Associate Editors of French History – Advert and Job Description

The Society for the Study of French History, and the editorial board of French History, wish to offer two early or mid-career scholars the opportunity to gain experience as associate editors of the journal.  Applicants should be specialists in the history of France and/or the Francophone world in any period, and holders of a doctoral degree with a record of publication in the field. We particularly welcome and encourage applications from candidates belonging to groups that have been under-represented within the profession.

These positions are for a fixed term of three years and will begin on 1 January 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter. 

French History is a leading international journal, published by Oxford University Press, and these positions will offer the holders the opportunity to explore all aspects of running such a publication.  Working with the journal’s editors, Joseph Clarke and Claire Eldridge, the editorial board, the Press and the Society, the associate editors will be supported to take particular responsibility for specific areas of the journal’s activities: 

• • Commissioning special issues and virtual issues, developing relationships with guest editors, working to ensure that at least 2-3 viable special issues are in development at any time. The associate editors will also share with the editors responsibility for designing ‘virtual issues’ (made up of previously published articles and book reviews) for particular themes and work with the editors and marketing officers at OUP to ensure at least 2 ‘virtual issues’ appear online each year. 
  • Social media liaison, acting as a point of liaison for social media with marketing at OUP and the Society for the Study of French History to maintain a regular social media presence for French History.
  • Development of the journal’s international presence with a particular focus on France and the Francophone world. This will entail pursuing initiatives to raise the journal’s profile with academics in France and globally and to encourage copy flow internationally.
  • Editorial board liaison, managing the practical side of liaison with the editorial board, overseeing the list of board members and their appointment terms.

The associate editors will also have an opportunity to gain experience, with the editors’ assistance, in the day-to-day administration of an academic journal and in managing the process involved in the peer-review and production of research articles.

The editors and the Society intend that these positions will be taken up by a number of people over the longer term. It should therefore be understood by applicants that they remain separate from any processes relative to the appointment of future full editors.  Expenses incurred in the course of associate editors’ responsibilities will be reimbursed by the Society.

Enquiries and letters of application, outlining the candidate’s suitability for the role and including an up-to-date curriculum vitae, should be directed to the journal’s editors Joseph Clarke at joseph.clarke@tcd.ie and Claire Eldridge at C.Eldridge@leeds.ac.uk. Applicants’ letters of application and CVs should be no longer than 2 pages each.  The closing date for the receipt of applications is 31 October 2022.