EVP - Publisher Market

at  Digital Science

ABOUT US

We are Digital Science and we are advancing the research ecosystem.
We are a pioneering technology company, and our vision is of a future where a trusted and collaborative research ecosystem drives progress for all. We believe in better, open, collaborative and inclusive research. In creating the next generation of tools and working in partnership with the community we tackle some of the biggest challenges to research. In order to achieve our vision, we need innovative, inspiring and dynamic people to join our team. Want to join us?
Digital Science is looking for an Executive Vice President (EVP) for our Publisher market segment, a new position that will be vital for our continued success and innovation. Since 2011, Digital Science has been supporting the publishing industry with impactful analytics products such as Altmetric, Figshare and Dimensions.
As the industry continues to grow and evolve, so do we, and we’re now looking for an experienced industry professional with a deep understanding of the academic publishing market.
The EVP - Publisher Market will use their in-depth knowledge of academic publishing to collaborate with colleagues across Digital Science to deliver solutions that really work for our customers. They will be responsible for business performance, the strategic relationships around publisher data, and leading a cross-functional team.
The successful candidate will have worked either at a senior level within the publishing industry, or in close collaboration with publishers. Above all, they will deeply understand the industry’s opportunities and challenges. They’ll be a visionary leader, able to demonstrate success in leadership and managing a P&L. Experience of working in a ‘matrixed’ environment is also highly desirable. They’ll have a record of strategic thinking combined with a hands-on ‘can do’ attitude and excellent interpersonal and executive presentation skills, enabling them to communicate, influence and partner effectively with various internal and external stakeholders.
Above all, we’re looking for a candidate who understands and embodies the Digital Science values of being: “brave in the pursuit of better; collaborative and inclusive; always open minded; and from and for the community”. If you think that could be you, please do get in touch.

YOUR NEW ROLE

The EVP - Publisher Market is accountable for the overall success of Digital Science within the
academic publishing market. They maintain a deep understanding of this market, and translate
market, customer and competitor insights into a Publisher market segment strategy that defines
Digital Science’s desired position in the market and creates clear direction for the development of
outstanding solutions with a strong product-market fit. They manage financial, resourcing,
operational and reputational targets for the Publisher market segment, and oversee delivery
against these targets, by working collaboratively with their senior teams, the other market

segment EVPs, and the Digital Science Functions.

• Strong product-market fit - measured by customer feedback, net new ARR, and customer churn
• Deep customer relationships and understanding - measured by volume and quality of customer engagements and data
• Strong financial performance - measured by sustained, scalable ARR growth from the academic publishing market, and adherence to agreed revenue and cost budgets (driving EBiTDA)
• Clear guidance for Functions - measured by clearly communicated Publisher market strategy and high-level goals and targets (including resourcing/investment budgets)
• Collaborative working across the market segments - measured by CSO feedback
• High-performing, engaged market segment team - measured by staff feedback and productivity (revenue per FTE )

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

1/ Provide commercial and financial leadership of the Publisher market segment

• Lead and oversee financial outcomes, encompassing both short-term and long-term strategic planning, budget management, resource allocation, profit enhancement andrevenue expansion.
• KPIs: Establish and maintain appropriate processes for measuring Key PerformanceIndicators (KPIs) that support the long-term strategy for the Publisher market segment.
• Strategic vision: Develop and lead the Publisher market segment strategic vision andgrowth plan, ensuring alignment with market dynamics, technological advancements, andcustomer needs.
• Strategic leadership: Work collaboratively with all business functions and teams toensure that strategic planning and key initiatives are executed successfully and meet ourfinancial objectives.
• Business strategy: Develop and execute business strategy and planning for the Publishermarket segment across varied channels globally and oversee customer developmenteorts to drive new business and increase market penetration and market share growth.

• Performance management: Monitor and manage the Publisher market segment’sperformance against its Profit & Loss statement, and KPIs, ensuring financial health andgrowth.

  2/ Maintain a deep understanding of, and strong communication with, the academic publishing market

• Market understanding: Understand and continually update/communicate intelligence about the academic publishing market, including longer-term signals and trends.

• Market relationships: Engage with academic publisher customers through meetings and discussion with the Publisher Sales SVP to understand how they are using our solutions. Take responsibility for data source negotiations with Publisher customers.
• Review and feedback: Constantly review customer uptake and feedback to ensure the delivery of solutions that exceed expectations.
• Competitor understanding: Understand the strategies and developments of key competitors serving the Publisher market segment, and identify new and emerging competitors and technologies - especially those serving other segments - that could transfer to an academic publishing audience.

• Market analysis: Conduct strategic analyses and scenarios, and develop long- and short-term plans to inform the day-to-day prioritisation and running of the Publisher market segment in alignment with the overall DS direction for growth.

  3/ Ensure strong product-market t and go-to-market approaches

• Define product-market fit: Define the market, use data to develop hypotheses on customer problems, ensure existing products meet Publisher client needs, and sign off on product solutions and business parameters (e.g. pricing) within the agreed investment constraints.

• Go-to-market: Working closely with the Publisher Sales SVP to ensure the development and successful implementation of ‘go-to-market’ strategies for the Publisher market segment, and regularly review the sales team’s performance against agreed-upon goals and targets.

• High-value projects: Work with the Product and Sales teams to create solutions for high-value customers, ensuring efficient practices and new ideas are shared and consistent with the solutions and development teams in the other customer segments.

  4/ Ensure strong and regular engagement with market segment peers and internal Functions

• Customer engagement: Oversee and provide strategic input to customer engagement activities, including defining and reviewing business models and the critical evaluation of new opportunities and technological advancements

• Business processes: Contribute to the development and adoption of standard processes to ensure the fair and accurate allocation of costs associated with the academic publishing market.
• Accountability and collaboration: Establish and understand your and your team’s accountabilities and responsibilities within the DS matrix framework. Establish effective relationships with the Core and Enabling Functions to ensure the Publisher market segment’s needs are represented and met.
• Team leadership: Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing Publisher market Segment Management Team (SMT) fostering an environment of continuous improvement and innovation based on a deep understanding of performance and market data.
• ESG: Contribute to the DS Sustainable Business Strategy

5/ Inspire and engage colleagues within and beyond the Publisher market segment

• Engage supporting Functions: Ensure that colleagues from each of the supporting functions understand, support and celebrate the successes of the Publisher market segment
• Champion the Publisher market segment throughout DS showcases and All Hands, sales conferences and commercial reviews
• Facilitate the positive involvement of the functions in the Publisher market segment, engaging colleagues, contributing to good decisions and supporting solid relationships

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE ROLE

• The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success driving a high-growth business, business unit, or division within the academic publishing industry.
• The candidate should possess at least 15 years of professional experience and demonstrate a capacity for crafting strategies that yield quantifiable results underpinned by data-driven insights.
• Experience in general management with full P&L responsibility, leading a similarly complex, sized, and global organisation is required.
• An entrepreneurial, innovative, and visionary executive with passion and leadership ability to propel DS to the forefront in performance and growth
• A consistent record of leadership, including setting a clear vision, navigating business challenges, and leading, inspiring and galvanising high-performing teams with creativity, strategic insight, adaptability, and empathy.
• Skilled in innovating and launching new product and/or service offerings.
• A solid process-oriented approach is essential, with excellent knowledge of strategy development, deployment, continuous improvement, and disciplined execution.
• A strategic but hands-on, in-the-trenches leader with strong intellectual curiosity and ability to influence and drive outcomes.
• Ability to analyse processes, enact change, and think strategically and operationally to achieve business goals and elevate organisational performance.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen and the ability to understand the business implications of decisions. Ability to exercise sound judgement and decision-making and adapt to new opportunities and changing conditions.
• Excellent interpersonal and executive presentation skills with the ability to communicate, influence and partner effectively with various internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrates a results-oriented management style.
• Shows a high level of ethics, integrity, and personal accountability