Acuity Clinical Editor (self-employed)

The College of Optometrists is the professional body for optometry. It qualifies the profession and delivers the guidance and development to ensure optometrists provide the best possible care. We promote excellence through the College’s affixes, by building the evidence base for optometry, and raising awareness of the profession with the public, commissioners, and healthcare professionals.

Acuity is the quarterly College journal, delivered in print to around 15,000 College members, and with views to Acuity digital articles at almost 70,000 per annum. A highly regarded journal within the profession, the articles range from clinical information, highlighting best practice, drawing attention to specific issues or conditions, inspirational stories from members and patients, and College news.

We are seeking to engage a consultant on a one to three-year basis, to provide the following editorial services to the College in respect of Acuity.

• review specialist articles that explain complex topics or concepts to our audience of optometrists
• provide advice to the Editor to ensure copy is clinically feasible and practically appropriate and on the right level of complexity (language and content) for the audience
• verification of the clinical feasibility of what has been written and assessment of the contents’ impact on clinical practice
• provide a sounding board for the Editor

The consultant will need to : 

• be well versed (on a clinical level) in optometry. They may need to re-purpose raw and in-depth clinical data/information for the audience
• have awareness of the optometric evidence base and how it should be interpreted
• be aware of the optometric areas being impacted by new technological development
• be an experienced practising optometrist
• have excellent written and verbal communication skills and an ability to work collaboratively as part of a team involving College staff, Acuity Editor and Acuity Board members
• be able to work remotely and flexibly (in terms of turn-around time) an occasional face-to-face meeting with the Editor may also be needed
• a member of The College of Optometrists

The College is looking to pay £1,500 per quarter plus reasonable travel expenses (ie to cover attendance at meetings).

• Tender deadline: 16 January 2025 
• Discussion around suitability: 30 January 2025 

The College is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and freelance roles. We welcome interest from people of all backgrounds, valuing the differences that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation. In support of this we follow a fair recruitment process in which shortlisting and other recruitment decisions are made on the basis of skills, competencies and experience demonstrated in the application and decision making process. 

If you require a reasonable adjustment to be made to support your application due to a disability or other condition, please let us know. 

Reasonable expenses for meetings and events will also be paid.

• We act with integrity and transparency
• We listen and we learn
• We demonstrate respect and professionalism
• We achieve high quality
• We champion equality, diversity and inclusion