International connections, requires self-discipline
Pros
Despite working remotely, I have regular contact with coworkers in my department as well as in other departments who work in my country. The culture is very growth mindset, thus I feel like I am always learning and able to grow in my skills and competencies with support from my manager and the company as a whole. Many of my coworkers have been with Frontiers for years, often spending a few years in one department, then moving on to a different department that they were interested in working for. Jobs are posted internally first, allowing people who are interested in changing their position to apply. We also are regularly encouraged to refer people we know for open positions. Hiring seems to be based on a combination of prior experience in applicable fields and their passion for growth and development within whatever role they're applying for. I feel confident that new coworkers are also excited to be with Frontiers and believe in the open science mission, even if they have worked in completely different fields in the past. Frontiers hires a lot of PhDs who have research backgrounds, making the average academic attainment and intelligence of employees higher than I've worked with in the past. We regularly discuss what is happening in the world of academic publishing, the state of open access in different places, and consider the impact of political and social issues on our work and each other. The time off is exceptional for US employees and I feel very supported in finding a work/life balance, especially considering I am working from home 100% of the time.
Cons
We do not currently have medical insurance for US employees. We have been told that this is actively being addressed, so this information may be outdated depending on when you're reading this review. Work in the US is remote and you will be working with people across the world, thus you need to be able to be flexible with work times to accommodate meetings with people in different time zones. It also means that you need to be a self-starter and comfortable keeping a disciplined schedule in which you track your goals and progress. We report our progress weekly and check in during meetings, but this is definitely a job for people who don't need someone checking on them daily to keep them motivated and successful. Must be a reader! While this works well for me, I have been surprised to find that the amount of reading and researcher required to be good at my job is off putting to some people. If you want to work for an academic publisher, you should be a lifelong learner who enjoys reading, staying on top of market relevant issues, and stepping outside of your comfort zone to learn new things.
