Features Editor (Health, biomedicine and neuroscience)

Features Editor (Health, biomedicine and neuroscience)

Location: New Scientist Headquarters - London

Position: Full-time, permanent

Workplace Type: Hybrid - 3 days per week at: 9 Derry Street, Kensington, London, W8 5HY

Job Introduction

We are looking for a talented biomedical journalist to join our expert features team. The successful candidate will commission and edit world-class features and longform reads on the most fascinating and impactful ideas and discoveries about the human mind and body. They will be line-managed by our Head of Features.

This is a full-time role and will require working three days a week in our London office.

To apply, please send a CV and a cover letter briefly highlighting relevant experience. The cover letter should also include three original features ideas (1 to 2 paragraphs per idea), all on subjects relating to the science of the body and brain that would be suitable for the features sections of New Scientist in print and online.

Deadline for applications is 1st May 2025

Main Responsibilities

• Find, develop and pitch ideas, with a view to commissioning and editing at least 25 timely and compelling features each year
• Build contacts with freelance writers and scientists to make sure we are commissioning the best, most compelling and up-to-date biomedical science features
• Collaborate with design, art, video and audience teams to get the most from each feature both in print and online
• Attend conferences in the UK and abroad, hunting for ideas
• Working with our Specials Editor to develop special print and digital packages on biomedical and neuroscience subjects
• Contributing to other editorial sections of New Scientist, as required

Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Excellent knowledge of how the brain and body work, and the most exciting biomedical research and its implications for our health and treating disease
• A brilliant storyteller
• A track record writing or editing journalistic science features or longform
• Editing experience (journalism, not academic publishing or marketing content)
• Experience working with or for national or international journalism brands
• A passion for high quality science journalism
• A good understanding of digital journalism and producing premium content for digital audiences
• A degree in a STEM subject

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS

• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Enjoys coming up with new ideas
• Appreciates the art of storytelling and crafting a narrative
• Holds themselves and their work to high standards
• Collaborative and communicative, enjoys working with a team
• Good interpersonal skills, able to get the best out of writers and nurture new talent

Package Description

• 29 days holiday with Holiday Buy scheme
• Access to private healthcare scheme (Bupa) with the option to add your dependents through a monthly salary deduction.
• Automatic enrolled onto our New Scientist Pension scheme at the minimum level of 5% employee contribution and 4% Company contribution.
• Immediate death in service cover of 4x your basic salary
• Free mental health, legal and financial advice and assistance at any time for you and your family with our Employee Assistance Programme with CIC.
• Subsidised canteen
• Onsite gym
• Onsite nurse and GP clinics

New Scientist is a magazine brand for the insatiably curious, asking the big-picture questions about life, the universe and what it means to be human. From artificial intelligence to climate change, the latest innovations in health to the mysteries of quantum physics and the human mind, New Scientist covers the ideas and discoveries that matter.

Since our publication was founded in 1956 for "all those interested in scientific discovery and its social consequences", it has expanded to include newsletters, videos, podcasts, courses and live events. Our headquarters are in London, UK, and we also have staff in the US and Australia.

New Scientist is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applications to New Scientist will receive due consideration regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.