Lead Excellence in Research: Seeking the Next JCPP Editor-in-Chief

Lead excellence in research and become the next Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JCPP). Interested candidates are encouraged to send their CV and letter of intention to the Head of JCPP Publications Committee and JCPP Deputy EiC, Prof. Pasco Fearon before Friday 29th May 2026.

The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JCPP) is the flagship journal of the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH), widely recognised to be the leading international journal covering both child and adolescent psychology and psychiatry. With a large and expanding global readership, its coverage includes studies on pediatric epidemiology, diagnosis, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological treatments, behaviour, cognition, neuroscience, neurobiology, and genetic aspects of childhood disorders. Articles published include experimental, longitudinal and intervention studies, especially those that advance our understanding of developmental psychopathology and that inform both theory and clinical practice. An important function of the Journal is to bring together empirical research, clinical studies and reviews of high quality that arise from different points of view, different theoretical perspectives and different disciplines. JCPP is published 12 times a year on behalf of the ACAMH.

The journal is owned by the Association. Wiley is the publishing partner responsible for infrastructure support, sales and marketing and other publisher related responsibilities.

The Association is looking for a distinguished academic researcher to take on the stewardship of the journal.

The JCPP Editor-in-Chief is responsible for editorial leadership of the JCPP, ensuring its high quality is further maintained and innovated. The Editor-in-Chief is supported by dedicated editorial and administrative teams. A detailed list of responsibilities is as below.

JCPP Editor-in-Chief: Role

Person specification

• Distinguished academic-research accomplishment with wider expertise in child and adolescent mental health
• Wide network and contacts with international researchers and academics in the field
• Proven track record of working in editorial position in a reputed journal for at least 8-10 years
• Some experience of having managed an editorial team is desirable
• Proven track record of having been on/contributed to a large editorial board either in editorial or advisory capacity
• Knowledgeable in the growing area of publishing ethics and research integrity
• Ability to lead the team confidently with required authority and assertiveness, whilst demonstrating open, clear and respectful communication with all

Availability

• Time Commitment – Approximately 12-15 hours per week* which includes journal/ manuscripts/editorial work and also developmental/strategy/mentorship work
• Location – Remote, with annual in-person meetings in London, UK, alongside potential in-person events as relevant.

*This is based on our current workflow, wherein the Editor-in-Chief bears responsibility (alongside a team of Affiliate Editors to assist in triage) for the initial processing of papers from desk-rejects to individual editor assignment, as well as final approval post-editorial processing and peer review. This might vary. Such workflows would be discussed with the selected Editor-in-Chief candidate as part of the transition process

Responsibilities

Journal level responsibilities

• To work closely with JCPP’s Editorial Board, alongside Editorial Office, and Publishers (as relevant) to further the mission of JCPP: Ensuring the journal’s growing academic and professional reputation through rigorous standards of editorial quality, ethical and academic standards, and innovative, reactive policy.
• Maintain JCPP’s aims and scope, innovating and expanding it as required to ensure its continued relevance, application and interest for readers. To ensure the publication output of the journal matches this same standard, and of a healthy and sustainable volume.
• To work closely with ACAMH’s Editorial Office to ensure that the journal’s practices and policies reflect the current academic landscape, keeping up with new innovations and best practices in the field of child and adolescent mental health – From wider guidelines to specific adjustments and implementation in editorial and administrative practices.
• To monitor and oversee the editorial practices of the journal, from paper processing, through the peer review process, to editorial action and feedback. To ensure that the commitment and time of Authors, Reviewers and Editors is met with high quality processing, balancing sufficient stringency with optimal turnaround.
• Nominate, recruit and appoint Joint, Specialist, Affiliate and other Editors of relevant subject expertise and demonstrable commitment, to ensure JCPP’s Editorial Board covers a wide domain of knowledge, capacity and inclusion.
• Make final determinations on incidents of error, miscommunication, misconduct or breaches of best practice or conduct (be that authorial, editorial, administrative etc.), supported by ACAMH’s Editorial Office.
• Chair and oversee annual in-person editorial meetings, and additional online meetings as required, aligning editorial vision, practice and engagement but also flagging key areas of interest, success, challenge and improvement.
• Respond to correspondence from authors, editors, reviewers, JCPP/ACAMH members, readers, etc. as required, assisted by ACAMH’s Editorial Office.

Editorial level responsibilities

• To work closely with JCPP’s Editorial Board and ACAMH’s Editorial Office to ensure that new submissions are appropriately screened prior to editorial assignment, ensuring a flow of high quality, pertinent articles to Editors of relevant expertise and interest.
• As required, to work with the Editor-in-Chief of JCPP’s sister journal JCPP Advances (JCPPA) in nominating potential desk-rejected articles for transfer to JCPPA, ensuring a healthy, balanced pipeline of papers to JCPPA that are of sufficient academic quality, but potentially out of JCPP’s specific scope.
• To work closely with JCPP’s Editorial Board and ACAMH’s Editorial Office to review and approve Editorial decisions, bearing responsibility for the final outcome of all submitted papers.
• To work closely with JCPP’s Editorial Board and ACAMH’s Editorial Office to explore additional potential content, be it through commissioning articles of high interest, selecting and curating potential special issues, individual author or editor proposals etc.
• To also function as an Editor in the processing of self-assigned papers, from initial triage, through external peer review, revision and final outcome, supported by ACAMH’s Editorial Office.

Society (ACAMH) level responsibility

• Take active interest in ACAMH-wide activities/programmes. Attend at least 2 out of 4 ACAMH Board meetings, offer guidance (as required) to ACAMH Learn (learning portal)
• Participate in the review and selection of ACAMH Award nominees and winners, alongside representing the journal in the resulting ceremony
• Collaborate with the ACAMH’s Ad hoc committees as necessary.

Governance

• JCPP’s Editor-in-Chief enjoys total editorial independence in shaping the content and direction of the journal and will be guided by COPE’s guidance of good practice.
• Report to ACAMH Board at least once per year and/or upon request and be available and responsive to communication.

Support / Remuneration

• JCPP’s Editor-in-Chief is assisted by the knowledgeable and experienced ACAMH’s Publications staff, the wider JCPP Editorial Board and related consultatory reviewer boards. Editorial Office staff are available for any assistance day-to-day, from administration of required action or proposed changes, to individual paper-by-paper assistance with authors, reviewers, editors, or otherwise, alongside being able to generate reports and advise on matters of wider journal precedent and practice and also the wider developments in publishing.
• An annual honorarium of £40-50K (depending on experience and level of commitment) is paid in recognition of their time and commitment to the journal.
• Reimbursement of journal-related travel and accommodation is made as required, for JCPP/ACAMH-related events or meetings
• The appointment is initially for a period of 5 years which can be renewed with mutual agreement between the Editor-in-Chief and ACAMH.

Interested candidates are encouraged to send their CV and letter of intention to the Head of JCPP Publications Committee and JCPP Deputy EiC, Prof. Pasco Fearon before Friday 29th May 2026.