Editorial Virtual Assistant Training Programme | Remote, Pakistan

Managing Editor and Trainer

Editorial Virtual Assistant Training Programme | Remote, Pakistan and Egypt

Company: Lumora Communications

Location: Remote, open to candidates Pakistan and Egypt

Contract: Full time

Hours: 35 hours, with overlap with UK working hours

Salary: Highly competitive

ABOUT LUMORA COMMUNICATIONS

Lumora Communications supports academic journals, publishers and editorial offices with skilled virtual assistants for editorial and peer review work. We handle all of the training before handover, so every assistant logs in to a client's system ready to work from day one. We serve clients in the UK and the Middle East, and we are growing a dedicated global team.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for an experienced editorial professional who loves teaching others. As our Managing Editor and Trainer, you will turn new virtual assistants into confident, accurate and reliable editorial assistants.

You will design and deliver training on manuscript administration and peer review workflows. You will also assess each trainee before they are handed over to a client, and continue to support them once they are working live.

This role is ideal for someone who knows the editorial office inside out, communicates beautifully in English, and takes real pride in seeing other people succeed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Deliver structured training on manuscript administration, technical checks, reviewer invitations and reminders, decision letters and author correspondence

• Train virtual assistants on journal submission systems, especially ScholarOne Manuscripts and Editorial Manager

• Learn new systems quickly so you can train on whatever platform a client uses

• Train several trainees at once, in small groups and one to one, and manage multiple training cohorts at the same time

• Create clear training materials, including step by step guides, desk notes, checklists, short video walkthroughs and visual guides

• Adapt training for different learning styles, including visual learners and neurodivergent trainees

• Assess trainee progress using practical tasks, and sign off each assistant as ready before handover to a client

• Learn each new client's journal workflow and house style, and build tailored training around it

• Provide follow up support after handover, answer questions and refresh training when workflows change

• Review the work of assistants for accuracy and give kind, constructive feedback

• Teach good inbox management, including tagging, flagging and keeping correspondence organised so cover staff can pick up work easily

• Share feedback and ideas with the Founder to keep improving our training programme and workflows

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• English language is required: your English grammar, reading and writing must be excellent

• Proven experience working in a journal editorial office, with strong knowledge of manuscripts and the full peer review process

• Hands on experience with ScholarOne Manuscripts and Editorial Manager

• Demonstrable training ability, for example running inductions, mentoring colleagues or writing training guides (you will be asked to show this during the application process)

• Strong proofreading skills and excellent attention to detail

• Working knowledge of typesetting and the production process, including how manuscripts move from acceptance to proofs and publication

• The ability to adapt quickly and learn multiple systems, then explain them simply to others

• Excellent organisation and the ability to manage your own time while working remotely

• A strong understanding of confidentiality in peer review and careful handling of personal data

No degree is required. We value real editorial experience and strong training skills.

JOURNAL SYSTEMS

ScholarOne Manuscripts and Editorial Manager are essential for this role. Experience with any of the other systems is a welcome bonus but not a requirement, as we will support you to learn them.

Essential:

• ScholarOne Manuscripts (Clarivate)

• Editorial Manager (Aries Systems)

Desirable:

• eJournalPress

• Open Journal Systems (OJS)

• SNAPP (Springer Nature)

• Manuscript Manager

• Research Exchange (Wiley)

• Scholastica

• Janeway

• Bench>Press (HighWire)

• Kriyadocs

• Proof Central (Elsevier)

DESIRABLE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Arabic language skills, to support Arabic speaking trainees and clients

• Understanding of publication ethics and COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidance

• Experience with similarity checking tools such as iThenticate or Crossref Similarity Check

• Typesetting and formatting knowledge such as LaTeX, Overleaf, Microsoft Word templates, Adobe InDesign or XML (JATS)

• Familiarity with reference management tools such as EndNote, Zotero or Mendeley

• Basic knowledge of copyright, image permissions and licensing

• Experience with email templates and mail merge

• Experience in science, technical or medical (STM) publishing

WHAT MAKES A GREAT TRAINER AT LUMORA

• Patience and warmth, with a calm and encouraging way of explaining things

• Clear communication that breaks complex workflows into simple steps

• High standards and a good eye for spotting mistakes before they reach a client

• Curiosity and a willingness to keep learning new systems and processes

• Reliability, honesty and the confidence to raise problems early

• A genuine interest in helping other people grow in their careers

PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS

• A reliable laptop or computer and a stable, high speed internet connection

• A backup power and internet option to cover any outages

• A quiet and private workspace suitable for video training sessions

• A working headset and webcam

• Comfortable using Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, and screen recording tools

• Availability to work hours that overlap with UK clients, with some flexibility for clients in the Middle East

• Willingness to sign a confidentiality agreement

WHAT WE OFFER

• A fully remote role you can do from anywhere in the world

• A growing, supportive team

• The chance to shape and lead our training programme from the start

• Exposure to a wide range of journal systems and international clients

• Salary PKR 100,000 to 130,000 per month (Pakistan) or EGP 18,000 to 24,000 per month (Egypt), depending on experience.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send the following to aisha@lumoracommunications.co.uk with the subject line "Managing Editor and Trainer Application"

• Your CV and cover

• A short cover letter telling us about your editorial and training experience

Not quite meeting every requirement?

If you have most of the essentials, such as excellent English, strong proofreading skills, some experience with manuscripts or journal systems, and a natural ability to teach others, and you are keen to grow in the editorial space, we would still love to hear from you. Please tell us in your cover letter which areas you are confident in and which you are ready to develop.

We look forward to hearing from you.