User Roles and Permissions
This article explains the user roles available on a JAMS site and what each one can do. Use it to work out which role someone needs for a particular task.
In JAMS, what each person can see and do is controlled by their role, such as Journal Editor, Handling Editor, Academic Editor, Publisher, or Super User. Many roles are set per journal, so a user may have access in one journal but not in another. You can give the same role to several users, and you can give one user more than one role.
📝 Note: A Super User can also hold any of the other roles and automatically gains all of their permissions.
Important: Only a Super User can assign roles and change application settings for everyone. A Journal Editor can manage some editorial roles within their own journal.
Editorial and administrative roles
These are the roles available on a standard JAMS site, from the most powerful downwards.
| Role | Who it is for | What they can do in JAMS | Access scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super User | The site administrator who runs the whole JAMS site | Full access: manage journals, users and roles, application features, and all settings. A Super User can also hold any other role and automatically gains its permissions. | Whole site |
| Publisher | Someone who oversees a journal's publication journey after editorial activity is finished. | Handle article metadata and final publication of articles to the JAMS or third-party website. | Assigned journals |
| Journal Editor | The person running the editorial process for a journal | Review all submissions; accept or reject; assign a Handling Editor; start peer review; invite, remind, and remove reviewers; request author revisions; make final decisions; send manuscripts to production; manage the editorial board. | Assigned journals |
| Handling Editor | An editor who processes specific manuscripts assigned to them by the Journal Editor | See their assigned manuscripts; invite Academic Editors; invite, remind, and remove reviewers; request author revisions; send manuscripts to production. Can make editorial decisions only when the related application feature is enabled. | Assigned manuscripts |
| Academic Editor (Editorial Board Member) | A subject expert on the journal's editorial board, added by a Super User | Make manuscript decisions (accept, reject, request revisions, or request further review); oversee assigned journals; add comments and notes. | Assigned journals and manuscripts |
| Billing Manager | The person who handles the journal's Article Processing Charge (APC) billing (optional role) | Manage APC invoices, payments, and vouchers through the billing module. | Billing |
Production roles
Some JAMS sites also use production roles, but only when the client runs their own production staff rather than using JAMS Production Services.
| Role | Who it is for | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| English Editor / English Manager | Your own language-editing staff | Perform (Editor) or assign and oversee (Manager) language-editing tasks during production. |
| Layout Editor / Layout Manager | Your own layout and typesetting staff | Perform (Editor) or assign and oversee (Manager) layout-editing tasks during production. |
| Conversion Editor / Conversion Manager | Your own XML conversion staff | Perform (Editor) or assign and oversee (Manager) XML conversion tasks during production. |
📝 Note: You can give the same role to several users, and you can give one user more than one role. Many roles are set per journal, so always check the role is granted for the journal the user is working in.
Assigning roles
Roles are assigned by a Super User, and some editorial roles can be managed by a Journal Editor. To assign or change a user's role, see User Registration and Roles Assignment and Editor Role Management. To add Academic Editors to the editorial board, see Academic Editor Management.
Related articles
- Editorial Team: User Roles, for a closer look at editorial permissions.
- Super Users, Publishers, Journal Editors, and Handling Editors, for each role in detail.