Vacancy: Architectural History Editor-in-Chief
The Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB) is seeking a new Editor-in-Chief for its principal publication, Architectural History.
Application Deadline:
23 September 2026
Architectural History is a highly regarded double-blind, peer-reviewed international journal that publishes significant original and interpretive research on buildings, the built environment, the history of architectural theory, and architectural historiography, in all places and periods. Articles in Architectural History are intended to be rigorous, analytical, and contextual, situating their subjects within broader debates about the history and understanding of architecture. The journal, which first appeared in 1958, is the principal publication of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB). It has an international readership in academia, the heritage sector, and among a broad interested public. From 2026, the journal will be published under a fully Open Access format with Ubiquity Press.
The successful applicant will be appointed to lead the editorial board from November 2026. The post is for three years.
Duties:
The Editor-in-Chief holds ultimate responsibility for the practices and publication of the journal. They are responsible, on behalf of the SAHGB, for content and production, while managing the editorial board and working closely with others throughout the process. This is a demanding role, and duties include:
Leading the editorial board of around twelve scholars including two book review editors
Determining the journal’s editorial direction, in dialogue with the editorial board and an International Advisory Panel
Promoting the journal and encouraging submissions
Organising and chairing editorial board meetings (currently scheduled every two months)
Reviewing and/or delegating the review of approximately fifty submissions each year for peer review and potential publication
Soliciting peer reviews
Making editorial decisions regarding the suitability of submissions for publication, in the light of referees’ reports and following consultation with the editorial team
Liaising with peer reviewers, authors and Deputy Editors to keep articles progressing smoothly
Liaising with Ubiquity Press
Overseeing the editing of articles by Deputy Editors and conducting further editing on accepted manuscripts for style and content
Working with an Executive Editor, copy editor and publisher to see articles through to publication
Coordinating with the Society on the recruitment of new editorial board members
Serving as a judge on some of the grant competitions and publication prizes that the Society offers, especially the Hawksmoor Prize for early career researchers.
Contributing to decisions on the award of waivers to authors in need of financial support, as part of the Society’s APC waiver panel
The Editor-in-Chief is a member of the SAHGB management team and as such is also expected to attend three (online) meetings a year and report to the Board of Trustees twice a year (either online or in person)
The post comes with an honorarium (currently £3k per edition).
Person Specification:
The Editor-in-Chief should have all or some of the following skills and experience:
Experience of academic publishing and editing
An appropriate level of academic expertise related to architectural history, and a strong profile in the field
Exceptional communication and collaboration skills
Discretion and tact in dealing with authors and others.
Applications:
Candidates should send the below to info@sahgb.org.uk by 23 September 2026:
A CV
A statement outlining their reason for applying and their vision for Architectural History (maximum two pages)
For questions about the role, please contact the current Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Alborz Dianat: alborz.dianat@sahgb.org.uk
