Consultancy Roster: Editors - Academic Publications

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is an international research-for-development organization that works with governments, civil society, and the private sector to solve water problems in developing countries and scale up solutions. Through partnerships, IWMI combines research on the sustainable use of water and land resources, knowledge services and products with capacity strengthening, dialogue, and policy analysis to support the implementation of water management solutions for agriculture, ecosystems, climate change, and inclusive economic growth. Headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, IWMI is a CGIAR Research Center with offices in 16 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 55 countries. www.iwmi.org

IWMI publications are crucial resources for researchers, academics, policymakers, journalists, students, and the general public. Key to their success are their strong scientific base, their relevance, and the quality and accessibility of the writing.

The Publications Unit, part of the Communications & Knowledge Management team, supports researchers and staff with the production and publishing of scientific publications, corporate documents, and branding and marketing materials. The Publications Unit provides three types of services: editing and proofreading, graphic design and layout, and printing.

IWMI is looking for independent consultants to assist with the editing of IWMI’s publications.

IWMI requires the services of skilled and experienced editors to provide editorial support for a variety of academic publications and corporate materials.

IWMI’s Publications team will assign work to the Consultant Editors. Consultant Editors will check and edit publications according to the IWMI Style Guide and other guidelines, and they will coordinate with researchers throughout the editing and copyediting process. They will also proofread and provide feedback on the publications, in coordination with graphic designers.

Contractors or consultants responding to this advertisement should have exceptional editing skills and experience with academic publications, ideally in the field of environmental science or international development.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The consultants will provide editorial support to IWMI’s Publications team. They will edit, copyedit, and proofread:

• Research publications: reports, working papers, briefs, journal articles, book chapters, etc.
• Corporate materials: fact sheets, brochures, manuals, flyers, etc.

They will work under the guidance of IWMI’s Editors and collaborate closely with researchers and graphic designers.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Initial Review:

• Liaise with the Publications team and authors to clarify requirements and timelines.
• Confirm availability and provide a quotation, based on the agreed rates, for the specific deliverable.

Editing and Copyediting of the Manuscript:

• Edit thoroughly for clarity, accuracy, and consistency.
• Offer suggestions for improvement in structure, flow, and language.
• Copyedit according to IWMI’s Style Guide (based on The Chicago Manual of Style) to ensure correct grammar, format, punctuation, spelling, and referencing standards.
• Liaise with authors to address identified issues and clarify questions.
• Deliver the final text by the agreed deadline.

Proofreading:

• Once the copyedited text is in layout, proofread it thoroughly to identify any errors related to design or text.
• Provide feedback and collaborate with the Publications team or graphic designers to rectify any errors and ensure proper formatting and layout of publications.

Other Tasks:

• If needed, edit or copyedit communications materials.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The specific deliverables and timelines will be determined based on the agreed-upon project scope and type of publication. However, they will typically include:

• Edited manuscripts with detailed tracked changes and comments for authors.
• Final copyedited text approved by the in-house Editor and authors.
• Feedback on layout proofs for the designer.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE:

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field. Alternatively, degrees in other fields may be considered with significant experience in journalism, writing, or editing.
• At least 5 years of proven experience in editing and copyediting, preferably of academic or scientific publications.

Desirable:

• Understanding of environmental, agricultural, and international development issues.
• Experience working in or with international organizations.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Essential:

• Excellent knowledge of English grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation.
• Excellent English editing and copyediting skills.
• Strong understanding of editorial principles and best practices.
• Familiarity with academic style guides and referencing standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications, particularly Word, Excel, and collaboration tools in SharePoint.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong project management and time management skills.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of other major languages used in the regions where IWMI operates.
• Familiarity with The Chicago Manual of Style.
• Knowledge and experience working with Adobe InCopy.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

• Selected candidates will be included in a consultant roster, valid for three years. During this period, IWMI may engage members of the roster for specific assignments through consultancy contracts of up to one year. Assignments will be based on IWMI’s planned needs, technical requirements, and other factors.
• This is a consultancy-based position, dependent on assignments and deliverables. As such, there should be no expectation of a contract or a minimum number of assignments.
• IWMI may consider roster membership renewal or future assignments based on the quality and performance of the consultants.
• Consultants will be home-based and will use their own equipment. They must agree to abide by IWMI’s Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality, and other relevant policies.
• The consultant's quoted rate should be commensurate with experience and aligned with industry standards. This rate will apply for the full period that the consultant is on the roster but may be reconsidered if roster membership is extended.

Benefits

This is an internationally recruited consultancy position, therefore individuals with relevant qualifications and experience are encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY:

Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. Applications will be accepted until 24:00 IST on December 12, 2025, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Your application must include a CV, a cover letter expressing your interest, outlining your relevant experience and skills, and indicating the areas of work or topics you would be most interested in; five (5) recent samples of editing work, preferably in Word format with tracked changes; and contact information for three (3) references who may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical to our mission. We offer a multicultural, multicolored, multigenerational, and multidisciplinary working environment. We are committed to building an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and prioritizes gender equity. We therefore strongly encourage applications from individuals of all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, and gender identities.