OTA Managing Editor
Old Testament Abstracts [OTA] provides short, informative, non-evaluative summaries of books, essays, and periodical articles published anywhere in the world, written in all major languages, whose subject is related to the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, to the Hebrew Scriptures of Judaism, or to the ancient Near East, its geography, history, peoples, cultures, and languages up to the turn of the common era. Approximately 900–1000 abstracts appear in each tertiannual issue of this publication sponsored by The Catholic Biblical Association of America.
The OTA Managing Editor’s duties will include establishing standards for tagging and indexing the data, working with the publisher to ensure accurate data transfer, and overseeing the creation of each issue’s digital copy to send to the publisher. The Managing Editor will work with the OTA General Editor to review the virtual page proofs and ensure their accuracy before publication.
Within the next four years (ideally, starting with the 50th Anniversary issue in 2027), OTA will move to an entirely digital publication. The Managing Editor needs the skills to oversee that shift from a print to digital publication. In addition to the duties mentioned above and expertise with basic computer applications (e.g., bibliographic search engines, spreadsheets, word processing, desktop publishing), the Managing Editor needs familiarity with database management, creation of searchable document files, and efficient means of tagging and indexing; needs to ensure the database design meets applicable U.S. and E.U. accessibility requirements; and needs to work closely with the publisher and database host to ensure a smooth transition from the print publication to digital database model.
The ideal Managing Editor candidate should be familiar with the broad field of studies surveyed by OTA and with computer-assisted research tools for biblical studies. Prior database creation/management, editorial, and supervisory experience is desirable. Applicants should be eligible for CBA membership; preference will be given to CBA members with voting status.
This stipended 10–15 hr/week position starts as soon as possible, with details to be negotiated at the time of appointment. Initial appointment is for a 4-year term.
Send applications to Sheila E. McGinn (smcginn@jcu.edu).
Review of applications will begin October 1 and continue until the position is filled.