Ulrike, you are De Gruyter’s Senior Manager Publishing Technology & Applications – what do you actually do?
I’m responsible for the technical maintenance of our website and publication platform. I
make sure that researchers, librarians, students and other interested readers can use our content and other information and services on degruyter.com or via other providers such as Google. We want to ensure that our users can
find and access our content, regardless of which platform they use for their research. That is what my colleagues and I do. Of course, we don’t do this on our own, we also work with external service providers and managing them
is also part of my job.
What is your favorite thing about working at De Gruyter?
I like the variety of my job which is due to the very different expectations that 28 different editorial teams have from technology. In one
journal, there may be vast amounts of mathematical formulae, code and 3D visuals. Another may have runes or old manuscripts with their transcriptions. This variety, along with that of constantly changing publication standards
and technology, keeps me on my toes. Also, there are always new service providers with new products that seek to support and simplify the publication process – I find the developments in this sector fascinating.
Which skills should someone have that wants to work at De Gruyter?
You must be able to approach the daily challenges in an open, solution-driven and creative manner. Empathy and flexibility help to
interact successfully with different colleagues, service providers, authors and editors. To keep your focus, you need to be goal-oriented and efficient. Applicants should be keen on working in an international setting – we work
in English, but are from all over the world.