Cinematographer

M&C Saatchi Group is hiring a Cinematographer to join their World Services division in Washington, District of Columbia. This role sits within a full-service production team creating video content across documentary, interview, podcast, and digital campaign formats for U.S. federal government clients. It suits a camera operator and storyteller who is equally comfortable directing a sit-down interview in a controlled studio and capturing unscripted moments in the field.

About the Role

The Cinematographer works inside a multidisciplinary creative department producing communications and outreach content for public sector clients, with a portfolio that spans documentary production, stakeholder engagement videos, social content, and enterprise communications. Day to day, this person is planning and executing shoots, collaborating with editors and motion designers through post-production workflow, and contributing to concepts and visual treatments from early development through delivery. Projects range from single-camera field interviews to multi-camera podcast and studio setups.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, light, and shoot high-quality video across studio and field environments including documentary sequences, testimonials, event coverage, and B-roll for digital campaign production.
• Configure and operate multi-camera setups for podcast and interview formats, handling camera, lighting, and audio independently.
• Direct on-screen contributors and interviewees to draw out natural, authentic performances that serve the editorial story.
• Develop visual approaches including shot lists, storyboards, and treatments in collaboration with creative and strategy teams during pre-production.
• Prepare selects, organize footage, and provide clear handover materials to editorial and post-production teams to support an efficient post-production workflow.
• Travel to capture events, field interviews, and mission-related activities across a federal client portfolio.

What You Bring

• Demonstrable experience as a Cinematographer or Director of Photography across documentary production, corporate video, or government communications projects.
• Proficiency operating professional cinema cameras alongside lighting and location audio equipment in both controlled and unpredictable environments.
• Experience contributing to pre-production, including treatments, shot lists, and location assessments.
• Ability to work independently on straightforward single-operator shoots and as part of a larger crew on complex productions.
• Proximity to or residence in the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region is preferred given the hybrid nature of the role.

Why This Role

M&C Saatchi World Services works on communications challenges that carry real public impact, giving the Cinematographer in this seat access to a varied production slate that most commercial or agency roles do not offer. The work spans formats and scales, from intimate interview setups to large-scale event coverage, which keeps the craft side of the job genuinely varied. This is a staff-level position embedded within a creative agency environment rather than a freelance engagement.

Apply now for the Cinematographer role at M&C Saatchi Group and bring your camera work to projects that reach federal and public sector audiences at scale.