Video Editor (Long-form documentaries)

Hello, talented creatives!

We’re looking for a talented Video Editor to join our YouTube team, specifically for our Life & Series channel. We’re after someone who really gets how to keep viewers hooked on long-form scientific documentary content — someone who knows how to pick the right shots, build a compelling narrative, and deliver edits efficiently and effectively.

If you’re passionate about creating high-quality, scientific documentary-style videos made for YouTube, we’d love to have you on board!

Check out the Life & The Earth channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAndTheEarth

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Edit long-form scientific documentaries (around 1 hour in length).
• Select appropriate footage based on the script, either from Creative Commons sources or from licensed stock libraries to which you will be given access. Trim and assemble the footage to match the voiceover and narrative flow.
• Sync narration and music tracks, ensuring smooth transitions and appropriate pacing.
• Maintain visual coherence and storytelling clarity throughout the edit.
• Collaborate with a sound designer, but take the lead on building a clean, synced edit with temporary sound/music as needed.
• Properly and judiciously place the channel branding graphics that will be provided to you.
• Work closely with the Creative Director to continuously elevate the quality of video editing, applying feedback with thoughtfulness and precision.

Must Haves

• Proven experience editing long-form content (30–60 minutes), preferably in documentary or educational formats.
• Ability to work with stock footage libraries (at least two available), with the patience and focus to find high-quality, relevant, and sometimes very specific material.
• Strong attention to detail when selecting footage, with a reasonable awareness of scientific accuracy (a specialist will review, but initial selection must avoid major errors).
• Creative problem-solving skills: When faced with the difficulty of obtaining specific materials, rely on creativity to solve the situation. Whether it’s creating photomontages, animations, or motion graphics. Be resourceful and agile. Patience in finding the right footage or an alternate solution, without compromise, is necessary.
• Solid sense of pacing, structure, and basic sound editing, even if the final sound mix is handled by a sound designer.
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and stay organized.
• Software management: Advanced knowledge of Adobe Premiere. Knowledge of After Effects is also appreciated.

Nice To Haves

• Motion graphics and/or basic animation skills, to help illustrate concepts or cover for missing footage.
• Prior experience editing scientific, educational, or factual content.
• Experience editing YouTube videos.
• Comfortable using project management tools (e.g., ClickUp, Notion) and communicating via Discord.

Key Obsessions (What are you obsessed with?)

An A+ video editor is someone who:

• Is passionate about crafting documentary-style videos tailored for YouTube, ensuring they are visually engaging, well-paced, and emotionally resonant.
• Loves to collaborate closely with writers and creative leads, deeply understanding the vision and narrative goals for each episode.
• Takes pride in curating and organizing raw footage, whether sourced from stock libraries or internal assets, and shaping it into a clear, compelling visual story.
• Has a strong sense for when to enhance a sequence with graphics, motion design, or subtle visual effects, and executes these elements with purpose and clarity.
• Is obsessed with consistency in tone, pacing, and branding, always ensuring that each video feels part of a cohesive and recognizable series.