[Hiring] YouTube Video Editor @Activate Talent

Role Description

We’re not looking for another editor. We’re looking for a platform-native storyteller. As a YouTube Video Editor, you will transform conversations into content that earns attention—not by chasing trends, but by trusting that great ideas, well-presented, are the most compelling content there is.

You’ll work closely with our content producer to shape raw footage into long-form YouTube episodes and social-ready short clips that feel unmistakably thoughtful, grounded, and human. This role is for someone who thinks editorially—who watches great content and understands why it works, has strong instincts about what to cut and what to keep, and cares about the viewer’s experience as much as the technical execution.

What You’ll Do:

• Long-Form YouTube Content
  • Edit full-length podcast episodes into polished, YouTube-ready cuts (typically 40–75 minutes).
  • Craft the opening 60 seconds with intention—structuring hooks that earn the viewer’s curiosity without resorting to clickbait.
  • Apply subtle visual enhancements (zooms, reframes, on-screen text, lower thirds, and light graphics) that serve the story.
  • Manage pacing throughout long-form content to maintain intellectual engagement without sacrificing the authenticity of real conversation.
  • Incorporate music, sound design, and b-roll where appropriate to support tone and context.
• Short-Form & Social
  • Identify and extract 30–90 second moments from each episode with the highest social potential.
  • Produce vertical (9:16) Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts that feel platform-native, not repurposed.
  • Apply bold captions, platform-appropriate pacing, and instant hooks to maximize performance in the first 2–3 seconds.
  • Develop a consistent visual language for short-form content aligned with Simon’s brand.
• Collaboration & Process
  • Work directly with the content producer to interpret briefs, align on editorial direction, and iterate quickly.
  • Maintain organized project files, rough cuts, and final exports with consistent naming and delivery standards.
  • Contribute ideas on what’s working, what’s not, and how content can improve—bringing strong opinions, held loosely.
  • Stay current on platform changes, YouTube algorithm shifts, and emerging editorial techniques.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience editing video content for YouTube, with a portfolio that includes long-form content.
• Demonstrable fluency in modern YouTube storytelling, including pacing, retention strategy, hook construction, and audience psychology.
• Proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro and/or DaVinci Resolve; experience with After Effects or motion graphics is a plus.
• Experience editing short-form vertical content for Instagram Reels or TikTok.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate editorial decisions.
• A portfolio or reel that demonstrates range, including compelling talking-head content.

Requirements

• Experience working in or adjacent to thought leadership, podcasting, personal brand, or media content.
• Familiarity with Simon Sinek’s body of work and alignment with the ideas he puts into the world.
• Comfort working in a small, high-trust team where ownership, initiative, and judgment matter more than hierarchy.
• Experience using AI-assisted editing tools or subtitle/caption workflows.

Benefits

• Work from any corner of the world and be a part of the #remoteworkrevolution!

Our Creative Philosophy

What we’re after: Authentic, clean, modern storytelling that feels current without chasing trends. Editing that treats retention as a byproduct of respect for the viewer’s time.

What we’re not after: Over-edited, hyperactive cuts that prioritize speed over substance. Clickbait tactics or gimmicky hooks that erode trust. Content that feels like it’s shouting for attention.