Job Offer from September 21, 2026
The Bibliotheca Hertziana – Max Planck Institute for Art History, based in Rome, is an internationally renowned research institute of the Max Planck Society that conducts basic research in the field of Italian and global art and architectural history.
To expand our Publications and Communication Team we are seeking to fill the position, as soon as possible,
of a full-time (40 hours/week) Editorial Assistant (Publications/Public Relations) (m/f/d).
The team oversees scholarly publishing, scientific communication, and research coordination. It manages both internal and external communications, ensuring that the institute’s research reaches an international community of specialists as well as an interested public. Acting as the bridge between scholars and the wider audience, the team disseminates findings through academic publications and a variety of outreach formats.
Since the fields of scientific publishing and science communication are currently undergoing significant change and evolution, we are seeking candidates who view continuing education and professional development as opportunities, who are interested in utilizing digital tools and IT infrastructures, and who demonstrate initiative and a proactive approach to change. The position is initially limited to one year. The successful candidate will play a key role in the restructuring and further development of our organizational unit. Upon successful implementation of the new organizational structure, a long-term collaboration is planned; we are expressly aiming to convert this position to a permanent one.
The Position includes the following tasks:
- Supporting the team in the editorial management of scientific manuscripts from submission to publication, including formal and linguistic review of citations, proofreading of manuscripts and galley proofs, etc.
- Image management, i.e., reviewing and documenting image files, researching image sources, and obtaining licenses and copyrights (e.g., for podcasts, videos, and publications)
- General administrative tasks and assisting the team lead with budget planning, finances, invoices
- Proactive improvement of internal organizational structures to optimize work processes
- Reviewing submitted manuscripts and image files for completeness and preparing the material for submission to the publisher
- Independently planning the institute’s presence at trade fairs (including booth supervision) and other public events
- Liaising with authors, editors, publishers, and external inquiries, etc. (English, German, Italian)
- Coordinating schedules and deadlines for ongoing projects; providing general organizational and administrative support to the editorial team
- Maintaining the website and social media (CMS skills; digital communication)
- Preparing and maintaining the media review; assisting with reporting
Candidate Profile:
- University degree in the humanities
- Italian, German, and English language skills
- Outstanding communication abilities and a high level of linguistic competence
- Very high accuracy and meticulous attention to detail, strong organisational talent; enjoys coordinating complex work processes
- Independent, structured and reliable work method
- Ability to multi-task while keeping deadlines in view; flexibility and resilience
- Communication skills in dealing with authors, publishers, scientific institutions (universities, archives, libraries, museums), journalists, publishers
- Team player, great precision and good time management, reliable and discreet handling of confidential information
- Excellent knowledge of common MS Office applications, such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.
- Basic knowledge of scientific publishing processes and interest in science communication
- Sense of appropriate demeanour and impeccable manners
Desirable skills:
- Experience in publishing, image editing/licensing or general knowledge of the workflows involved in producing scholarly books and journals
- General methodological understanding of scholarly literature in the humanities
- General understanding of art historical analyses
- Experience with reference management software, Adobe Acrobat/InDesign or digital editorial and publishing systems, Google Workspace, AI supported work processes
Salary
The compensation for this position is based on the salary scale used for locally employed staff at the German Embassy in Rome. The monthly gross base salary for the full-time position currently ranges between €2,900 and €3,490, depending on classification according to the applicable pay scale and taking all relevant qualifications into account. Salary is paid 14 times per year. In addition, there is entitlement to TFR (Trattamento di Fine Rapporto) according to the applicable regulations.
The Max Planck Society is committed to equal opportunities and diversity and welcomes applicants from all parts of society, regardless of gender, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or political beliefs.
Application
Please apply by 1 November 2026 via our application platform: https://recruitment.biblhertz.it
Required application documents:
- Cover letter/motivation statement
- Curriculum vitae
- Employment references and/or recommendation letters
- University degree certificate and, if applicable, proof of further training or specialization