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Announcement of COPE Council elections

Due to vacancies on Council, we are seeking nominations for two new candidates. These are voluntary positions. Council is responsible for COPE’s policy and management. Council members are required to attend four meetings a year (two of which will usually be in person in London; the others may be attended by phone or other media). There is also a strategy meeting every 18/24 months which Council Members are expected to attend in person. Annual seminars are held in a number of locations worldwide and it is expected that Council Members will attend one of these. COPE has subcommittees, and Council Members will also be expected to be involved in other COPE related tasks, which are undertaken electronically. It is anticipated that the work of Council Members should amount to about 1–2 days per month, in addition to attendance at meetings.

In accordance with COPE’s constitution, the candidate, or the organisation they represent, must have been a member of COPE for at least 1 year.

Candidates for Council membership will be short-listed by council following an interview. Short-listed Ordinary Council Members shall be elected by the Full and Associate Members with voting rights or (if the candidates are unopposed) by the approval of the Council.

Further details, including a job description, can be found below.

Those who are interested should contact the COPE administrator. A candidate for Council membership should be nominated by two other current members of COPE, at least one of whom must not be employed by the same organisation as the nominee.

The closing date for applications is 28 April 2014.

COPE council member: role description

Purpose of role

  • To be responsible, together with other council members, for the policy and management of the Committee on Publication Ethics.
  • To be a trustee of COPE as a charity in accordance with UK legislation.

Key responsibilities

  • Act as a Trustee for COPE, as a UK charity.
  • Attend and take a full part in quarterly meetings of Council, either in person at the face-to-face meetings or by webinar/phone.
  • Attend and contribute to quarterly Forum meetings (these are by webinar).
  • Attend and take a full part in the strategy meeting of Council (usually every 18/24 months).
  • Take part in additional policy and advisory discussions (usually by email) and approve the annual budget.
  • Monitor expenditure and supervise the administration of COPE.
  • Make appointments to Council and other positions.
  • Take part in subcommittees and other tasks, as agreed by Council.
  • Represent COPE externally when required to do so by Council, including speaking at meetings/conferences about COPE and publication ethics if required.

Person specification

  • Experience of academic publishing (in particular, gained as the editor or publisher of a peer-reviewed publication).
  • Understanding of ethical issues in academic publishing (eg, having published on or with experience of such matters).
  • Experience of committee work or involvement with charitable organizations.
  • Expertise that will benefit COPE, such as writing, editing, publishing, training, law, accountancy, charity administration, public relations, human resources, fundraising, etc.
  • Sufficient time to commit to COPE activities, including attending meetings and contributing to the work of Council as required.
  • Good understanding and judgment of business matters.