Editor Job at Hamilton College in California

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Editor of The Southern California Quarterly

Historical Society of Southern California

The Southern California Quarterly, the oldest historical journal published west of the Mississippi, is seeking a new editor.

The Quarterly is a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal published quarterly by the Historical Society of Southern California. Hosted by Project MUSE and distributed by Project MUSE and JSTOR, it publishes original articles on a wide range of issues and periods, together with reviews of scholarly books, that interpret and promote the diverse history of Southern California and the western United States. It is supported by a national editorial board of scholars with diverse areas of specialization and methodologies.

Founded in 1883, the Historical Society of Southern California is a membership-driven, nonprofit organization that seeks to connect people to their past and to the places they live. It does so by combining inclusive historical scholarship and community engagement to explore and disseminate the complex multicultural history of Southern California and the West.

Duties and Responsibilities

Working in collaboration with the chair of the HSSC Publications Committee and the HSSC executive director, the editor is responsible for:

1. Defining editorial policy and shaping the direction of the Quarterly.
2. Working effectively with the board of editors and recruiting new board members as needed.
3. Attracting high-quality submissions that reflect cutting-edge research.
4. Managing a rigorous review policy.
5. Making final decisions on the acceptance or rejection of articles.
6. Overseeing the work of the book review editor and copy editor.
7. Working with contributors, designers, and production staff to ensure timely publication.

Compensation

Salary is $20,000 a year for this part-time position of approximately 20 hours per week. The initial term of the appointment will be five years, with the possibility of renewal.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in history or related field with some familiarity with the history of Southern California and the American West.
• A demonstrated interest in inclusive scholarship and community engagement.
• Strong writing, editing, and organizational skills, and the proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Experience in writing and editing scholarly articles and in journal production, including managing workflow and collaborating with designers and production staff.
• Familiarity with The Chicago Manual of Style.
• Ability to attend academic conferences in relevant fields to network, promote the journal, and solicit potential submissions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in history or related field with some familiarity with the history of Southern California and the American West.
• Tenure, tenure-track, or emeritus status at an institution of higher education.
• Experience with or interest in digital journal publishing.

Contact

To apply please send a resume and cover letter to Lauren Levy at hssc@thehssc.org.