Description
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is conducting a search for the AAS Editor in Chief. The AAS Editor in Chief is responsible for developing and implementing a long-term editorial strategy for the Society’s journals portfolio and ensuring the portfolio's continued excellence.
The AAS’s five community-owned, peer-reviewed, open-access journals collectively received more than 9,000 submissions and published more than 6,500 manuscripts in 2025. The journals boast a diverse and international authorship, and they consistently feature some of the most-read and most-cited research results in the astronomical sciences. The Editor in Chief will oversee this prestigious portfolio and lead an international editorial board of more than 50 PhD scientists.
The Editor in Chief will work with the AAS Director of Scholarly Publishing and staff to efficiently manage workflow through editorial review processes, to maintain and motivate a high standard of performance among editorial staff, and to adjudicate any disputes that may arise during manuscript review. They will also work with the AAS Chief Executive Officer, the AAS Publications Committee, the AAS publishing team, and outside partners to develop opportunities for innovation, and they will represent and promote AAS publications at national and international conferences, including the two annual AAS meetings.
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in the physical sciences and editorial experience with scientific scholarly publishing, complemented by outstanding interpersonal and communication skills. They will demonstrate high ethical standards and the ability to engage thoughtfully with a diverse, international community of authors and reviewers. A commitment to editorial excellence, sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and professionalism is essential.
This is a full-time position open to applicants with a PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, or a related field. The physical location of the Editor in Chief may be at the AAS Headquarters in Washington, DC, at any institution that provides appropriate professional resources, or may be fully remote.
More information about this opportunity is available here: https://journals.aas.org/eicsearch.
Requirements
Salary and Benefits: Competitive
Required Education: PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, or a related field.
Required Experience: 10+ years
