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Call for Associate Editors of the Journal of Poverty and Social Justice

Application deadline: 30 September 2021


Policy Press and the Editorial Management Board of the Journal of Poverty and Social Justice (JPSJ) invite applications for three to five Associate Editor positions, starting in October 2021 for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of renewing for a second two-year term.  

The Associate Editors will join the JPSJ editorial team alongside the newly appointed Joanna Mack (Open University, UK) and Marco Pomati (University of Cardiff, UK) who will be officially taking over as Co-Editors from the beginning of September 2021.

JPSJ provides an internationally unique forum for leading research on the themes of poverty and social justice. The journal explores poverty and social justice in relation to social security (broadly defined), employment, area regeneration, housing, health, education and criminal justice, as well as issues of ethnicity, gender, disability, and other social inequalities. The journal encompasses an original and exciting mix of scholarly research articles and lively policy- and practice-oriented discussions of topical questions for its academic and applied audiences.

Learn more about the journal

While the journal is long-established, it is also changing rapidly, especially since the award of an Impact Factor, which has intensified the internationalisation of the journal.

The Editors (Mack and Pomati) will oversee the initial paper selection and allocation process. Associate Editors will be in charge of ensuring their allocated papers are reviewed. This will entail tasks such as finding appropriate reviewers and making sure that the review process is completed and finally provide recommendations on acceptance and rejection. The Associate Editors will be allocated an average of around two or three papers per year, with a maximum of five papers.

We are particularly interested in Associate Editors who can help review papers to foster the following aims:

  • Gaining a more international audience by publishing more papers based on research outside the UK and by ensuring a greater focus on issues of relevance to all countries.
  • Publishing more papers on the social and economic roots of poverty alongside those focusing on welfare systems.
  • Publishing more papers based on quantitative data analysis with strong theoretical foundations and that are accessible to a non-specialist audience.
  • Implementing a more rigorous selection and editing of qualitative papers, ensuring that those based on small-scale studies have a wider policy relevance.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and develop the journal over the coming 3-5 years. The Editors, Associate Editors, Section Editors and Editorial Management Board work very closely together, are very supportive and meet at least twice a year, either in person or virtually, to help inform future content of the journal.

Applications should include a short CV (no more than two pages each) highlighting relevant experience and a brief account of how they will contribute to strategic plans to maintain and develop the journal.

Applications should address the following questions:

  • What you can bring to the journal in terms of your experience of working on other journals, your areas of relevant expertise and why you feel you meet the requirements of the role?
  • How you will contribute to consolidating and increasing JPSJ’s growing international presence and ensuring the high quality of articles published to achieve an impressive Journal Impact Factor?
  • Please set out your vision and a clear editorial strategy for the journal to show how you would like to see it develop over the next five years.


Prospective applicants may like to informally contact members of the Selection Committee:


Applications should be forwarded by email to Caroline Paskell (caroline.paskell@researchinpractice.org.uk), Chair of the Editorial Management Board, no later than 30 September 2021.

All applications will be considered by the Selection Committee, and a shortlist of candidates will be interviewed.