Open Vacancies

• Trustee (Research and Development in the Corporate Sector)
• Trustee (Finance)
• Digital Product Administrator

Trustees

We are currently recruiting for two trustees for the IFIS Board.

• Trustee with a background in research and development in the corporate sector
  We are looking for someone who is currently in a senior role in a food, beverage or ingredient manufacturer. Please see the recruitment pack for details of the role, background about IFIS, and how to apply. 

• Trustee with a background in financial management, investment and defined benefit pension schemes
  We are looking for someone who holds, or has recently held, a senior finance position and has some familiarity with charity finances. Please see the recruitment pack for details of the role, background about IFIS, and how to apply. 

These are voluntary roles that involves attending quarterly meetings and providing occasional advice and support. No previous experience of serving on a Board is required, as we will provide training. The roles involve [1] contributing to the strategic direction of our organisation and [2] ensuring that management are delivering relevant and effective support to scientists, technologists and engineers around the world. There are also formal statutory duties associated with the role, which are detailed in the job descriptions.

The deadline for applications is 30 June 2021.

Digital Product Administrator

We are currently seeking a Digital Product Administrator to work as part of our Product Development Team as we shift to a more digital focus for our products and services. This is a full-time, office-based role (with options for remote working on a flexible basis depending on COVID-19 restrictions). It is offered as an initial 12-month contract with a competitive salary.

This temporary opportunity would suit a recent graduate with experience in digital publishing or digital product ownership and an interest in the sciences of food and health. It requires strong digital and IT skills to assist primarily with the administration and management of online digital products & services. Experience in STM publishing and database administration would be highly regarded.

It would suit someone looking to gain experience working in digital publishing in a small, highly professional organization with exciting and ambitious growth plans.

Reporting to the Digital Production Manager, you will be responsible for contributing directly to the management and maintenance of IFIS’s digital publishing platform and analytics services. It will involve administering customers, user accounts and systems, and reporting on usage statistics. The role will also work closely with the Head of Product Development to manage and operationalise existing and new digital products & services offered by IFIS Publishing.

This role will be instrumental in ensuring the quality of publishing processes, assisting the Digital Production Manager in monitoring and maintaining adherence to editorial guidelines of database records to ensure the ongoing integrity of the FSTA database.

Depending on knowledge and experience, there will also be opportunities to work with the Head of Product Development, Senior Content Manager and Digital Production Manager, on requirements, specifications and improvements to new and existing digital workflows.

To be successful in this role, candidates will need:

• An interest in product ownership/administration and digital publishing.
• IT literate, with the confidence to pick up new systems quickly.
• Understanding of Product Management and knowledge of testing protocols.
• Analytical skills to improve or trouble-shoot processes and procedures.
• Familiarity with database concepts, XML etc.
• Excellent written language skills, and a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Be comfortable working independently (and currently at least part remotely).
• Display enthusiasm and initiative.
• Have an interest in and knowledge of the sciences of food and health (SoFH)

Responsibilities in brief

• To be the ‘IFIS Collections’ Product Administrator.
• Product Owner/Administrator for ‘IFIS Analytics’ services and tools.
• Usage reporting including Google Analytics.
• ‘IFIS Collections’ system manager, and new product coordinator.
• FSTA quality procedures (data integrity and compliance with IFIS’ editorial policy)
• Provide QC and troubleshooting of any issues at different stages of the FSTA production cycle
• Assist the Digital Production Manager with weekly tasks and be involved in the implementation of new workflows and processes

What skills are required?

• Knowledge of digital publishing
• IT systems experience/knowledge/skills
• Computer literate, particularly with Word and Excel
• Would suit recent graduate or postgraduate
• A good understanding of food science

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Please send all applications for this position, preferably via email, to Claire Peggs, HR & Admin Manager, IFIS Publishing (c.peggs@ifis.org). Please include a covering letter briefly outlining your suitability for this role with your CV.

Applications will close on 30 June 2021.

More information about IFIS

Based at Winnersh Triangle near Reading (UK), IFIS is a not-for-profit academic publishing organisation established in 1968. We are committed to:

• Supporting those studying and working in the sciences of food and health by making it easier to access industry-specific research that can be trusted.
• Preserving integrity and accuracy in the fields of food and beverages.
• Furthering learning and development in the sciences of food and health across the world - especially in areas where access to our resources may be limited.

Our flagship product is FSTA, a interdisciplinary database of scientific and technological information relating to food, beverages and nutrition. FSTA is used for research and teaching all over the world, including by 8 of the top 10 universities for food science (Shanghai ranking, 2020).