Vacancies

Expressions of interest are invited for a new Socials and Media Editor on behalf Urban Studies.

The impact of social media and media-based dissemination of journal content has been a progressively crucial element of how Urban Studies operates. This has also led to experimentation in social media-led content, like the pilot Urban Studies Podcast miniseries Walking the City With that is setting new standards in the field.

Building on this success, this new editorial role is designed to provide leadership across social media work by the journal (e.g. LinkedIn and the journal website) as well as take up and continue the stewardship of the Urban Studies Podcast. The Socials and Media Editor will work with Managing Editors of the journal to develop both an updated social media strategy and podcasting rollout, able to deliver across diverse platforms, as well as support advancement of the journal’s reputation and audience interaction. The role will be expected to partake in the running of the journal as per all Urban Studies Editors (editorial meetings and some reviewing handling), but workload will be weighted to take into account heavier commitment to managing socials and podcasting and the part-time nature of the role.

Working with the Managing Editors, the Socials and Media Editor will have autonomy to advance new ideas and develop an innovative strategy and collaborate with the journal’s Editorial Office to implement them over the next three years. The appointment is seen as key to the future development of the journal. Besides offering an opportunity for an enthusiastic urban researcher to develop innovative ways of communicating ideas to urban scholars, it also provides an opportunity for the post holder to further build their international reputation in the field.

The position is expected to involve a commitment of approximately half a day per week and an agreed consultancy fee, payable annually, is attached to the post. It is envisaged that this will be three-year position in the first instance; however, appointment will be made on a one-year rolling contract basis with regular annual reviews as per normal annual Editor assessment with the Managing Editors. Expressions of interest are requested by 27 February 2026 to admin@urbanstudiesjournal.com. Applications should be in the form of a cover note (in attachment as a letter or as an email) no longer than 1 page, providing clear evidence of expertise in social media and podcasting, alongside a short curriculum vitae no longer than 4 pages, including principal publications and academic roles held.

Informal queries about the role can be directed to the Editor-in-Chief, Prof Michele Acuto, at michele.acuto@urbanstudiesjournal.com.

Applications from early career scholars and scholars based in, or working closely with, Southern urban contexts are strongly encouraged.

Interviews, in case of multiple candidates, will be held via Microsoft Teams and arranged in the first two weeks of March 2026 with a view at a start date of end March/early April 2026.

Expressions of interest are invited from for a new Book Reviews Editor on behalf of Urban Studies.

Ever since its initial publication in the 1960s, the journal has been committed to publishing a regular Book Reviews section. This has been a regular staple of the journal content and has evolved more recently to refocus on a curated Book Review Forums section, centred on animating lively debate about innovative publications in our field.

This new role is designed to provide leadership to this next stage of Book Reviews in Urban Studies, not least by connecting it more directly with other strategic activities in the journal, such as the Call for Papers initiative, the journal’s Urban Studies Podcast, and/or the journal’s expanding social media strategy. The Book Reviews Editor will work with the Managing Editors of the journal to develop a strategic approach to book reviews and further sustain a pipeline of review forums so that they collectively provide readers with innovative and informative content. The role will be expected to partake in the running of the journal as per all Urban Studies Editors (editorial meetings and reviews handling), but workload will be weighted to consider the heavier commitment to managing book reviews and the part-time nature of the role.

Working with the Managing Editors, the Book Reviews Editor will have autonomy to advance new ideas and develop an innovative strategy and collaborate with the journal’s Editorial Office to implement them over the next three years. The appointment is seen as key to the future development of the journal. Besides offering an opportunity for an enthusiastic urban researcher to develop innovative ways of communicating ideas to urban scholars, it also provides an opportunity for the post holder to further build their international reputation in the field.

The position is expected to involve a commitment of approximately half a day per week and an agreed consultancy fee, payable annually, is attached to the post. It is envisaged that this will be three-year position in the first instance; however, appointment will be made on a one-year rolling contract basis with regular annual reviews as per normal annual Editor assessment with the Managing Editors. Expressions of interest are requested by 27 February 2026 to admin@urbanstudiesjournal.com. Applications should be in the form of a cover note (in attachment as a letter or as an email) no longer than 1 page, providing clear evidence of expertise, alongside a short curriculum vitae no longer than 4 pages, including principal publications and academic roles held.

Informal queries about the role can be directed to the Editor-in-Chief, Prof Michele Acuto, at michele.acuto@urbanstudiesjournal.com.

Applications from early career scholars and from scholars based in, or working closely with, Southern urban contexts are strongly encouraged.

Interviews, in case of multiple candidates, will be held via Microsoft Teams and arranged in in the first two weeks of March 2026 with a view at a start date of end March/early April 2026.