The Journal of Social Policy (JSP) is a highly impactful UK and international journal which is going from strength to strength. Submissions to the journal are increasing, and the Editorial Board is now seeking to appoint a fourth co-editor, whose term is expected to start in January 2027 (with a period of shadowing current co-editors from October 2026). The role of Co-Editor is normally for a period of five years.
JSP’s current impact factor is 2.6. In 2024 it was ranked 5/94 in the category of Social Work, 15/69 in Social Issues, and 25/90 in Public Administration. In 2022, the journal published its 50th anniversary issue. Its wide readership includes all members of the Social Policy Association (SPA) as well as policymakers, researchers, teachers and social policy students across the globe. A current successful innovation of the journal is the commissioning of state-of-the-art critical reviews on current issues in the field. The journal receives over 300 manuscript submissions annually.
Co-editorship thus represents an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the development of our field. It requires a broad knowledge of social policy both within the UK and internationally. It also calls for methodological breadth, and an openness to new ideas and approaches.
It is necessary for the editorial team to be members of the SPA and to remain so throughout the lifetime of their editorship. Cambridge University Press, the journal’s publisher, provides funds for secretarial support and for a small honorarium for each of the co-editors. Two of the existing editors will continue in post for a further three years and as such will be able to support the new editor.
The Board has established an Editorial Search Committee, the members of which are: Gaby Ramia (Chair of the Editorial Board, University of Sydney); Lee Gregory (current Co-Editor, University of Nottingham); Volkan Yilmaz (current Co-Editor, Ulster University); Sin Yi Cheung (Cardfiff University); Ann-Marie Gray (Chair of SPA, Ulster University); and Janice Tripney (SPA publications portfolio holder, University College London). Members of the SPA who wish to be considered for appointment are invited to contact any member of the Search Committee in the first instance. We would also be grateful to receive suggestions on who we may wish to approach regarding this important post.
Formal applications should be submitted by 29th of May 2026 to Professor Gaby Ramia at the email address below. Applications should take the form of a letter from the prospective co-editor which sets out an evidenced account of: their academic and editing experience, with emphasis on the latter; their experience in working in scholarly teams; and how they can demonstrate capacity to work constructively with the existing co-editors on journal content and strategy. The application should be accompanied by a full CV.
The central requirement is that a co-editor, like their fellow co-editors, has a broad knowledge of the subject area and of the social policy community. The Search Committee welcomes applications particularly from quantitative researchers, and from women in order to ensure gender balance among the editorial team. In general, however, the Search Committee will be particularly interested to hear from colleagues with a clear commitment to the Social Policy Association and its goals and values, and who have a track record of successful academic editorial experience. Finally, the Committee will also seek assurances that applicants would have the support of their institution and department were they to undertake what is an important and demanding task.
The closing date for receipt of applications, sent to gaby.ramia@sydney.edu.au, is 29th of May 2026.
Gaby Ramia (on behalf of the Search Committee)
Professor of Policy and Society
School of Social and Political Sciences
The University of Sydney