Are journal editorial board roles of much consequence in promotion?

[Teabag2023]

Just that really... I've held a couple of accademic/associate editor positions over the last couple of years (managing review process) and have this week been invited to 2 more. The journals are roughly equal in impact factor. One of the new invites is particularly interesting as is a bit peripheral to my field and I think the papers will be really interesting to me (though identifying reviewers will be a bit tougher for me without such a strong network in the area).

Anyhow... I'm on a mission not to say yes to too many things and as I need to apply for promotion (to SL) I can't just take everything I'm interested in. To be blunt, is holding multiple editorial roles going to count for anything when my case is reviewed? Or should I just politely say thanks but I'm too busy at the moment and wait until something really exciting gets offered?

Would love to hear how you handle these community service roles and how much is enough? Thanks in advance

I would have stopped at one editorial role as service to the discipline. it's in my experience only important for promotion to the extent that it raises your profile more widely, but beyond that I'd focus on ensuring you hit all the key metrics relevant to the field, namely publications, research grants, PhD supervision, teaching load, et cetera.

thanks, that was just the answer I needed to politely say 'thanks but no thanks'!

I agree - it will not be valued by promotion committees so don't do more than one.

I've had assoc editor roles and am now an editor-in-chief of a journal. I think there is a lot of value in taking on one role of this sort but don't do more than one - there are no extra brownie points for that.

Thanks so much for the pearls of wisdom all!

Agree with all and would add that you should say no to any frontiers or mdpi journals. They will actively hurt your reputation

When I applied to promotion to SL I was on an editorial board, I was advised to try and get into one more before I submitted the application, which I did. I had other markers of external recognition like invited talks, PhD examination, peer-review, etc. but my then-line manager said that a further editorial board would put me on the safe side. I did get the promotion but really I don't know if that's what tipped the balance. On the other hand, though, being a member of an editorial board in my field doesn't entail a lot of work, perhaps a meeting every few years if anything and some invitations to peer-review. I am not sure if you're meaning being a member of the editorial board (which oversees the general direction of the journal but doesn't deal with the day-to-day of processing submissions) or rather being an editor or associate editor, which you mention in your post - the latter would certainly involve more work.

It's interesting. There are a few journals in my area where the editor is known for being the editor - and in this way has a real influence on the field. This is probably at quite a senior level - but it's interesting to see when it happens.

And some where it's a service role.

I am on an advisory board. I like it. Not too much work, and every now and then I get emails asking my opinion on stuff. Appeals for example, or where there are specific queries.