We are hiring!

Apply to be an Editor at the UBC Journal of International Affairs

The JIA has been publishing distinguished undergraduate student research in the field of international relations since 1985.

We are currently hiring editors for the 41st Edition (2025/26).

Editor Position

Editors are collectively responsible for reviewing, selecting, and editing articles submitted to the JIA as part of a peer-review process to develop the 2025/26 edition. They work under the guidance of the Editors in Chief, with the support of the Faculty of Arts, the Department of International Relations and the International Relations Student Association (IRSA).

Responsibilities:

  • Actively engage in the submission review process: reading, evaluating and providing feedback on submissions 

  • Collaborate with fellow editors to provide detailed feedback to authors

  • Communicate with authors to revise papers for publication

  • Participate in team meetings and training

Qualifications:

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team

  • Ability to handle confidential information with tact

  • Demonstrated understanding of topics in international relations and other related disciplines

  • Time management skills

  • Detail-oriented

  • Asset: Past experience in editing academic, print media or professional writing, or publishing experience

  • Asset: Relevant UBC experience in writing, editing, and teamwork, e.g. Peer Tutor, Writing Centre, and student clubs

Time Commitment:

  •  Term 1

    • 2-3 meetings (1 half-day workshop; 1-2 team meetings)

    • JIA workshop

  • Term 2

    • JIA pre-submission editing workshop

    • Hour-long biweekly team meetings

    • 5-10 hours of work per week, working independently and with small groups outside of team meetings

Editor Position Job Description 2025/26 (Google Doc)

Important note: Editors at the Journal of International Affairs are still eligible to submit their own articles for consideration to the JIA.

Application Process

Applications will close on 11:59PM PST on September 26th, 2025. To apply, please complete this form.

Applicants are requested to provide:

  • A writing sample, which should be:

    • Written by yourself

    • 2-3 pages in length

    • Continuous (i.e., it should not be fragments from multiple papers or multiple sections of a paper), but it can be taken from the beginning, middle, or end of any academic paper you have written

    • Does not need to include full bibliography & in-text citations can be in any format

    • The paper may be from any department, but the topic should pertain to international relations

  • A resume, which should be:

    • A maximum of 2 pages

    • A summary of your experience (professional, volunteer, extracurricular, etc.) which is relevant to being an editor at the JIA

  • A cover letter, including:

    • Strengths and experiences you bring to the team

    • Your research interests

    • Why you want to join the JIA

    • Skills you are looking to develop in this position

Successful applicants will be contacted in the week following their application for a brief interview with the Editors in Chief. They should be prepared to talk about themselves, their interest in the JIA and the discipline of international relations, and their previous experience related to teamwork and collaboration. They will be asked to complete a brief academic editing-related activity following their interview. No specific preparation is required.

Questions? Email us at irsa.jiaeditor@gmail.com.

We look forward to hearing from you.