Chief Editor, Nature Robotics

Job Title: Chief Editor, Nature Robotics

Location: Shanghai, Madrid or Pune - Hybrid Working Model

Application Deadline: 1st November 2026 (candidates will be considered as they apply)

About Springer Nature

Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are pioneers in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit about.springernature.com and @SpringerNature.

About The Brand

Nature Portfolio’s high-quality journals and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences help move science and society forward.

Nature Portfolio is home to the leading, international weekly journal of science, Nature - founded in 1869. It is also home to the Nature research and Nature Reviews journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications, and open access journals including Communications journals. Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries.

Online, nature.com provides over nine million unique visitors per month with content, including news and comment from the Nature journal, and the leading scientific jobs board, Nature Careers. As part of Springer Nature, Nature Portfolio also offers a range of researcher services, including online and in-person training. For more information, please visit nature.com and follow @NaturePortfolio.

About The Role

Springer Nature, publisher of Nature, seeks a Chief Editor for Nature Robotics, a new journal launching in January 2028.

Nature Robotics will be a multidisciplinary journal at the crossroads of applied sciences, engineering and artificial intelligence, publishing top-tier robotics research from fundamental principles to real-world impact. Its scope spans the design, fabrication, control and deployment of robotic systems across every scale and environment-from nano- and microrobotics to soft, bioinspired, humanoid and assistive technologies; from human-robot interaction and robot learning to autonomous navigation, swarm and multi-robot systems; and from perception, sensing, actuation, locomotion and manipulation to AI-enabled autonomy, self-driving laboratories and industrial automation. The journal will publish original research alongside reviews, commentary and opinion, championing work that advances engineering, technology, medicine, science or society across health, manufacturing, transport, energy, environmental monitoring, scientific discovery, agriculture, logistics, infrastructure, accessibility, safety and sustainability.

To lead this endeavour, we seek an ambitious and innovative Chief Editor to guide Nature Robotics into becoming the premier publication for robotics research.

The Chief Editor will provide strategic, scientific and operational leadership for the journal, setting its editorial vision and driving its continued development within a rapidly evolving research landscape. Working closely with an editorial team, the Chief Editor will oversee all aspects of the editorial process, including manuscript assessment, editorial decision-making, commissioning and editing Reviews and News & Views articles, and contributing written content to the journal.

A core responsibility of the role is to lead, mentor and develop a high-performing editorial team, fostering a collaborative culture, promoting quality management, and ensuring operational excellence across all editorial activities. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to build effective teams, empower editors to make sound decisions, and uphold the highest standards of scientific publishing.

The Chief Editor will apply deep expertise in critical scientific evaluation to assess emerging research areas, guide editorial strategy and maintain the journal's reputation for publishing significant advances. They will combine strong decision quality with a strategic mindset, balancing scientific priorities, community needs and long-term portfolio objectives.

The role includes responsibility for the journal's growth and positioning within the Nature Portfolio, requiring strong capabilities in portfolio development and management, understanding journal performance, community needs and market trends, and the ability to drive vision and purpose. The Chief Editor will identify opportunities to expand the journal's influence, strengthen its engagement with research communities and contribute to the broader strategic goals of the portfolio.

The Chief Editor will ensure that editorial activities are conducted in accordance with publishing policies and ethical standards, providing effective upholding publishing ethics and editorial policies across all aspects of the journal's operations. Engagement with the scientific community through laboratory visits, conferences and other outreach activities is essential, and a willingness to travel internationally is required.

The role offers the opportunity to work within a vibrant editorial and publishing network, including Nature, Nature Machine Intelligence, Nature Sensors, Nature Mechanical Engineering and Nature Electronics. The ideal candidate will be collaborative, communicative and influential, with broad scientific knowledge, strong writing skills, excellent editorial judgement and the ability to identify and develop emerging areas of research.

For this exciting role, the ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD in a relevant field, a strong research background, and connections with the target research communities.
• Previous editorial experience; experience with line management would be beneficial.
• Broad knowledge of the topics covered by the journal.
• Excellent literary and verbal communication skills.
• Outstanding leadership qualities.
• A positive attitude to change.
• Innovative and creative ideas for the future development of the journal.

Application Closing Date: 1st November 2026. Please note we will be reviewing candidate applications as they are submitted and so encourage you to apply as early as possible.

To Apply, please submit the following:

• Recent CV
• Cover letter explaining your interest in the position and your salary expectations
• A 1,500-word (maximum) statement detailing your vision for the journal’s content, competitive positioning, and long-term development

At Springer Nature, our mission is to be part of progress - and that begins with inclusion: of people, perspectives, and ideas. We believe that diverse perspectives drive progress, and we are committed to creating an environment where people and ideas can flourish. If you have any access needs related to disability, neurodivergence or a chronic condition, please contact us so we can make all necessary accommodation. Find out more about our DEI work here https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/taking-responsibility/diversity-equity-inclusion

For more information about career opportunities in Springer Nature please visit https://springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SpringerNatureCareers/

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