis Rajmil, Lena Ring, Caroline Terwee