Vacancy: Editor-in-Chief for the African Eye and Vision Health journal

The African Vision Research Institute (AVRI) intends to appoint an: Editor-in-Chief (Optometry) for the journal African Eye and Vision Health (AVEH).

African Eye and Vision Health (AVEH) (www.avehjournal.org) is an open-access, interdisciplinary journal that has been published for almost 100 years, albeit with a different name over much of that time. In 2014, it was relaunched under the name of African Vision and Eye Health and as a collaborative journal between Ophthalmology and Optometry. The journal’s primary mandate is to publish original research, reviews, and case studies with an African and international focus. The journal also provides a source for discussing developments in research and higher education that involve eye and vision science and public health related issues.

There are two Editors-in-Chief (one for optometry and one for ophthalmology) and an Editorial Board consisting of Sub-Editors who, together with the two Editors-in-Chief, are responsible for managing peer review of submissions in their area/s of speciality. The Editors work with a publishing team consisting of a Managing Editor and an Online Publishing System (namely AOSIS).

This part-time position requires a minimum number of hours (16) per month, and candidates can be based in Africa or elsewhere. The commencement of editorship would be between July 2023 to January 2024.

Role: The Editors-in-Chief have overall responsibility for the editorial content of the journal – both scope and quality.

Primary Tasks

• Function as an ambassador and representative for the journal.
• Promote the short- and long-term strategies and aims of the journal.
• Maintain editorial and other policies together with the journal publisher.
• Coordinate with the publisher to enhance the global reputation of the journal.
• Interact with sub-editors and assign and oversee peer review workloads.
• Solicit original and review papers and other beneficial content such as case reports and book reviews.
• Approve papers and other contributions before publication.
• Act as arbiter on disputes, appeals and cases of unethical conduct and conflicts of interest that might involve authors and/or reviewers.
• Review reports pertaining to journal performance and metrics.
• Call and chair editorial meetings when necessary.

Professional attributes

• Established optometric researcher and academic with Ph.D. (or equivalent) with a good publication record.
• Broad knowledge of the subject field, namely optometry.
• Previous editorial experience, specifically in a decision-making capacity.

Personal attributes

• Enthusiasm and high motivation.
• Good leadership and time management skills, and an effective communicator.
• Ability to work effectively with diversity in methodologies and views.
• Ability to embrace innovative technologies and future changes in scholarly publishing.

To apply, please submit the following to Prof. A Rubin at arubin@uj.ac.za

1. A letter of application with personal contact details.
2. An abridged Curriculum Vitae (CV) [include only the relevant information].
3. Contact details of two professional/academic references.

Deadline for applications: 30 June 2023

Correspondence will only occur with short-listed candidates. AVRI is an equal opportunity organisation that promotes diversity.

For more information, contact Prof. A Rubin or the AVRI Research Manager, Dr Jyoti Naidoo, at jyotinaidoo.avri@gmail.com